Sir David McMurtry, an engineer, inventor and founder of the multi-national company Renishaw, which has long-standing links with the University of Huddersfield, has received his Honorary Doctorate of the University for services to design and innovation.
After receiving his award, Sir David paid tribute to the quality of the academic staff and students: “This University has played a great part in the development of the science of measurement in this country. Not many universities have taken on this challenge.”
Sir David is a visiting professor at Huddersfield and Renishaw is a key industrial partner in the University’s EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Advanced Metrology and now he has the same role with its successor, the EPSRC-funded Future Metrology Hub, a £40 million research centre.
The oration for Sir David was delivered by the University’s Professor Liam Blunt, who described a career that began in 1958 at Bristol Aero Engines – now part of Rolls-Royce. Sir David had a talent for engineering design and made a major breakthrough when he invented the ‘touch trigger probe’ that solved a problem with the measurement of fuel pipes in the supersonic Concorde aircraft.
The invention was a “roaring success”, said orator Professor Blunt, and would lead to the creation of Renishaw, now a major multi-national with a turnover of over £500 million.
“The School of Computing and Engineering at the University of Huddersfield has been proud to work with Sir David and Renishaw since 1992,” said Professor Blunt.
The collaboration had led to research projects in the areas of machine tool accuracy, laser metrology systems and optical probes and gauging instruments.
“The University is honoured that Renishaw is collaborating with the Royal Academy of Engineering to sponsor a chair in Precision Metrology within the School,” said Professor Blunt, who added that: “It is inspiring to see such a world-leading and cutting-edge company as Renishaw led by an outstanding and acclaimed engineer.”
Sir David was employed at Rolls-Royce in Bristol, for 17 years, latterly holding the positions of deputy chief designer and assistant chief of engine design for all Rolls-Royce engines manufactured at Filton, Bristol.
After inventing the original touch-trigger probe for co-ordinate measuring machines in 1972, Sir David co-founded Renishaw with John Deer in 1973, which today employs over 4,000 people in 35 countries, of which 2,800 are located in the UK.
His knighthood was awarded “for services to Design and Innovation” and he was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) in 1989. The Institute of Physics jointly awarded its 2012 Swan Medal to Sir David and John Deer for their role in founding Renishaw and leading it to become one of the world’s principal manufacturers of metrology equipment.
Whilst at Rolls-Royce, Sir David was named as inventor or co-inventor on 47 patents or patent applications, and over 150 at Renishaw.
