digitalPIONEER 2025 winner: alpha.hot3D gage / Real-time measurement of hot forged parts

As part of the digitalSUMMIT on September 4 in Aachen, the digitalPIONEER award was presented for the seventh time to regional companies with innovative digital solutions. We are proud that KELK (VPG) Germany with our alpha.hot3D gage system is among this year’s five winners!

The laser gage system for the forging industry offers a completely new way of inspecting hot forged parts, without any cooling-time. Customer-specific components are taken from the forging press and placed in the gage system where laser scan the hot part. The system software converts the optical measurements into digital geometric data that corresponds to the cooled component.

Using the gage, the production turns more economical due to:

• real-time quality control of part and tool wear,
• immediate corrective actions in the process,
• providing the basis for digitalizing the rapid forging process, a step toward Industry 4.0.

We sincerely thank the jury and also congratulate the other winners:
FDA FragDieApotheke, IASON consulting, MARIENBORN, and the Carl Kreuser jr. Foundation.

(Picture: digitalHUB Aachen e. V. - Martin Braun Fotografie)