Automation specialist Keba, based in Linz (Austria), has once again been awarded the Upper Austrian State Prize for Innovation. The prize was awarded for a new type of laser angle measuring device that enables automatic quality control in the series production of sheet metal parts without interrupting the manufacturing process and can also be used to measure angles manually.

The laser angle measuring device, which has already won several design awards, once again impressed a top-class jury of experts with its level of technological innovation, its practical relevance and its market opportunities, taking first place in the "Large Companies" category of the Upper Austrian Innovation Award. The laser protractor was also nominated for the Austrian State Prize.

Simply measure angles faster

Manual quality control with the laser protractor. © Keba AG

With its compact angle measuring device, Keba has significantly simplified both the inspection step in the automated measurement of angles and the manual inspection and, with the "continuous measurement" function, offers the option of checking the angle over the entire length of a sheet metal part in a single pass. The manufacturer has succeeded in developing a compact measuring instrument suitable for industrial use that is extremely easy to handle. The comparatively low investment costs now also enable small and medium-sized companies to use modern measuring methods.

Innovations as part of the company identity

According to Keba, innovation is part of the company's identity and an important success factor for its competitiveness. As a future-oriented company, Keba invests up to 20 percent of its turnover in research and development every year.

"The realization of the laser protractor was no easy undertaking," says Franz Höller, CTO of Keba AG, "The implementation of the high demands of the market in terms of accuracy and reproducibility of the results, among other things, presented a non-trivial development challenge. Ultimately, however, we were able to master it successfully - also thanks to the team, who believed in the idea and tirelessly searched for solutions. This example also shows very clearly what independent and agile teams that work in a start-up-like manner are capable of."

The laser protractor now complements the product portfolio of the company, which itself has many years of experience in this sector with control solutions and owns a subsidiary, Delem B.V., which specializes in the automation of sheet metal bending machines.

"We are delighted to receive the Innovation Award - especially because we were able to convince a high-caliber jury of our solutions. It shows us that we are at the forefront with our ideas and solutions and it is also an important confirmation for our employees, who work on future topics with conviction and passion," says Franz Höller, Chief Technical Officer at Keba, commenting on the award.