LK Metrology Ltd

LK Tool Company Limited was founded in Derby, England in 1963 by Norman Key (a former Rolls Royce engineer) and Jim Lowther (Norman’s father-in-law). It was a supplier of granite inspection tooling to the engineering industry and then became the innovator of the “Bridge Type” multi-axis Coordinate Measuring Machine. LK started operations in the USA in 1983 capturing a large part of the automotive market for high volume production inspection systems. Since then, LK has been designing, manufacturing, and deploying CMMs throughout the world.

Throughout its history, LK has been recognized as a market leader and is credited with a long list of “firsts and successes” such as:

First to design a Bridge Type CMM

First OEM to integrate a computer with a CMM

First to develop inspection software specifically for CMM use

First to use all air bearing and granite guideways for stability and stiffness

First to use carbon fiber composite spindles

First to use microprocessor-controlled drive systems

First to produce a High Accuracy, Horizontal Spindle CMM

First to produce a truly thermally stable CMM

Worked in partnership with Rolls-Royce Ltd to develop Renishaw’s First Touch Trigger Probe for use on a CMM.

LK is the world’s oldest manufacturer of CMM. In 2018, as LK celebrated its 55th anniversary as a leader in the CMM Industry, the company returned to be an independent UK CMM manufacturer headquartered in Derby, with Sales and Support offices in the UK, North America, China, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy. The LK CMM brand returns after several years as a division of Nikon Metrology which intends to focus now on non-contact metrology.

To coincide with the relaunch, LK Metrology and Nikon Metrology announced a strategic partnership that will see Nikon Metrology continue in the market as the Preferred CMM Sales Partner for LK CMMs. All CMM production, development, sales, and service activities, including the CAMIO software, has been transferred to ASF Metrology (Torino, Italy), under the ownership and management of Angelo Muscarella, who has a long and proven track record in metrology and especially in the CMM business.

Mr. Angelo Muscarella, President, and CEO of LK Metrology stated, “This is an exciting opportunity, the LK brand is strong, we will build on this success with new products and services. The team at LK Metrology includes many engineers who have been with the brand for years. We welcome Nikon Metrology as our Preferred CMM Sales Partner. This agreement opens up unprecedented opportunities, together we can strengthen our positions at the forefront of the multi-sensor CMM and software market”.“

Nikon Metrology will continue to serve a number of selected accounts as part of a strategic marketing partnership where both companies will promote each other’s products and services. All employees mainly dedicated to the CMM business, a crucial asset to the know-how of the company, are now part of the new LK Metrology. Both companies will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition with suppliers, customers, and resellers.

The LK brand is renowned for its high-quality innovative CMM products and excellent customer service. Its strong brand and reputation in industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, and electronics spans more than 50 years. LK Metrology will focus on the growth in all regions by expanding its market coverage worldwide, leveraging on the former LK brand name of the CMM business and its track record.