We kicked off something truly unique at our Eleven Dynamics HQ in Rosenheim: The First Metrology Weißwurstfrühstück– bringing together experts, innovators, and enthusiasts from the world of 3D scanning, quality assurance, and automation for a casual yet compelling morning full of dialogue, ideas, and of course, Weißwurst.
Jürgen Wehrle, Sales Engineer at Witte
Jürgen brings over two decades of experience in metrology and quality assurance, having spent 21 years at Volkswagen. Now at Witte, he supports OEMs in implementing advanced fixturing concepts and sees automation as the next logical step.
Niels Stenzel, Account Manager at Shining 3D
With eight years at Shining 3D, Niels has seen the evolution of portable scanners firsthand. His mission: making metrology intuitive, automatable, and scalable – especially for SMEs.
Lukas Heizmann, Aviation Engineer & 3D Scanning Power User
From his hobby workshop to aerospace applications, Lukas has integrated 3D scanning deeply into his daily workflow. He’s passionate about democratizing metrology and simplifying inspection processes.
Moderated by Nico Schulze, Eleven Dynamics
With roots in the metrology industry dating back to 2001, Nico combines deep technical knowledge with a knack for forward-thinking discussions. And he knows exactly how to pair Weißwurst with disruptive technology.
We kicked off with the scanner revolution. Where once the tactile measurement arm reigned supreme, handheld 3D scanners are now taking center stage – especially in environments that demand speed, flexibility, and ease of use.
“A scanner isn’t rocket science. Even people with minimal training can use it,” explained Niels. “We’re seeing companies that traditionally used arms now shift to flexible scanner setups – sometimes at similar price points, but with far more automation potential.”
Forget "all or nothing" automation. A new paradigm is gaining traction: semi-automation. It's about simplifying complexity without eliminating humans entirely.
“We want metrology that can run reliably – even without an expert present,” said Niels.
“Imagine writing inspection programs from your home office or beach vacation, while someone on the shop floor scans parts and the software handles the alignment and analysis.”
Lukas added an important layer:
“You remove variability, simplify training, and reduce dependency on those ‘30-year veterans’ who carry processes in their heads. The goal is standardization that works for everyone.”
The conversation moved toward what happens next – the merging of scanning technology with artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
“Picture this,” said Lukas. “A worker picks up a part, the system identifies it automatically, loads the correct protocol, and visually guides the worker through placement and scanning.”
With AI doing the recognition and AR delivering interactive feedback, quality control becomes an intuitive, visual process – like an IKEA manual for high-tech inspection.
Witte’s Jürgen Wehrle introduced virtual clamping – a major innovation in fixturing. Using programmable, reconfigurable supports, fixtures can now adapt to different parts without manual realignment.
“You click on a part in the software, and the fixture adjusts itself to match,” explained Jürgen. “Soon we’ll have fully self-adjusting setups, powered by Eleven Dynamics software and modular Witte hardware.”
This development promises reduced setup times, fewer errors, and a future where anyone can mount complex parts for scanning without training.
Next up: AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) – the smart carts carrying metrology to the part, rather than moving the part to the measurement station.
“The future isn’t fixed setups,” said Nico. “It’s mobile robots with scanners, navigating the shop floor independently.” “Why have a static station when a robot dog or humanoid bot can do the job – and adapt in real-time to process changes?”
The conversation expanded into modular production environments, AI-driven sorting, and completely dark, human-free factories.
Lukas’s journey from tinkerer to industry expert added a personal dimension to the conversation.
“I started with a scanner in my garage. Now I’m using it in aerospace applications,” he shared. “Scanning saves time, increases accuracy, and reduces dependency on CMMs. And it’s becoming accessible enough for everyday users.”
His feedback to scanner manufacturers is helping shape more user-friendly products – proving that innovation often starts in the hands of those who use the tools daily.
The guests agreed: true progress lies in connectivity, openness, and simplification. Whether through AI-powered inspection, mobile robotics, or self-guided fixtures, the future of metrology is about making complex processes more human-centric – by requiring fewer humans.
“The goal is clear: metrology that’s accessible to everyone – from trainees to robots,” summed up Nico.
