F1 contract renewed

Following a successful inaugural technical partnership, a further three-year extension has been agreed between Renishaw and Mercedes-Ilmor.

Following a successful inaugural technical partnership, a further three-year extension has been agreed between Renishaw and Mercedes-Ilmor, supplier of championship-winning racing car engines to Mercedes-Benz The renewed partnership aims to continue the successes of the earlier agreement signed in November 1999 by Renishaw and Ilmor Engineering.

Despite a change of ownership in December 2002 when Mercedes-Benz took a majority shareholding in Ilmor, and a rationalisation of its technical partnership programme, the newly named Mercedes-Ilmor has decided to maintain the partnership with Renishaw due to the positive contribution made to its manufacturing operations.

Said Adam Labudek, Plant Manager, "To be successful in the highly competitive world of Formula 1 racing demands that our manufacturing processes are world-class.

Working with Renishaw enables us to get the best from our machining operations, its products allowing Mercedes-Ilmor to achieve the shortest possible lead times, while ensuring the highest levels of component quality".

Under the terms of the new partnership agreement, Renishaw will continue as the sole supplier of probing systems and machine tool performance testing products, with an increased focus on the field-testing of Renishaw's innovative metrology products at Mercedes-Ilmor's main manufacturing site in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, UK.

Said Hans-Ulrik Maik, Mercedes-Ilmor's Managing Director, "We are pleased to continue working closely with Renishaw, who have proven themselves to be a world-class company that understands what it takes to achieve success at the most demanding levels of manufacturing.

Partnership is a two-way process and we believe that Renishaw has also benefited from working closely with us, in an industry where to remain at the top demands constant technological improvements".

In response, Sir David McMurtry, Renishaw's Chairman and Chief Executive, commented, "We are delighted to have re-signed the partnership agreement with Mercedes-Ilmor, especially as we are now one of only three companies selected for their newly rationalised partnership programme.

Renishaw continues to have a strong focus on the automotive industry and by working closely with a world leader in engine design and manufacture, we will continue to understand the demands of this vital sector".

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