Hexagon AB, leading global provider of design, measurement and visualization technologies, welcomed more than 3,500 attendees from over 70 countries to their third annual international conference, HxGN LIVE June 3–5, at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The event united user communities from Hexagon Metrology, Leica Geosystems, and Intergraph®. The four-day event included previews of new solutions, interactive demonstrations, technology certifications, and unlimited networking opportunities.

Professionals from the geospatial, surveying, power and energy, construction, aerospace and defense, public safety and security, automotive and manufacturing industries, among others, were in attendance. The event featured more than 400 educational breakout sessions, hands-on training courses and visionary keynote presentations. The HxGN LIVE Zone exhibition showcased products, solutions and sponsor exhibits, as well as a number of integrated technologies highlighting Hexagon’s synergistic portfolio. 

New this year was HxGN LIVE TV, a portal where viewers could stream videos and live events during the conference. Highlights include daily wrap-ups from the show, the General Keynote, the Metrology Keynote, Metrology Spotlight and a tour of Metrology in The Zone—HxGN LIVE’s own full size exhibition. For those who were unable to participate, HxGN LIVE TV may be found at http://tv.hxgnlive.com/

The conference officially kicked off with keynote presentations led by Ola Rollén, Hexagon President and CEO. He discussed the role that Hexagon’s technologies play when it comes to visualizing problems in order to gain a competitive edge. He was joined by the company’s divisional presidents, including Norbert Hanke, President of Hexagon Metrology, to discuss the story of Hexagon’s far-reaching and positive impact on metrology as a whole. “HxGN LIVE provides the perfect opportunity for our global user community to network and learn first-hand how Hexagon’s technologies and new innovations can positively impact their business,” stated Rollén, “This year we’re showcasing several new Smart solutions that lift customer productivity - from the new software solutions Smart Assembly and Smart Agriculture to the Nova MS50, the latest surveying solution from Leica Geosystems.”

Featured speakers in the metrology track included Sgt. First Class (Ret.) Dana Bowman and NASCAR crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte. Letarte’s presentation focused on Hendrick Motorsport’s use of Hexagon Metrology equipment to shave seconds off of race times. Dana Bowman not only presented, but also parachuted into the event. Dana’s jump was even more breathtaking since he is a double amputee who lost his legs during a Golden Knights training exercise. His presentation later in the day focused on mastering change and touched on Hexagon Metrology’s role in providing him with a new set of artificial legs. 

Aside from the featured presentations, other educational opportunities included PC-DMIS roundtables, Metrology PLM (product lifecycle management), and a session dedicated to GD&T interpretations. A favorite of participants was a session titled “CMM Preventative Maintenance”. One attendee summed up other comments by saying, “The CMM Preventative Maintenance session was an excellent presentation with excellent visual aids and handouts. This session was a must-see for those purchasing equipment.”

Metrology track attendees also had the privilege of viewing new technologies before they are released to the general public. They caught a sneak peak at the recently launched PC-DMIS 2013 and PC-DMIS Touch. The latest multisensor CMM, Optiv Classic 443tp, also made its debut at the conference. PC-DMIS 2013 marks the next significant development release in the evolution of PC-DMIS, the world’s most popular metrology software while PC-DMIS Touch features a revolutionary user interface that simplifies the measurement process. The Optiv Classic 443 tp, the newest vision CMM in the Classic model series, boasts a first term accuracy of 1.9 microns making it ideal for applications with micro- and nano-scale precision.

Following the success of HxGN LIVE, HxGN LIVE 2014 will take place June 2 -5 2014, also at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. For more information and to register, visit the conference website at http://conference.hexagon.com/.