Spinning out measurement tech to support advanced manufacturing

NPL spun out K3 Metrology to commercialise Metralis — a real-time, traceable measurement technology for advanced manufacturing — with support from the GOTT.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) develops world‑leading measurement science that underpins confidence in manufacturing, trade and innovation across the UK economy. One challenge in advanced manufacturing is how to accurately measure large and complex structures during production, rather than as an end stage activity.

Metralis was developed at NPL to address this challenge. The technology enables accurate, real-time measurement of large‑scale components, helping manufacturers assess and correct performance as products are being built.

While the technology was technically proven, NPL needed a way to bring Metralis to market at scale while continuing to deliver public benefit.

To commercialise Metralis, NPL created a spinout company, K3 Metrology Ltd (K3M), accelerated to market through its internal Spinout Framework. The framework sets out a structured five‑stage pathway from idea development to company formation, providing clarity on governance, decision‑making, equity and licensing arrangements.

K3M was the first spinout to be evaluated and approved via the full framework. This allowed NPL to test its approach against a live project, helping to refine processes and provide confidence to researchers and founders involved.

K3M now commercialises Metralis as a real‑time metrology platform for advanced manufacturing. The system is designed to be self‑calibrating and to provide high‑precision, traceable measurement data throughout production.

Metralis supports manufacturers operating in sectors where measurement accuracy and traceability are essential, such as aerospace and other advanced manufacturing environments.