Renishaw Co-Founder Sir David McMurtry Passes Away
The engineering world is mourning the loss of Sir David McMurtry, the co-founder of Renishaw, who has passed away at the age of 84. Renishaw, a global leader in engineering and metrology, announced his sudden death with “profound sadness” on Monday, December 9, 2024.
Sir David McMurtry, alongside his colleague John Deer, established Renishaw in 1973. The company quickly gained prominence for its innovative engineering solutions and became a globally respected leader in precision measurement. A decade after its founding, Renishaw successfully floated on the UK stock market, marking a milestone in its journey to becoming a world-renowned company.
In an official statement to the stock market, Sir David Grant, Interim Non-Executive Chairman of Renishaw, paid tribute to Sir David McMurtry’s extraordinary contributions: “David was a uniquely talented engineer, and his curiosity and drive helped to create a globally respected engineering company. His legacy will live on through the culture of innovation he helped to create in Renishaw. The Board’s deepest sympathies are with David’s wife and family.”
Sir David McMurtry’s remarkable career began at Rolls-Royce, where he developed a reputation for innovation and problem-solving. He is perhaps best known for inventing the first touch-trigger probe for the Concorde project, a groundbreaking advancement in precision measurement. This invention became the foundation for Renishaw’s success and enduring impact on the global engineering industry.
Renishaw grew to become a pioneer in metrology, additive manufacturing, and healthcare technologies, with a presence in over 35 countries and a workforce of thousands. Sir David’s visionary approach to engineering and his dedication to fostering innovation have left an indelible mark on the industry.
With Sir David at the helm, Renishaw revolutionised the development of co-ordinate measuring machines, shopfloor metrology and process control. Today it is hard to imagine a machine shop of any size without tool setting and inspection probes that automate laborious and complex setting and measurement tasks, yet in the 1970s, ideas for such applications were truly visionary. Sir David also led the Company’s diversification into other areas of metrology, manufacturing and automation, from encoders and calibration systems to neurosurgery and additive manufacturing. His lateral thinking and capacity to deal with scientific concepts from multiple disciplines was truly legendary.
Beyond his professional achievements, Sir David McMurtry was widely respected for his mentorship and commitment to nurturing engineering talent. He was knighted in 2001 for his services to design and innovation, reflecting his outstanding contributions to UK industry and engineering. He was responsible for 47 patents at Rolls-Royce and went on to be named on over 200 patents for Renishaw innovations.
The passing of Sir David McMurtry marks the end of an era for Renishaw and the broader engineering community. His pioneering spirit and dedication to excellence will continue to inspire future generations of engineers. The thoughts of all at Renishaw and across the metrology industry are with his family at this difficult time.
Renishaw’s statement underscores the profound impact Sir David McMurtry had on the company and the global engineering landscape. His legacy of innovation, leadership, and excellence will undoubtedly endure.
Keith Mills, Editor of Metrology News, reflected: “I was privileged to share numerous moments of insight and inspiration with Sir David McMurtry. Through business meetings, exhibition encounters, and memorable dinners, I witnessed first hand his brilliance, vision, and steadfast commitment to innovation. Sir David’s passion for metrology and engineering excellence left a profound impression on me. In these encounters, I discovered not only a pioneering engineer and entrepreneur but also a man of great depth, generosity, and humility.”