In 1973, Sir David McMurtry and John Deer founded a global engineering technologies company, Renishaw. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Renishaw subsidiaries around the globe hosted a variety of events and activities throughout 2023 involving many stakeholders, including customers and employees.
As part of these celebrations, in the UK, the company welcomed employees and their relatives to special Gloucestershire and South Wales open days held at its New Mills and Miskin sites respectively. The events provided a unique opportunity for guests to experience Renishaw’s world-class facilities and view its cutting-edge products in action, with informative demonstrations conducted by experts across various business divisions.
From captivating science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) activities for younger audiences, to a classic car show and sporting challenges run by partner organizations Cardiff Rugby and Forest Green Rovers FC, the open days showcased the innovation and community spirit that has defined Renishaw for five decades. Renishaw’s Edinburgh research office also celebrated the anniversary in style with their very own office band which played hit songs from 1973 including Elton John, Stealers Wheel, and Stevie Wonder.
“This year we’ve celebrated the achievements of our co-founders, plus past and present employees, who have contributed significantly to global advances in precision manufacturing,” said Will Lee, Renishaw’s CEO. “Whilst this landmark year has now ended, we’re looking forward with confidence to another half-century of innovation and sustainable growth.”
To showcase Renishaw’s global success, teams around the world also hosted anniversary events. In Germany, for example, Renishaw GmbH and guests from Renishaw AG (Switzerland) hosted a ’70s-themed summer festival, whilst in Asia, Will Lee joined Andy Buttrey, Renishaw’s APAC President, to participate in festivities at some of the region’s subsidiaries. This included a family party in Shanghai and rock climbing with employees in Hong Kong.
“The celebrations are about more than just 50 years of Renishaw’s success,” said Edwin Lau, HR Business Partner at Renishaw Hong Kong. “We celebrated the spirit of unity and collaboration that has driven us forward all these years and the exciting future ahead.”
In Rajkot, India, an evening seminar for customers showcased Renishaw’s products for smart manufacturing, including live demonstrations and a round-table discussion, whilst in Italy, a similar event was held at the Turin Automobile Museum.
“The formula that has ensured Renishaw’s success over the past 50 years remains at the heart of our approach to business,” said Lee. “That means continuing to invest heavily in research and development, and focus on excellent customer service, whilst developing our people who are at the heart of our business. On behalf of Renishaw, I would like to thank them for making our continued success possible.”
As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations and to share its success with local communities, Renishaw also donated a total of £150,000 to charities and not-for-profit organizations located in the countries where it has operations. In the UK this included foodbank provider, the Trussell Trust, with all its branches local to the company’s sites in Gloucestershire and South Wales receiving a donation.
Renishaw’s first product, the touch-trigger probe, was invented by Sir David McMurtry to solve a specific inspection requirement for the Olympus engines used in Concorde. This innovative product led to a revolution in three-dimensional coordinate measurement, enabling the accurate measurement of machined components and finished assemblies. The company has now grown from a small enterprise located in the homes and garages of its co-founders to a multinational corporation with operations in 36 countries.
Renishaw is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s FTSE 250 index, with a current valuation around £2.5 billion. It employs over 5,000 people, including 3,400 staff at its sites in the UK, primarily in Gloucestershire and South Wales.
