Case Study: CRRC improves tube measurement efficiency with Hexagon TubeInspect

Innovative tube measurement supports rail manufacturing

CRRC Group, one of the world's largest rail vehicle manufacturers, faced significant challenges in the efficient and precise production of the many complex tubes used throughout its locomotives. The company needed to increase measurement efficiency, reduce material waste from machine setup, and handle a growing variety of tube types while meeting tight tolerances. To solve this, CRRC turned to vendor Hexagon and implemented its TubeInspect optical tube measurement system.

The Hexagon TubeInspect solution provided a high-speed, non-contact optical measuring cell that scans tube geometry in seconds. It directly transmits corrected bending parameters to the bending machines, drastically reducing setup times and material scrap. The system’s precision ensured that even highly complex tubes, including those with 180-degree bends and freeform shapes, were measured accurately. For CRRC, Hexagon's technology resulted in calculable setup processes, minimized production downtime, and a significant reduction in defective parts, supporting their continued leadership in rail manufacturing.

CRRC