Renishaw plc, a world leading supplier of engineering technologies, is delighted to announce that it has received a Queen's Award for Enterprise 2009 in the Innovations category, the company's thirteenth Queen's Award since its formation in 1973, and its fourth in just six years. This prestigious Award has been granted for the company's highly innovative OMP400 ultra compact high-accuracy touch probe which is used for 3D measurement on computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools.
Internationally recognised award for business excellence
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's most prestigious awards for business performance, which recognise and reward outstanding achievement by UK companies. For Renishaw which earns some 94% of its sales revenues overseas, the international credibility of the Awards is also very important.
Said Sir David McMurtry, Renishaw's Chairman and Chief Executive, "Whilst we have always believed that the commercial success of Renishaw is based on the supply of innovative products to meet manufacturing challenges, to be recognised for the thirteenth time by a highly respected independent assessment process, is something of which we are very proud. I would like to thank all employees that have contributed to the worldwide success of the OMP400 high accuracy touch probe, which has set a new benchmark for complex part measurement on CNC machine tools."
World's smallest spindle-mounted touch probe with strain gauge sensors
The OMP400 is a spindle-mounted touch probe that incorporates Renishaw's innovative RenGage 3D technology. During manufacturing processes, the probe is used to measure features of parts being machined to ensure that operations are correctly carried out.
The smallest spindle probe in the world to use highly sensitive strain gauge sensors, the OMP400 incorporates patented technologies involving miniaturised computer hardware, re-designed strain sensitive webs and advanced algorithms. Its performance is significantly superior to previous products, providing 3D form measurement to within one micron (one millionth of a metre), having a much longer service life and being easier to use.
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are made each year by Her Majesty The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions.
The Awards are given solely on merit and competition is fierce. The number of Awards presented each year is not pre-set and depends on the quality of the applications received.