Kreon ACE Portable Arm Case Study: Compositech

High-speed inspection of large composite parts using Kreon portable measuring technology

Compositech is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer specialising in high-performance composite components. Since 2004, the company has supported industries including automotive, motorsport and aerospace, producing complex carbon fibre prepreg parts using autoclave processes.

With all operations handled in-house, from mould design and machining through to final inspection, Compositech maintains full control over quality, confidentiality and delivery times. This end-to-end capability is critical when working with structurally demanding, high-value components.

The Challenge

Manufacturing large carbon fibre parts presents specific inspection challenges. Components must be checked for dimensional accuracy, deformation caused by curing stresses, and precise alignment of features such as drilled holes and assemblies.

Compositech initially explored a 3D photogrammetry system for inspection. However, the process proved too time-consuming, requiring extensive preparation such as placing reference targets across each part before scanning. For a business focused on speed and efficiency, this created a bottleneck.

The Solution

To improve inspection productivity, Compositech adopted a Kreon Ace portable measuring arm equipped with a Skyline Wide 3D laser scanner.

This combination allows for rapid, high-resolution scanning of large surfaces without the need for part preparation, warm-up time or complex setup. The system is always ready to use, enabling operators to move quickly between inspection tasks.

Applications

Using the Kreon system, Compositech carries out a range of inspection processes, including:

• Surface inspection and deformation analysis: Full-part scanning enables comparison against CAD models using colour mapping in PolyWorks, highlighting any distortions caused by residual curing stresses.
• Geometric verification: Accurate measurement of features such as drilled holes, centre-to-centre distances and critical dimensions.
• Assembly inspection: Validation of multi-part assemblies, including bonded carbon components and integrated metal inserts.

The Outcome

The adoption of portable arm and scanner technology has significantly improved inspection efficiency, particularly when working with large or complex components.

Fabio Panarelli, Quality Inspector at Compositech, comments:“The speed and ease of use of the Ace Skyline arm have allowed us to significantly increase our productivity across the inspection phases.”

How Status Supports Similar Applications

While this project was delivered directly by Kreon, it demonstrates the capabilities of the portable measurement solutions that Status supplies and supports across the UK.

From carbon fibre components to precision-engineered parts, portable arms and laser scanners offer a flexible, high-speed approach to inspection, reducing bottlenecks and improving confidence in quality.

If you’re looking to improve inspection speed or handle larger, more complex components, our team can help you explore the right solution.