December 11, 2025

Forest City Gear is proud to announce the addition of a KAPP NILES KNM 4X analytical measuring machine to its inspection department, further expanding ability to inspect high-precision gears, gear tools, and rotationally symmetric workpieces. Designed for small- to medium-sized components up to 450 mm in diameter and 500 kg, the KNM 4X brings a new level of speed, stability, and measurement confidence to Forest City Gear’s inspection process.

The KNM 4X has advanced rotary axis alignment capabilities, giving Forest City Gear an important edge in high-precision inspection. Unlike traditional datum feature referencing, this software-driven process uses the probe to automatically remove any mechanical misalignment before measurement begins. The result is cleaner, more reliable data—a proven advantage for both ultra-accurate inspections and complex troubleshooting efforts.

In addition to its technical strengths, the machine plays a strategic role in Forest City Gear’s long-term planning. It helps relieve current capacity constraints while supporting an ongoing initiative to standardize the inspection platform across the company. This unified approach will eventually allow FCG to centrally program inspections offline and deploy part programs to multiple machines across the same network, improving throughput, consistency, and overall efficiency.

According to Rodger Boswell, Sales Manager at KAPP TECHNOLOGIES, “At MPT Expo 2023, KAPP NILES introduced their newly designed KNM 4X Analytical Gear Inspection Machine to the North American Market. The KNM 4X received a lot of interest, especially from our valued customer Forest City Gear. At that time Forest City Gear had been investigating the various capabilities and design elements of different gear inspection machines as part of their future harmonious brand plan. After a couple months of discussions and defining requirements, Forest City Gear committed to purchase the KNM 4X and was excited to pilot the first installation. Today, from our collaborative efforts executing the plan, the KNM 4X fulfills an integral part of Forest City Gear’s daily inspection requirements and provides the results they are looking for.”

“As we continue investing in top-tier equipment, the KNM 4X helps us close the loop inspection—giving our customers confidence that every part leaving our floor meets the highest standards of precision and consistency,” says Jared Lyford, Director of Operations at Forest City Gear. “We’re incredibly pleased to have our partnership with KAPP help pave the way, every day, to continue delivering on our promise of Excellence Without Exception.”