Skip to main content

Renishaw completes acquisition of laser measurement specialists MDL

Global engineering technology firm Reinshaw now has full ownership of UK-based Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL), following the purchase of an outstanding 34% shareholding for US$7.07 million (£4.5mn). The acquisition of the shares concludes an agreement reached in 2010, when Renishaw purchased an initial 29% stake in MDL, the designers and manufacturers of high speed laser measurement and surveying systems for use in extreme conditions. Steve Ball, the founder of MDL, will be leaving the company, whilst Elaine
February 5, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Global engineering technology firm Reinshaw now has full ownership of UK-based 6239 Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL), following the purchase of an outstanding 34% shareholding for US$7.07 million (£4.5mn). The acquisition of the shares concludes an agreement reached in 2010, when Renishaw purchased an initial 29% stake in MDL, the designers and manufacturers of high speed laser measurement and surveying systems for use in extreme conditions.

Steve Ball, the founder of MDL, will be leaving the company, whilst Elaine Ball, MDL’s managing director, will report to Renishaw through Will Lee, director and general manager of Renishaw’s laser & calibration products division.

Ben Taylor, Renishaw’s assistant chief executive, said: “We see significant opportunities in the fields in which MDL operates and we are working hard to develop new measurement products based on our combined experience, to leverage our global sales and marketing networks, and to integrate our in-house design and manufacturing capabilities.”

MDL’s managing director, Elaine Ball, added: “We are now entering an exciting new phase in MDL’s 30-year history, and with the backing of the Renishaw Group we are very confident of continuing to expand in the global market for laser surveying and scanning measurement products.”

Established in 1983, MDL supplies a range of laser-based, time-of-flight measurement systems used in a wide range of applications worldwide in quarrying, mining, marine positioning, aviation, civil engineering and traffic control. In December 2012, to meet rising demand for its products, the company took occupancy of a new $4.71 million (£3mn) 1,858m² premises adjacent to its headquarters in York, northern England.

The company currently has around 70 staff at York and also has staff at offices in Scotland, Canada, Australia and the U.S.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • MDL’s mini marvel
    July 18, 2012
    Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL) claims its innovative new miniature laser technology could revolutionise mobile phone development. Weighing only 43grams and measuring just 36x39x20mms, the MDL micro laser module (MLM) is said to give mobiles eye-safe laser measurement capability. Powered by a standard USB connector the tiny MLM, believed by MDL to be the smallest in the world, is said to require less than 70mA to make hundreds of measurements a second of objects within a 120m radius. The technology is now bei
  • Breedon posts £200mn-plus revenue rise in 2018
    March 6, 2019
    Breedon, a leading UK and Ireland construction materials group, saw its year-on-year revenue rise by more than £200 million in 2018. Newly published audited figures for the year showed group revenue rose 32% to £862.7 million, compared to £652.4mn in 2017. Breedon’s profit before tax also rose by a healthy 12% to £79.9 million, up from £71.2mn in 2017. Group net debt stood at £310.7mn as of 31 December 2018, up from £109.8mn at 2017 end. Breedon posted a sizeable increase in its aggreg
  • Amey moves back down under
    July 23, 2025
    UK contractor Amey will now operate in Australia again through its recent acquisition of engineering consultancy Premise.
  • Bentley developing software portfolio with new acquisition
    January 14, 2015
    Software specialist Bentley Systems continues to develop its engineering software portfolio, this time with the acquisition of the UK-based firm C3global. This move brings Bentley the web-based Amulet software for operational analytics. From a product portfolio perspective, it complements Bentley’s AssetWise platform, which serves configuration management, asset health monitoring, inspection, maintenance, and compliance for infrastructure assets. The move means AssetWise will deliver additional actionable i