Opus Inspection buys Fastlign car testing tech

15 Sep 2016

Laser-based system checks critical vehicle specs like wheel alignment – as business accelerates.

Opus Inspection, part of the engineering technology Opus Group, based in Mölndal, Sweden, has acquired a controlling interest in Fastlign, a patented laser-based technology that can almost instantly measure the wheel alignment of cars and trucks. This automated technology can identify faults in steering, suspension, and wheel distortion with a speed and convenience that no conventional methods can match, says Opus.

The company states that “a significant percentage” of vehicles in current usage have wheel alignment, suspension, and tracking issues, which often go unnoticed. The Fastlign vehicle test is performed contactlessly and the inspection can be completed in less than three seconds while a vehicle is driven between two laser towers positioned in a service area.

Opus adds that the integration of Fastlign expands upon its significant vehicle testing technology, which is already being used by automotive service shops and dealerships in various locations. All tests are designed to give a pass/fail determination; vehicles failing this fully-automated test then receive a service recommendation.

New business

Opus Inspection has now formed a new company, Fastlign LLC, with BanaLogic, the developer of Fastlign. The new company controls the intellectual property associated with the Fastlign and is majority-owned by Opus Inspection. BanaLogic will continue to support Fastlign while Opus Inspection promotes the Fastlign technology throughout the vehicle inspection and repair industry.

Troy Woolridge, CEO of BanaLogic, commented, “Opus Inspection will bring Fastlign to new markets by leveraging Opus Inspection’s global presence in the vehicle inspection industry. Our current Fastlign product is valuable to automotive dealerships, repair shops, and tire shops, who will be able to expand their customer offerings. In addition, Opus will be able to add value to the roadworthiness inspections performed at Opus-owned stations.”

Opus Inspection CEO, Lothar Geilen, said, “Fastlign will be an integral part of our strategic plan to expand our cutting-edge, automated inspection technologies and vehicle services. It will be initially offered to many of our existing 28,000 shop customers in the US market, and ultimately worldwide. This is an exciting new addition to Opus innovative product and services line up.”

How Fastlign works

The following video shows how the Fastlign procecedure works; it makes an automatic measurement of a vehicle’s wheel alignment within 3 seconds without requiring a technician or the fitting of wheel clamps.