Start Up takes off with industrial CT

The t-exact GmbH based in Schmalkalden, Thuringia, is a provider of 3D measurement and analysis services. Since 2017, the company has been offering analysis by means of computed tomography (CT) with the computer tomograph exaCT U from WENZEL , especially for applications in the plastics industry, such as contract measurement of components made of materials that are difficult to sample with conventional metrology , such as rubber or silicones. The company points to its extensive experience here, as this technology has already been in use since 2012 at its parent company, Hehnke GmbH & Co. KG from Steinbach-Hallenberg, has been using this technology since 2012.

Hehnke has been producing precision plastic components for the automotive industry for 23 years with now more than 120 employees; a core technology here is the production of hybrid components made of plastic/metal. "The demands on the components are increasing enormously. Especially with regard to one of the megatrends in the automotive sector, autonomous driving, the reliability of mechanical components is playing an increasingly decisive role. The analysis of these components by means of CT is a decisive competitive advantage," says company boss Tommy Hehnke.

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"We were aware of the importance of this technology for our customers, but it would have been reckless to purchase such a cost-intensive device back in 2012. Therefore, we first purchased the point clouds and then analysed them in-house with the appropriate software," says Torsten Herrmann, CEO at Hehnke and managing partner of t-exact GmbH.

"Our customers quickly recognized the benefits of this measurement technology, especially the time savings in measurement tasks, in non-destructive measurement and the possibilities of analyzing structures in the component. Acceptance increased and so in 2017 we decided to establish a new service company and the associated investment in one of the latest and most modern tomographs from the manufacturer WENZEL", explains Tommy Hehnke, shareholder of Hehnke GmbH & Co. KG. and managing director at t-exact.

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The young start-up company chose WENZEL as its future partner in the field of computed tomography and coordinate measuring technology after a rigorous selection process. With the powerful exaCT U from WENZEL , the company is able to offer professional 3D measurement and analysis services using computed tomography. The possibility of non-destructive testing offers their customers enormous time savings compared to other analysis and measurement methods. With the exaCT U, components made of plastic, structural, hybrid and cast components or organic and mineral materials can be measured and inspected without contact. This also applies to the measurement of elastic, transparent and soft components.

"In the meantime, an increasing number of our customers are accepting the re-qualification required by IATF 16949 by means of CT comparison measurements between the approved initial sample part and the component just produced. This procedure brings the practical feasibility of the standard requirement into the realm of the economically possible," explains Torsten Herrmann.

In addition to the possibilities of CT analysis, t-exact also offers the service of tactile measurement. "Tomography is not useful everywhere, this procedure cannot be used everywhere, so we also offer the possibilities of traditional measurement techniques," explains Tommy Hehnke.

"With the advantages offered by the exaCT U computed tomograph from WENZEL , we have already been able to convince and inspire many customers."

Daniel König, Operations Manager at t-exact

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