Turning 3D scanning into a new business opportunity

Investment in a Creaform HandySCAN MAX Elite helped Jas P Wilson remove design bottlenecks, improve communication between engineering and fabrication teams, enhance product quality and ultimately launch 3D Scanning UK, a dedicated scanning, reverse engineering and inspection service.

For manufacturers producing bespoke machinery and retrofit solutions, capturing accurate dimensional data is often one of the most time-consuming stages of the engineering process. At Jas P Wilson, a Scottish forestry machinery specialist, engineers were spending significant amounts of time manually measuring large tractors and excavators before design work could begin.

Seeking a faster and more repeatable workflow, the company invested in a Creaform HandySCAN MAX Elite supplied by Measurement Solutions Ltd (MSL). The introduction of portable 3D scanning has improved design accuracy, streamlined workflows and expanded engineering capabilities, while also leading to the creation of a new business venture, 3D Scanning UK.

Jas P Wilson manufactures forestry guarding systems, machinery conversions and the BOTEX range of loaders, trailers and attachments. Many projects involve highly customised designs that must integrate precisely with existing machinery while maintaining functionality and operator access.

Before implementing 3D scanning, engineers relied heavily on manual measurement techniques. Capturing complex geometry on large machines often required lengthy measurement sessions, physical templates and repeated validation during fabrication. Variations between machine models frequently resulted in additional design iterations, creating a bottleneck within the design process and limiting time for product development and continuous improvement.

Following a visit to MACH 2024, the company selected the HandySCAN MAX Elite to support its design and manufacturing activities. The scanner is now used to capture complete machines and generate highly accurate mesh data that can be imported directly into CAD assemblies.

One of the first projects involved developing a forestry guarding kit for a VALTRA S396 tractor. As no previous design existed for the model, scan data provided engineers with accurate geometry from the outset, reducing manual measurement and repeated fitment checks while accelerating the design process.

The technology has also proved valuable for reverse engineering. During a Kobelco excavator retrofit project, both the original and replacement machines were scanned to enable existing forestry guarding and attachments to be transferred accurately. Engineers extracted reference geometry and mounting locations directly from the scan data, reducing manual templating and physical trial fitting while improving fitment accuracy.

Notably, the impact extends beyond measurement. By creating a common digital reference, accurate scan data has improved communication between customers, designers and fabrication teams, helping to streamline workflows and reduce ambiguity throughout the project lifecycle. The result has been improved efficiency, shorter development cycles and greater confidence in first-time fit.

Product quality has also benefited. Designing directly from scan data has enabled tighter-fitting guarding systems, improved assembly accuracy and reduced rework, while helping to minimise material waste during production.

“The introduction of 3D scanning has removed key bottlenecks from the design process, improved communication between departments and allowed our engineering team to focus more on development and innovation rather than manual measurement and rework,” says Liam Wilson, 3D Scanner & Design Engineer at Jas P Wilson.

In addition, the technology has expanded the company’s internal capabilities, enabling more advanced reverse engineering, inspection and scan-to-CAD workflows across a wider range of engineering projects.

Beyond the operational benefits, the investment has delivered a significant commercial opportunity. The expertise developed through implementing 3D scanning led directly to the launch of 3D Scanning UK, enabling Jas P Wilson to support external clients with scanning, reverse engineering and inspection services across a range of industries beyond its traditional forestry sector.