Our history
Celebrating 50 years of innovation
At Renishaw, we have spent 50 years engineering change. Our company was established in 1973 by David McMurtry (now Sir David McMurtry), Executive Chairman, and John Deer, Non-Executive Deputy Chairman. Renishaw's first product, the touch-trigger probe, was invented by Sir David to solve a specific inspection requirement for the Olympus engines used in Concorde. 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 with typically around 13% to 18% of annual sales invested in R&D and engineering. This has enabled us to design, develop and deliver solutions that provide unparalleled precision, control and reliability.
Our commitment to investments in people, product development and production capacity, are all underpinned by a commitment to be a more sustainable organisation, to ensure we continue transforming tomorrow together.
1970s
1972 - David McMurtry invents first touch-trigger probe
1973 - Renishaw Electrical Ltd registered and first probe for CMMs (TP1) made commercially available
1976 - First commercial premises, a former ice cream factory in Wotton-under-Edge, UK
1977 - First dedicated probe for machine tools - enabling automated setting and inspection
1979 - Start of the Early Careers programme with the first apprentices employed (sponsored student scheme started 1984)
1980s
1981 - International expansion with a manufacturing facility in Ireland and the first sales subsidiary, Renishaw Inc, established in Chicago, USA
1983 - Flotation on the London Stock Exchange's Unlisted Securities Market (full listing in 1984)
1985 - New Mills site in Gloucestershire, UK (now the Company's headquarters) officially opened (site purchased 1981)
1987 - First laser interferometer system – transforming the speed and accuracy of machine calibration
1989 - Introduction of the first range of encoder readheads and interfaces
1990s
1991 - QC10 ballbar system - enabling rapid analysis of machine tool positioning performance
1991 - Raman microscope introduced to provide detailed chemical and structural characterisation
1992 - Introduction of RAMTIC (Renishaw's Automated Milling, Turning and Inspection Centre) an in-house system still in use for component production
1995 - First laser scale system
1997 - 1,000 employees worldwide
2000s
2000 - Worldwide sales reach £100 million
2001 - David McMurtry receives knighthood ‘for services to design and innovation'
2003 - Largest international expansion in one year with office openings in Austria, Canada, Hungary, Israel and Sweden
2005 - Launch of the REVO® five-axis measurement system, enabling a 10x increase in tactile measurement speeds
2007 - Neurological product line established
2010s
2011 - Gauging and additive manufacturing product lines introduced
2011 - Miskin manufacturing site purchased in South Wales
2013 - Metrology fixtures product line introduced
2018 - Launch of the RenAM 500Q four-laser additive manufacturing system
2019 - 5,000 employees worldwide
2020s
2020 - Helped deliver over 13,000 ventilators to the UK's National Health Service during Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
2021 - Record year for UK graduate and apprentice opportunities - 96 graduates and 80 apprentices
2021 - Launch of the FORTiS™ range of next-generation enclosed linear absolute encoders
2022 - Announce detailed Net Zero emissions commitments
2022 - £65 million expansion begins at Miskin manufacturing site in South Wales
