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

  • Fugro-TRL alliance to supply integrated highways asset management solutions
    June 5, 2014
    Fugro has signed an agreement with TRL, the UK-based, globally renowned transport research firm and consultancy, to merge data collection and asset management expertise for highways clients worldwide. In teaming up, Fugro and TRL aim to deliver an enhanced range of specialist services, efficiently integrated to maximise value for the asset management programmes of government departments and highways authorities. Clients will have access to world class asset management proficiency and surveying capabilities
  • Salini Impregilo expands in the US with purchase of Lane Industries
    November 12, 2015
    Italian global infrastructure group Salini Impregilo has agreed to buy 100% of Lane Industries, an American highways contractor and the “top private asphalt producer” in the US. Lane, a family-owned business based in Cheshire, Connecticut, was bought for US$406 million and has a turnover of around $1.5 billion. The company has three divisions: asphalt production, road projects and other infrastructure projects, in domestic and international markets. A statement from Salini said Lane is participating i
  • Airware acquires drone data analytics provider Redbird
    September 23, 2016
    Airware, a commercial drone solutions provider, has acquired Redbird, a France-based pioneer in drone data analytics that has been working closely with Caterpillar. Redbird focuses on the mining, quarrying, and construction industries through sophisticated geospatial analytics which will be integrated into the Airware Aerial Information Platform. This will give customers the combined power of Redbird's industry-specific analytics and Airware's enterprise-focused workflow, compliance, and security feature
  • Acrow expanding with acquisition
    May 13, 2019
    Acrow Bridge is expanding its operations with the acquisition of Mabey Bridge for an undisclosed sum. With this move, Acrow Bridge is further developing its share of the international market. Based in the US, Acrow Bridge already has a strong presence in the market worldwide, but by acquiring the UK company Mabey Bridge, this will significantly develop global reach. This development follows several months of negotiations between the two companies. “Mabey is a business that we have long thought would be an