Our heritage
Read about Renishaw's growth over the years.
1972 - David McMurtry invents first touch-trigger probe.
1973 - First commercial probe for CMMs produced.
1974 - John Deer becomes first full-time employee.
1976 - First commercial premises purchased.
1977 - First dedicated probe for machine tools introduced.
1978 - First patent case fought jointly with Rolls-Royce.
1978 - First Renishaw exhibition stand at PEP show, Olympia, London.
1979 - Sales reach £1m, of which 85% were exports.
1979 - First Queen's Award (Export Achievement)
1979 - David McMurtry joined company full-time, and the first apprentice was recruited.
1980 - Official opening of extended premises by HRH Princess Anne.
1981 - First overseas manufacturing facility opened in Dublin, Ireland.
1983 - Renishaw shares listed on Unlisted Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange.
1984 - First sponsored student scheme introduced.
Renishaw shares enter official list of London Stock Exchange.
1985 - New Mills building opened (now the Company's HQ).
1987 - Digitising software (MAETRACE) and laser interferometer (SL10) introduced.
1987 - Agreement with Rolls-Royce to take 100% ownership of original patents.
1989 - First encoder introduced (RGI).
1991 - QC10 ballbar and Raman microscope introduced.
1992 - Launched Cyclone scanning machine.
1995 - Launched HS10 laser scale.
1996 - 3 awards received for RAMTIC production system.
1997 - PCMT process control software for machine tools launched.
1997 - Reached 1000 employees worldwide.
2000 - Worldwide sales reached £100m.
2001 - David McMurtry received knighthood "for services to design and innovation".
2002 - First dental scanner introduced (Triclone 90).
2005 - Launched REVO five-axis measurement system.
2006 - Purchased ITP GmbH.
2007 - Established neurological product line.
2010 - Acquired initial stake in Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL) with agreement to purchase remaining shares.
2011 - Introduced gauging product line (Equator).
2011 - Launched additive manufacturing product line.
2011 - Purchased Miskin site in South Wales.
2012 - Reached 3000 employees worldwide.
Sales reached £300m.
Image: The Citizen2012 - Woodchester plant won Best Electronics & Electrical Plant award.
2013 - New fixtures product line launched.
2014 - Record 105 craft and technical apprentices in training.
Record intake of 68 graduates.
2015 - Royal opening of Renishaw Innovation Centre
Reached 4,000 employees worldwide
A brief history
Renishaw was established in 1973 by David McMurtry (now Sir David McMurtry), Executive Chairman, and John Deer, now Deputy Chairman. The company's first product, the touch-trigger probe had been invented by Sir David to solve a specific inspection requirement for the Olympus engines used on the supersonic Concorde aircraft. This innovative product led to a revolution in three-dimensional co-ordinate measurement, enabling the accurate measurement of machined components and finished assemblies.
Throughout our history we have made a significant commitment to research and development (R&D), with around 15 to 18% of annual sales invested in R&D and engineering. This has enabled the company to diversify into sensors for CNC machine tools which are used for automating machine setting operations and in-process part measurement, position encoders for accurate motion control, laser interferometry for machine performance evaluation, systems to produce dental crowns and bridges, Raman microscopes for spectral analysis of materials, gauging technology, additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping, laser measurement and medical devices for neurosurgical applications.
The majority of our R&D and manufacturing is carried out in the UK, primarily in the County of Gloucestershire, where our headquarters are based on the site of a former 19th Century mill used to manufacture woollen cloth. We also have manufacturing bases in France, Germany and the US as well as assembly facilities located near to Dublin, Ireland and in Pune, India. In 2011 we acquired the former Bosch manufacturing facility at Miskin, near Cardiff, in South Wales; manufacturing commenced there in May 2012.
We have a strong global presence, with 81 locations in 36 countries and some 94% of our sales are made outside the UK. Since our formation in 1973 we have won numerous awards, including eighteen Queen's Awards, recognising Technological Achievement, Export Achievement and Enterprise (Innovation).