By CRM Staff
Madison, Indiana — March 1, 2018 — Chief’s new live measuring system is comprised of two parts: the Meridian computerized system and the Galileo laser scanner.
“The beauty of the new Meridian live mapping system lies in its accuracy and versatility. It can be used with a vehicle on a lift in an estimating bay, during blueprinting, or on a rack during collision repair,” says Lee Daugherty, director of collision sales for the Americas, Chief. “Every bodyshop should perform three-dimensional measuring on every vehicle it services, because it’s not always obvious where collision damage occurred. With real-time measuring, you can quickly identify alignment issues, as well as monitor the whole vehicle when adjusting the frame to see how one pull might affect other points and easily course-correct.”
The Meridian and Galileo components work together to provide techs with measurements of vehicles needing repair. According to Chief, the Meridian can measure up to 45 individual points on a vehicle at the same time, in real time, even while a tech is pulling or replacing parts. This gives technicians the ability to watch dimensional changes being made to the vehicle during the repair process without having to start and stop multiple times.
Chief says that using the Meridian system allows for faster frame measuring, more accurate estimates and more precise repairs. The Galileo scanner utilizes laser technology which helps increase measurement length up to five metres, perfect for any sized passenger vehicle on the road today. The geo-spatial control system makes necessary adjustments to provide precise measurements no matter what direction the scanner is tilted. This out-of-level measuring technology makes the scanner very portable – you can use it on a two-post lift for blueprinting, and then quickly move it to a frame rack for structural repairs without complicated set-up.
The scanner also features dual processors for data processing, optical components for accurate readings under any lighting conditions, and a built-in calibration check. This lets technicians confirm for themselves that the scanner is properly calibrated at any time.
The Galileo self-levelling laser scanner features a single-hub design that should deliver a 360-degree field of view with improved line of sight. Chief designed the tool to be compact and ergonomic, with scratch protection to provide increased durability and long life even in harsh shop environments.
“We’ve put full control and peace of mind in the hands of the shop with this new measuring system,” adds Daugherty. “From the step-by-step guided tutorials about where to hang which targets to the built-in scanner calibration verification process and the ability to print full-colour reports of collision damage and final repair measurements, Meridian helps shops increase their estimating and repair accuracy and overall service quality.”
The Meridian system comes with the Galileo laser scanner with out-of-level measuring capabilities, 45 bar-coded reflective hanging targets with a range of bolt, hole and clip attachments, and a portable workstation with dual flat screens, computer and printer. The system requires a subscription to Chief’s Thunderbolt vehicle specifications.
For more information visit chiefautomotive.com/Meridian.
