Mitutoyo helps Gnosjo Automatsvarvning be at the forefront

Gnosjo Automatsvarvning is a family-owned business in Smaland, Sweden, founded in 1974, that produces turned parts for a number of different industries, not least the automotive industry, which is a large and important industry with high demands on tolerances and verification. More than half of production is exported worldwide.

"We work with bars from 4 millimetres up to 80 millimetres, and in large and small batches, from 50 individual parts to several million of the same component," says CEO Linda Fransson.

She has worked in the family business her entire professional life and began working with Mitutoyo as early as 18 years old when she did her graduation project at high school with support from the manufacturer. Gnosjo Automatsvarvning had then, in 1992, purchased its first measuring machine from Mitutoyo. Being at the forefront and daring to test new technology has permeated the business throughout the years.

"We have challenged Mitutoyo several times over the years and they have always given us what we need," she says.

Gnosjo Automatsvarvning has around 60 employees and has worked hard to automate the verification process as much as possible. This means that everyone should be able to use the equipment, which places high demands on automation, structure, and order.

The operator - who knows both the machine and the part best - carries out the verification of each individual component, and this places high demands on both user-friendliness and durability of equipment. "Our equipment from Mitutoyo consists of everything from callipers and micrometres to advanced coordinate measuring machines, contour gauges and surface roughness metres."

All the equipment we need for measurement and verification comes exclusively from Mitutoyo. We have tried other suppliers in some areas but have not found anyone who can provide the quality we need.

The machinery includes, among others, RA-2200 CNC Extreme, RA-2200AS, LSM, CV-3100H4, RA-2100AS, PJ-H30, SV-3100S4, MeasurLink, U-WAVE and two unique LEGEX measuring machines that can handle tolerances that few others in the world can handle.

"We can measure accuracy down to 0.45 um, which is an accuracy that not many others can handle or even need, but for us it is crucial to be able to deliver our parts. For us, our LEGEX-machines are so crucial that we have chosen to invest in two identical ones as a back up solution so that we do not have to stop production if something happens to one of the machines," says Linda Fransson.

A well-functioning statistics programme is a necessity for Gnosjo Automatsvarvning. It is used to monitor variations in tool wear but also to control the production process. "The system stores data from our measurements, so that we can both monitor in real time and also use it later for analysis. With a unique measurement programme for each part, we systematise how we measure so that the operators cannot decide how the parts should be verified."

The company is gradually moving away from the old software in favour of Measurlink, both from Mitutoyo. U-WAVE facilitates measurement close to the machine - even the machine as it is a wireless system for the measuring tools.

Proximity to service and expertise if something happens to equipment is important for a small company like Gnosjo Automatsvarvning. Mitutoyo has an office in Varnamo 30 min driving away and can quickly be on site in emergency situations.

When Gnosjo Automatsvarvning updates its equipment or receives inquiries from customers about new requirements and tolerances, Mitutoyo is involved early in the process and together the companies find solutions that allow Gnosjo Automatsvarvning to deliver with 100 percent quality and on time.

"The challenges we have are very much about thinking outside the box and that is why we want to surround ourselves with suppliers who are experts in their field. We have also evaluated other suppliers but have concluded that with Mitutoyo we get the overall solution that suits us best and that we can be confident with over time. In cases where we have chosen other suppliers, it concerns equipment that Mitutoyo does not have in its range," says Linda Fransson.

She looks forward to continued cooperation with Mitutoyo, where the next step is to update the statistics system to find the smartest way to verify

"I only see opportunities for our future cooperation. We will need new, faster technology with AI technology as part of the decision-making basis," says Linda Fransson.