Mitutoyo Supports the New Generation of Engineers at Babeș-Bolyai University

With roots stretching back to 1581, Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca — commonly known as UBB — stands as Romania’s oldest university and one of its most distinguished academic institutions. This reputation stems from both its centuries-long heritage and its ongoing commitment to emerging fields of study, research, and innovation. Recently, the Faculty of Engineering in Reșița, a branch of UBB, secured funding through a program supported by the West Regional Development Agency to equip its research laboratory with a Mitutoyo coordinate measuring machine, with the goal of enhancing students’ practical skills.

Ranked among Romania’s leading universities, UBB currently enrolls 50,000 students and is recognized for its distinctive multicultural character within the European academic landscape. The university operates three main lines of study — Romanian, Hungarian, and German — while also offering instruction in additional languages such as French and English.

Although UBB assumed responsibility for the Faculty of Engineering in 2020, the academic history of Reșița reaches back much further. The first technical students began their studies there in 1971, at a time when the city’s rapidly expanding industry created a strong demand for engineers — a demand the faculty rose to meet.

As an integral part of UBB Cluj-Napoca, the Faculty of Engineering is dedicated to providing both initial and continuing professional education through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, as well as specialization and advanced training courses tailored to regional needs. The faculty also plays an important role in supporting local businesses and public institutions through applied research. The large number of Reșița-trained engineers recruited by research and production teams across Romania and internationally speaks to the high quality of the education provided.

“The Faculty of Engineering has — and has had over the years — teaching staff with extensive experience in the industrial environment, who bring real added value to both teaching and research. Our core fields of study are mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and applied computer science. Beyond coursework, students engage in student circles, pursue research at their own level, and regularly participate in national technical competitions,” said Prof. Univ. Dr. Ing. Gilbert-Rainer Gillich, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.

To offer students the best combination of academic learning and hands-on experience, the Faculty of Engineering chose to invest in high-performance technological equipment. Through the West Regional Development Agency-financed program, the institution secured the necessary funds to outfit its research laboratory with a Mitutoyo MiSTAR 555 coordinate measuring machine (CMM).

The MiSTAR 555 is a 3D CNC coordinate measuring machine renowned for its reliability, made possible by real-time temperature compensation technology that maintains accuracy across a wide temperature range.

Reflecting on the acquisition, Prof. Gillich noted: “We chose this machine because it is a high-performance piece of equipment, and with the educational software packages included, we can equip students with the skills and competencies that private companies in the region are looking for. We were fortunate to receive a strong offer from Mitutoyo, which made the purchase of such a top-tier machine possible.”

Built on decades of expertise, Mitutoyo equipment delivers the precision, reliability, and durability required when machines are used frequently by students. The offering also includes educational software packages with 20 licenses, high-quality training, and ongoing technical support. The software is intuitive and easy to navigate, while generating detailed reports — a key requirement for both instructors and researchers.

“The MiSTAR 555 is used in numerous laboratory experiments across several disciplines. We are able to design applications that closely mirror real industrial conditions, taking measurements on parts received from industry partners, new components, or parts with varying degrees of wear. The machine accommodates dimensions of 500×500×500 mm and achieves an accuracy of 2.2 microns,” Prof. Gillich explained.

Today’s manufactured components are more complex than ever, featuring greater part diversity and tighter tolerances, which makes robust quality control and metrological processes increasingly essential in manufacturing.

“The machine runs MCosmos software for dimensional measurements, and with its Geopak, CAT1000, and Scanpak modules, it enables precise touch scanning and point measurements for parts across virtually all industries.”

For master’s and doctoral students engaged in advanced research, a solution of this caliber was the natural choice for staying aligned with future engineering and technological developments — and with the support of Mitutoyo Romania, it became a reality.

“What do we appreciate most about this machine? Beyond its impressive capabilities, it offers a user-friendly interface and allows measurement programs to be created intuitively. The educational software packages enable us to work with groups of students simultaneously. We are particularly grateful for the availability, flexibility, and responsiveness of Mitutoyo Romania, both for laboratory work and industrial applications. The training provided was interactive and practically oriented. I wholeheartedly recommend Mitutoyo coordinate measuring machines to private companies and universities alike,” Prof. Gillich concluded.