The Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers (WCSIM) has presented its 2006 annual achievement award to Laser Optical Engineering for its pioneering work in non invasive strain mapping
The prestigious WCSIM annual achievement award is given for contributions to research, design, development, new applications or techniques, or any meritorious efforts in the field of scientific instrumentation.
LOE's Strain Mapper system uses laser shearography, a measurement technique pioneered by managing director John Tyrer.
This is an excellent example of university research work being industrialised and marketed by a company that started life within the university.
Carl Saunders Singer, deputy master of WCSIM, presented the ward to Dr Tyrer.
Singer praised the innovative work that had led to the development of this invaluable new tool for assessing stress and strains in any object.
In accepting the award Tyrer said that the company had successfully industrialised a method of measuring internal strain in everything from engines to bridges, cars to aircraft, and very importantly implants for prosthetics such as knee and hip joints.
Because the system provides a completely new 3D view on the stresses within complex structures we are seeing a very wide range of applications, with many customers asking for help.
"The LOE work with medical research and design communities is massively important", says Tyrer.
"If we have a better understanding of what the body is up to we can start to think on new way about current prosthetic procedures".
Speaking about the award, Tyrer reflected: "Receiving this award is a great honour.
"The WCSIM is well respected within our field of research and their appreciation of our technology underlines the real-world value of Strain Mapper.
