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David Cameron at Renishaw
The Prime Minister holds a question and answer session with Renishaw employees .
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David Cameron, British Prime Minister, visits Renishaw
On 8th May 2014, British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Renishaw's award winning production facility near Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK, where he saw a range of advanced assembly operations, and a selection of Renishaw's innovative engineering products, including a metal 3D printing (additive manufacturing) machine and a surgical robot that aids neurosurgeons. He also held a 35 minute question and answer session with Renishaw staff where he discussed a range of topics including the UK's EU membership, Foreign Aid and potholes in the local roads!
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David Cameron at Renishaw
Prime Minister David Cameron meets Renishaw apprentices and graduates.
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David Cameron at Renishaw
The Prime Minister and Neil Carmichael, MP for Stroud, with a Renishaw AM250 additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing) machine.
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David Cameron at Renishaw
The Prime Minister with Sir David McMurtry (Renishaw’s Chairman and Chief Executive) and Neil Carmichael MP.
Additive manufacturing technology champion and British industrial heavyweight Renishaw has been praised by the Prime Minister.
David Cameron visited the company's award-winning manufacturing operation in Woodchester, Gloucestershire, where he lauded Renishaw for playing a key role in driving the revival of British industry.
Cameron participated in a tour of the facility with CEO and Chairman Sir David McMurtry and hosted a question and answer session with employees, as well as a meeting with senior Renishaw directors. On his walk through the site, the PM witnessed some of Renishaw's advanced electronic and mechanical assembly processes in action, as well as a metal additive manufacturing demonstration, while he also greeted some of the business's record intake of apprentices and graduates.
During his audience with some 300 Renishaw employees, he stated: "While the economy is doing better, we need to manufacture more, we need to invest more, we need to export more and we need to invest more in science and research and development. From what I have seen at Renishaw you are doing all those things massively for our country. So thank you for what you are doing.
"We want an economy that is more broadly based that can compete and succeed in the world and that is exactly what Renishaw is all about. The more Renishaws that we see, the more businesses like this that we see expanding and growing, the better for our country. Thank you for all that you are doing here at Renishaw to drive a great industrial revolution and a British revival of manufacturing, technology and exports. It's a wonder to see."
Cameron met seven apprentices and recent graduates while touring the 15,000 m sq Woodchester site, which was named Best Electronics and Electrical Plant in 2012 at the UK's Best Factory Awards. There are currently a record 111 apprentices training with Renishaw professionals, while 2013 saw the business's record intake of 55 graduates. Speaking about the Government's own commitment to apprenticeships over the course of his visit, the Prime Minister reminded his audience that the Coalition has trained 1.7 million apprentices during its four years in power, with a further two million expected to join the ranks in the coming years "thanks to the great work that companies like [Renishaw] are doing".
The Conservative leader was introduced via Sir David to a number of Renishaw's advanced engineering products, including the PH20 measuring probe head for coordinate measuring machines, a Renishaw AM250 additive manufacturing machine and a neuromata stereotactic robot, that provides a platform for a variety of functional neurosurgical procedures. Sir David was able to tell the Prime Minister that Renishaw has just been issued clearance by the US Food and Drug administration to market the neuromata robotic system in the US, which is the largest global market for medical devices.
Moreover, the Prime Minister was shown how one of Renishaw's leading additive manufacturing machines was recently used to print metal surgical cutting and positioning guides for pioneering facial reconstructive surgery carried out by surgeons at Morriston Hospital in Swansea on motorcycle accident survivor Stephen Power. The story featured heavily in the news at the time and served to bring the possibilities of additive manufacturing in the medical sector to the forefront of the media.
Renishaw, of course, is no stranger to the press, having helped make cycling history by providing the technology to produce the world's first 3D-printed metal bike frame, the MX6-R concept mountain bike designed by Chris Williams of Empire Cycles.
Robin Weston, Marketing Manager for Renishaw's Additive Manufacturing Products Division, said: "The Prime Minister had already read about the bike and I was able to explain that the frame and seat post were created by fusing together very thin layers of titanium powder and that the process had reduced weight by a kilo compared to the original aluminium frame."
Sir David was proud to add a visit from the Prime Minister to Renishaw's growing list of past honours, which also includes a 17th Queen's Award.
"To have a visit from the British Prime Minister gives further recognition to all that our staff globally have achieved through product innovation, high quality manufacturing and strong commercial operations. I sensed a real pride amongst our staff that we were hosting such a senior visitor and I would like to pay tribute to the hard work that has gone in to making our Woodchester site the world class production facility that it is today and which clearly impressed the Prime Minister," he said.
