A firm which specialises in form and roughness measurement and metrology has become the latest member of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry.

Alicona, which has offices around the world and whose UK headquarters is in Kent, is a specialist in high resolution optical measurement in research and production.

Its measurement capabilities will now be supporting the MTC's advanced manufacturing and engineering research.

Chief executive Dr Clive Hickman said he was delighted to welcome Alicona to the MTC community.

"Alicona has an international reputation and will add to the MTC's resources in the field of detailed metrology and will also allow Alicona access to the expertise and capabilities of our MTC engineers and technicians," he said.

Brian Kyte, of Alicona, added: "We are very pleased to become part of the MTC and to be able to play such a role in the advancement of micro-geometry measurement.

"We are particularly excited about the use in additive manufacturing which is a key market for us.

"Generally, we see that the involvement in the catapult centres is a major asset to our business and we look forward to working with the engineers at the MTC."

The MTC opened in 2011 and was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI.

It aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions.

The MTC is part the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by the Technology Strategy Board.

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