Connected measuring instruments avoid errors and increase efficiency

To measure is to know. A cliché from which even the metal industry cannot escape. Customers are increasingly imposing requirements to attest and document the dimensions of products. In this discipline, too, Hoffmann Group stands by its customers with advice and assistance. With Hoffmann Group Connected Tools, users can transmit their measurements wirelessly to a computer, tablet or smartphone at the touch of a button. Out with errors.

Anyone who walks into the measuring room today often still does so armed with pen and paper or with a laptop under their arm. "After measuring, in most workshops the values are still manually written down or typed in. A process that takes time, because the values then often have to end up in the correct digital order afterwards. But above all, there is a huge risk of error. A small oversight can be enough to record the wrong measurements. And that can have dire consequences. Often a piece is now carefully measured before making the rest of the series. Getting it right the first time saves a lot of money. But above all you don't want to deliver inaccurate pieces to customers," says Job van Dijk of Hoffmann Group. He knows what he is talking about; until a few years ago he was still in the measuring room himself to carry out quality checks. Now he uses his experience to support customers in measurement technology.

Wireless forwarding 

An important development in the Hoffmann range of measurement technology are the so-called HCT, the Hoffmann Group Connected Tools. Van Dijk: "Bluetooth allows these measuring tools to connect easily to computer, tablet or smartphone. With a simple press of a button, the measurement results obtained are immediately transmitted to where they are needed, without risk of error." 

There are several ways to send the data. This can be done either in HID mode or directly to the Hoffman Group CT app. "HID stands for human interface device. The measuring device is then recognized by the device in question and acts as a keyboard. This allows measurement data to be forwarded to e-mail, WORD or Excel documents or to other programs." 

Currently, the Hoffmann Group Connected Tools range consists of a caliper, a depth caliper and torque wrenches (both Garant and Holex). "The intention is to eventually make every measuring tool connected. The first Bluetooth-enabled measuring products are already expected by the end of this year," van Dijk knows. 

Seeing at work

Hoffmann Group is clearly choosing the way forward, also with regard to measurement technology. Van Dijk: "The breadth of our range makes us a welcome partner for our customers. Because behind every product there is also a product specialist who can offer customers the right support when needed. This also applies to measurement technology. I take care of first-line questions, but otherwise have the backing of colleagues in Germany who have delved even deeper into the matter. Especially for customers who want to make work of their own measurement department, this is indispensable." 

Van Dijk does so from Hoffmann Group's new headquarters in Borne. "By the way, customers are always welcome here in the showroom, where visitors can of course also become acquainted with measurement technology. So you can immediately become familiar with what you need to perfectly map the dimensions of your pieces."