Infinity Shows Off 3D Laser Measuring

Aug. 1, 2014

DETROIT, July 31, 2014—Surrounded by a bustling show floor at Detroit’s Cobo Center on the final day of the 2014 NACE/CARS Expo & Conference, FenderBender spoke with Bob Stevenson, equipment specialist at Infinity 3D Laser Measuring about the company’s products on display. Along the way, Stevenson also shared his thoughts on NACE overall, and the event’s new location in the Motor City, a hot topic on the floor of the two-day event.

What is your company showing off at NACE this year?

Bob Stevenson: We’re capitalizing on our 3D [Laser] Measuring System by actually showing the 3D views of the damaged chassis. We are also showing how the lights on the targets, which are smart targets, represent a different measurement. The top light would be your height, the middle one your width, and the bottom one your length. Those lights can change color, letting the technician know when he’s getting closer to the zero point of that measuring area as he's pulling.

Do you feel enough shops in the industry have adopted such modern measuring equipment?

A lot of people are using an older measuring system that doesn’t have some of the things that we do offer. The biggest benefit is the capability to blueprint the car, which is actually bringing the car in the shop, putting it on the lift, and being able to put the laser underneath the car and measure it. A lot of systems require that the car be level and the laser be level. Our system can work with both units being out of level. The second thing is the time savings during setup. Other systems require the technician to come back to the computer once they hang the target on the car and ensure they have communication. We do that with an additional light on the system that blinks green to let the technician know your target is talking to your laser. You don’t have to come back to the screen to check that.

How much training is required to learn the system?

Normally about a day and a half, and the technicians are ready to go on their own. We do in-field training or they can come to our facility in Minnesota.

What do you think about the new location for NACE this year?

I think that the NACE show is much better than it has been in the past. I think we’ve got a better crowd and we’ve got a more serious buyer than we have in the past years. At first, I didn't think it was a good idea [to bring the show to Detroit]. The more I thought of it, I think more serious buyers are coming here than Las Vegas. Las Vegas draws a bigger crowd, but they’re drawing a bigger crowd because of the gambling, shows and parties. Detroit is not known for that. There are casinos here, but it’s a different atmosphere. I think we’ve had a better prospect in Detroit than in Las Vegas.

Would you like NACE to return to Detroit or move again for next year?

I think they should move it around the country. Every year you could draw from a different crowd of people. Obviously, this year it’s much easier for people from the Northeast to get here. There are a lot of cities within driving distance. Right now, you’re not seeing anybody from the West Coast, whereas in Vegas, you did get a lot of people from the West Coast. I think it might be a good idea to move it around the nation to four or five different locations.

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