The combination of collaborative robotics and digital metrology in the production process is regarded as a strategic development direction for the manufacturing industry and factories of the future. Collaborative robots enable flexible and safe automation of handling and assembly operations without the need for physical guarding, while digital metrology integrated into the process allows components to be measured and inspected directly on the production line with high precision.
In this context, the Tekniker technology center, a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) partnership and specialized in this type of solutions, will present at the next edition of the Biennial International Machine Tool Exhibition (Biemh) a demonstrator that combines automation, high precision measurement and digitalization in an industrial environment. The solution has been developed in cooperation with Zeiss, Kuka and Schunk.
The demonstrator will consist of a robotic system capable of automatically identifying, picking, positioning and measuring parts with almost identical geometries. Robotic measurement will enable quality control of the parts and their classification according to reference and conformity with requirements.
As emphasized by Gorka Kortaberria, director of Industrial Metrology at Tekniker: "The main differentiating element is the combination of flexible component feeding with advances in digital metrology that enable fully automated quality control, integrating visualization, handling, measurement and classification into a single system. This approach is not common in industrial environments and represents an innovative and advanced solution."
The solution is primarily aimed at advanced manufacturing applications in sectors such as automotive, aeronautics, energy and precision component manufacturing.
Combination of commercial and in-house technologies
The prototype developed by Tekniker combines consolidated commercial technologies with in-house solutions in the fields of integration, robotics, control and machine vision. The demonstrator uses, among other elements, the DuraMax measuring system from Zeiss, designed specifically for demanding production environments and providing high measurement accuracy even under changing ambient conditions.
Kuka supplies a 7‑axis collaborative robotic arm designed for precise and safe handling in workspaces shared with operators. Schunk, in turn, integrates a set of clamping and gripping systems that ensure secure holding and handling of parts during the measurement process.
This combination of technologies is complemented by the Smart Picking asset developed by Tekniker, which enables locating and manipulating parts in unstructured environments. As explained by Eneko Ugalde, director of Intelligent Autonomous Systems at Tekniker: "Our application allows the system to determine the position and orientation of parts based on information obtained by the vision system, and then guide the robot to the components it has to handle."
The center also incorporates into the solution its competences in plant and process digitalization through its Smart Factory Hub software. Particular emphasis is placed on the management of critical data from production operations and the ability to learn from this data for subsequent decision-making.
The demonstrator of robotic metrology and automatic quality control will be showcased from 2 to 6 March at the Tekniker stand during the Biemh 2026 trade fair, located in pavilion 1, aisle E24.
