COBHAM, UK, July 21, 2026 – Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence business area has added OPC UA support to SpatialAnalyzer, its software for large-scale metrology and alignment. The update connects laser measurement systems to the industrial control systems that drive robots and automated production lines, addressing an accuracy gap in robotic automation.
Large-format manufacturers in aerospace, energy, and shipbuilding face growing pressure to increase output without losing precision. Forecast International’s May 2026 Airbus and Boeing orders and deliveries report puts the two manufacturers’ combined order backlog at more than 16,000 aircraft as of the end of May 2026, equivalent to a decade of production at current delivery rates. Robots alone cannot guarantee the precision that large, complex assemblies require. OPC UA is a common standard used to communicate between industrial control systems, such as PLCs, and robots.
The new client includes encryption and authentication for secure data exchange, supported by 25 new MP/SDK commands for developers building automated OPC UA workflows.
“Robots are much-needed in large-format manufacturing, but they are not accurate enough to perform operations such as drilling holes to the precision required – the bigger the part, the harder it can be to align,” said Zach Rogers, product manager for SpatialAnalyzer at Hexagon. “SpatialAnalyzer is the software for orchestrating quality inspections and complex, metrology-assisted manufacturing and assembly processes, used by OEMs and their system integrators and line builders. This is a huge release for anyone using or building these systems, with support for all common metrology devices.”
Hexagon is also introducing SARCA, a robot-calibration device that uses multi-zone, multi-tool calibration to improve the accuracy of industrial robots. SARCA lets manufacturers calibrate robots before they go into production.
The release also supports full use of the Leica Absolute Tracker ATS800, a metrology device covering room scanning, laser position tracking with reflectors, and direct scanning of features. Support for the ATS800 is delivered through Hexagon’s System Integrator Programme, which brings new metrology devices and capabilities to the systems that OEMs and integrators build.
“Our customers need better ways of delivering excellence, but sooner, to serve unprecedented aerospace and defence demand,” said Aziz Tahiri, global director, Aerospace and Defence, Hexagon. “SpatialAnalyzer is trusted throughout the industry, and with robust OPC UA support for metrology, we have unlocked new automation capabilities in stable processes and brought mature building blocks to new challenges. With support for the unique direct scanning capabilities of the Leica Absolute Tracker ATS800, delivered through our revamped System Integrator Programme, we will help the ecosystem bring process innovations to the global community.”
SpatialAnalyzer 2026.1 also adds Google Sheets integration for automated data workflows, and support for the API LADAR, Leica RTC360, and Nikon LR scanners, and compatibility with RDS 6.6 and the Leica TS20.
Source: Hexagon
About Hexagon
Hexagon AB is a Swedish industrial technology company based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company traces its origins to Eken Industri och Handel AB, founded in Stockholm in 1975. Hexagon supplies measurement, positioning, sensing, and software products for industrial and public-sector users. Its products include sensors, coordinate measuring machines, laser scanners, positioning systems, CAD/CAM software, geospatial tools, asset lifecycle systems, and autonomous technologies. The company serves customers in manufacturing, construction, aerospace, agriculture, mining, public safety, infrastructure, and mobility. Engineers, surveyors, manufacturers, asset owners, governments, and industrial operators use its products. Hexagon reported about 24,500 employees in 50 countries.