Phase Vision’s products provide incredibly accurate measurement data which can be used in a wide range of industries, including helping to reduce the drag of an aircraft’s wing, generating enormous savings in fuel for airlines. They can also help car bodies fit together better, enhancing quality and reducing cost or optimise the manufacturing of jet engines, making them quieter and more efficient. “Our systems provide data to control manufacturing processes accurately and rapidly, saving money, energy and scrap,” explains CEO Ralph Weir, a veteran of several VC-backed start-ups. The company’s products are 3D measurement systems using a non-contact structured lighting technique, originally developed at Loughborough University. They bring several unique advantages including; measurement of very large objects, 360 degree measurement of complex objects, at production line speeds, and the ability to measure ‘shiny’ surfaces such as machined or composite components. The system uses ‘structured white light’ to achieve this – a source with far greater bandwidth and dynamic range than the lasers often used in industrial measurement. Weir continues: “We’ve effectively mastered the use of broadband light for measurement, which brings the same gains that broadband brought to the internet. With this well-proven technology at our core, we now also have the investment to build our production and sales organisations to create a real world leader.” In many industries, computer modelling has outpaced manufacturing capability – engineers can design optimised components, but without effective measurement, these cannot be manufactured accurately. Phase Vision delivers the required measurement accuracy, at production line speeds. “The market for our class of measurement technology was worth £2bn in 2007 – yet nobody delivers this level of measurement performance. Given our current growth rate, it’s clear that the market needs our speed and accuracy,” Weir noted. Professor Phil Dickens, Loughborough University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise), said: “it’s great to see a Loughborough University spinoff achieve such success, transitioning from a successful consultancy to a world leader in metrology. We wish them every success with the product launch.” Weir concluded; “As we developed the product, we benefitted enormously from the help, guidance and support available from Connect Midlands – ultimately leading to this investment, which enables us to grow our production and sales teams.” Connect Midlands is a not-for-profit business network, part-funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), supporting technology and high growth companies to gain investment. Phase Vision’s product is currently in beta trials at several sites in the UK, and will be more widely available later in the year. More information on Connect Midlands