Ugitech is expanding its technological resources in research & development. The producer of made-to-order stainless steel solutions has equipped the research center with state-of-the-art 3D surface measurement technology. The new system provides 360° measuring of surface geometry and topography down to the micrometer level. With this new technology, Ugitech has taken a step forward to meet the increasing demands in development of sophisticated special steel products.
Ugitech, a company of the SCHMOLZ+BICKENBACH Group, in Ugine, France, operates one of the most state-of-the-art research centers in the special steel sector. To meet the increasing demands of the automotive, aerospace and medical technology industries, Ugitech is constantly investing in testing technologies. The recently installed 3D microscope conforms to the latest technology standards, whether for detecting surface defects, measuring drawn profiles or checking local surface roughness. Ugitech is using the new system for research work as well as for expert opinion studies.
The new 3D testing technology at the Ugitech research center is an excellent complement to the scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) facilities. Ugitech is one of the few producers of stainless long products to use TEM to investigate the microstructure of materials in the sub-micrometer range. In demanding applications, the properties of stainless steels and alloys often rely on the fine material’s microstructure as well as the very fine phases precipitated in the steel. TEM is the prerequisite for the development of new grades offering a decisive competitive factor.
