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Based in Japan, AMB Aero delivers full-spectrum aerodynamic design services for elite motorsport teams and high-performance automotive OEMs worldwide. With a proven track record in race-winning and championship-calibre programs, the firm brings advanced aerodynamic solutions to projects, including CFD development, wind tunnel validation, 3D scanning and reverse engineering, custom aero kits for time attack applications, and technical training.
With complex geometries and surfaces, along with an unprecedented need for aerodynamics, race cars require metrology solutions that deliver some of the highest 3D measurement accuracy levels in the world. Built for Speed. Slowed by Dependencies.
Prior to implementing in-house 3D measurement capabilities, AMB Aero faced several critical operational setbacks, which directly impacted our efficiency and ability to deliver consistent value to our clients,’ Andrew Brilliant, the company’s Director, said. The team’s main challenges were:
Third-party partners
Initial operations in the mid-2000s were constrained by the prohibitive capital investment requirements for metrology equipment, which meant that AMB Aero had to rely on third-party scanning services, often resulting in unpredictable lead times and scheduling uncertainties.
Technical constraints
It was especially difficult for large-scale automotive projects. Volumetric distortion and surface-based alignment algorithms often compounded 3D measurement uncertainty across long vehicle bodies. The system used by the third-party partner has a standard accuracy of 0,1 mm locally, which resulted in tolerance stack-ups of 5–10 mm over a 5-meter vehicle, making it nearly impossible to build reliable symmetrical models.
Extensive manual interventions
Legacy scanning systems required extensive manual intervention for point cloud cleanup and processing, resulting in prolonged on-site data acquisition sessions. This was particularly problematic given the company’s global client base, as equipment mobility constraints—specifically scanner size and weight limitations for air travel—complicated the team’s ability to provide efficient on-site services.
Quality control
Inconsistent scan data quality and dimensional accuracy compromised our downstream engineering processes, increasing production iterations. It also affected both manufacturing costs and resource utilization.
Training took a day before AMB Aero’s team was confident with a new generation of 3D scanning tech. “Our primary concerns centred on reputational and financial risks stemming from data inaccuracy, like limited ability to carry out root cause analyses and identify stealth performance issues due to geometric variations,” he explained.
“In high-performance automotive applications, engineering decisions based on imprecise measurement data can lead to catastrophic consequences, such as component interference issues, aerodynamic performance discrepancies, and manufacturing delays. These risks were amplified by the high-stakes nature of motorsport development programs, where compressed timelines and significant financial investments demand absolute accuracy.”
A pivotal moment came during a significant project with a major aftermarket components manufacturer. The project highlighted the limitations of AMB Aero’s existing 3D measurement capabilities when dealing with complex vehicle surfaces and symmetry requirements. Team members encountered cumulative tolerance stack-up problems, where the existing 3D measurement approach effectively doubled the vehicle's inherent geometric variations, generating deviations of 6-8 mm across the vehicle's surface.
The technical implications became evident during the client's product development cycle. Despite detailed communication about data limitations, the resulting component designs faced fitment issues that weren't discovered until after the tooling investment. This situation crystallized AMB Aero’s understanding that maintaining competitive advantage in the high-precision automotive aftermarket sector required a step-change in our measurement capabilities.
“This experience drove our strategic decision to invest in advanced metrology solutions that could deliver superior accuracy, faster acquisition speeds, and enhanced ease of use. Our key requirements included the ability to capture complete vehicle geometry while reducing measurement uncertainties by at least 50% compared to our previous capabilities. This improvement would enable us to provide our clients with the high-confidence data sets necessary for successful aftermarket component development programs,” Andrew mentioned.
HandySCAN BLACK™|Elite makes it a breeze to acquire 3D measurements from a race car—regardless of surface color or complexity. Bringing 3D Scanning Back In-house
Andrew explored nearly every 3D scanning option on the market. His primary goal was to find a metrology solution that was extremely accurate (to the sub-millimetre level) for large-scale automotive parts, ensuring reliable surface detail capture, ease of use, and intuitive, integrated 3D scanning software, with a proven track record of comprehensive training and customer support.
What changed everything was discovering Creaform. AMB Aero opted for HandySCAN BLACK™|Elite and Creaform Metrology Suite™.
Setup took less than two hours. His team was operational on the same day. “The interface is intuitive. I trained my technical staff to scan effectively in no time flat. This rapid adoption directly accelerated project throughput,” Andrew said.
AMB-Aero completed a full on-site 3D scanning project with a well-known Japanese automotive performance specialist. The objective was to establish baseline geometry for an existing aerodynamic package ahead of a broader performance optimization initiative.
Creaform’s metrology equipment was used based on how easy it was to deploy HandySCAN BLACK™|Elite to international locations, a robust design to withstand travel, shop floor environments and extreme temperature variations, and the 3D scanner’s data acquisition speed due to the single-day access to the vehicle.
The project is now in the reverse engineering phase, where 3D scan data is being transformed into parametric CAD models. These models will form the foundation for:
- Baseline performance analysis
- Integration into our proprietary analysis software
- Development of optimization recommendations
HandySCAN BLACK™|Elite can handle any type of surface. From Data Doubts to Data Confidence
The change to AMB Aero’s engineering workflows transformed how the team undertakes projects. 3D scan sessions that used to stretch over several days now take hours. Accuracy improved so dramatically that downstream engineering iterations dropped by half.
"“We don’t second-guess our data anymore. When a component isn’t working, we can isolate the root cause without wondering if it’s a problem with the scan. We reduced tolerance stack-up headaches by a factor of 5.”"
Andrew Brilliant, AMB Aero’s Director
The company no longer relies on outsourced services, regaining control over costs, project pacing, and quality. “It’s not just that we’re faster. We’re more confident. We can take on more complex projects because the data doesn’t slow us down anymore.”
With stronger 3D measurement capabilities, AMB Aero has expanded its offerings and taken on more demanding projects. Higher data quality and quicker turnaround times have reinforced the company’s position in a brutally competitive market.
Andrew said: “I have used almost every 3D scanning system on the market multiple times, some even spending years to fine-tune skills. Thank you for making the next level product that made the metrology portion of our process not just a relief but even more enjoyable!”
Creaform Metrology Suite™ 3D scanning software simplifies post-3D scanning processing for high-fidelity 3D models. Scaling Up for Even More Motorsports Programs
AMB Aeros’s upcoming project pipeline reflects the continued evolution of its metrology capabilities across high-performance racing. The company has secured key engagements in more complex motorsport applications and premier racing categories.
One major initiative was a comprehensive aerodynamic development program for a Le Mans Prototype vehicle, which was launched in the spring of 2025; the team is now preparing to move into production this winter. The project leverages AMB Aero’s comprehensive suite of 3D measurement and analysis tools to optimize vehicle performance within the stringent technical regulations of endurance racing.
In parallel, the team is expanding its involvement in FIA-sanctioned Hill Climb competition through a dedicated program tailored to the unique aerodynamic challenges of that racing category.
Andrew’s final take on his investment with Creaform? “In the metrology space, specifications tell only part of the story. What truly sets Creaform's solutions apart is their exceptional combination of reliability, usability, and consistent performance. Having evaluated numerous systems throughout my career, I've found that Creaform's continued market leadership and unmatched customer support stem from its ability to deliver a complete ecosystem that inspires confidence in long-term investment. Creaform’s 3D scanning solutions embody that rare combination of technical excellence and refined user experience that makes a critical tool not just effective, but indispensable to any company’s daily operations.”
Published 11/11/2025