Renovating and repairing boats, especially fiberglass boats, requires precise measurements of complex surfaces to ensure efficient interventions. The challenge of balancing profitability and performance has been met by the German company Blaupause Bootsbau, which specializes in the maintenance, repair, and refitting of leisure boats, through the use of 3D scanners.
Modernizing Measurement Processes
Initially, Blaupause Bootsbau needed to modernize its work processes, as digitally capturing curved surfaces was a difficult task. Digitalization therefore emerged as a logical and cost-effective solution. By using fast and accurate scanners such as the Artec Leo and Artec Ray II, the company was able to reduce its maintenance times by two-thirds, setting itself apart from the competition.
Before implementing 3D scanners, the company had attempted to improve boat measurements using single-point lasers. However, this technology required capturing and aligning data point by point, a time-consuming process that required a lot of manpower. Processing times could take up to six hours per project.
Using the Artec Leo and Ray II Scanners
Recognizing the need for a more powerful tool, Martin Dittmer, Managing Director of Blaupause Bootsbau, explored various options. After a demonstration of the Artec Leo and Artec Ray II scanners, he was convinced by the technology. The Leo scanner’s ease of use, combined with the Ray II’s rapid setup and long-range capabilities, enabled fast surface scanning.
Since acquiring these devices, the company has benefited from quick results and unparalleled precision. Martin Dittmer explains: “Previously, it took me five to six hours to measure a deck or a small cockpit. With the Leo, I can scan it in ten minutes. With rising overhead costs, we need to be more efficient, and measurements are a crucial part of this process.”
Accelerated Digital Renovation Process
Once all the necessary data is collected, it must be quickly transformed into a detailed 3D model. Artec Studio facilitates this process with its Autopilot mode, which automates many manual steps and selects the best algorithms to optimize the data. The introduction of this technology has fundamentally changed the way Blaupause Bootsbau operates.
One example: After the damage caused by Storm Babet to boats in the Baltic Sea, Blaupause Bootsbau was able to intervene quickly. Using 3D scans of intact parts of the boats, the company created digital “patches” to reconstruct missing areas and obtain a complete representation of the hulls for repairs.
Martin Dittmer emphasizes: “The interior of a boat is three-dimensional, with curved and irregular shapes. Like any complex form, it is often difficult to take measurements. Now, we can fully renovate leisure boats, from electrical installations to interior fittings. Artec 3D scanning allows us to capture and analyze data remotely in advance, helping us identify potential issues.”
Future Prospects for Boat Digitalization
With a growing business, Blaupause Bootsbau plans to further accelerate 3D data acquisition while continuing to improve precision. Many of the old yachts the company renovates contain original small parts.
Although the Artec Leo can scan these parts, the company is considering purchasing an Artec Spider II, Artec 3D’s most precise scanner, capable of capturing details with an accuracy of 0.05 mm.
Since some projects allow for greater tolerance, the primary goal remains rapid digitalization. In this field, the Leo and Ray II scanners offer an unrivaled balance of speed and precision that meets most maintenance, repair, and refitting requirements.
Martin Dittmer concludes: “The Artec Leo works for almost every application. We use it daily. This tool has helped us solve our biggest challenge: creating digital twins. Digital measurement will play an increasingly important role in the reverse engineering industry.”
By integrating 3D scanning technologies into their processes, companies like Blaupause Bootsbau demonstrate how innovation can transform traditional industries and improve the efficiency and precision of repair work.