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When two organisations share not only complementary expertise but also a common philosophy, the results can be genuinely transformative. That is precisely the story behind the growing partnership between Renishaw and Status Metrology — a collaboration that has evolved beyond a traditional supplier relationship to become one of the most dynamic channel partnerships in UK precision manufacturing.
Renishaw has been at the forefront of metrology innovation for over fifty years, developing technologies that help manufacturers worldwide tackle some of their most demanding production challenges. Status Metrology, meanwhile, has spent more than thirty years building a formidable reputation as a specialist provider of CMM solutions and services, delivering bespoke metrology expertise across the UK engineering sector — from aerospace and automotive to energy and advanced manufacturing. The two companies have enjoyed a trusted working relationship for years, but in 2022 that relationship entered a new chapter when Status Metrology was invited to join Renishaw’s Official Channel Partner programme.
Renishaw’s channel partner initiative is more than a reseller arrangement. It is a carefully curated programme designed to extend the company’s renowned standards of customer service and technical support to a wider audience through partners selected for their sector-specific knowledge and demonstrable expertise. For Status Metrology, the invitation was a significant vote of confidence.
Richard Newhouse, Director of Status Metrology, describes the shift in the relationship as genuinely dynamic. “We have benefited from greater integration into the Renishaw business, gaining real insight into their products, teams, and operations,” he explains. “They also provide invaluable commercial, technical, and sales support and training. In return, we provide our specialist skills and technology. In that sense, the relationship has been absolutely fantastic.”
From Renishaw’s perspective, the selection of Status Metrology was deliberate and strategic. Giuseppe Lai of Renishaw plc notes that Status Metrology possesses exactly the skillset and mindset suited to the programme — responsive, enthusiastic and highly skilled, with strong market knowledge and access to a wide network of UK manufacturers.
A central element of the partnership has been Status Metrology’s appointment as a distributor of Renishaw’s Equator™ gauging system, now compatible with PC-DMIS third-party programming software. This compatibility was significant. By enabling customers to use software they already know and trust alongside Renishaw’s hardware, it removed a genuine barrier to adoption. With its long-standing familiarity with both the Equator platform and PC-DMIS, Status Metrology was ideally positioned to bring this combined solution to market.
Dean Tillett, Managing Director of Status Metrology, explains the appeal clearly: “The integration of market-leading hardware in the Equator gauging system and the software customers already know and use in PC-DMIS is a perfect solution for customers who require large volume produced parts to be dimensionally inspected at speed. It delivers incredible accuracy, whether on the shop floor or at the end of a production line, whether robot or cobot loading, or simply via shop floor personnel.”
The practical value of this solution was vividly demonstrated at a pharmaceutical tooling manufacturer — one of Status Metrology’s customers — where every component produced required 100% inspection. Two PC-DMIS-powered CMMs were under constant pressure, leaving virtually no capacity for research and development or first article inspection. The installation of the Renishaw Equator gauging system transformed the situation. The measurement bottleneck was eliminated, CMM capacity was freed for higher-value work, and the customer retained full control of its programming and mastering in-house — all without the burden of retraining staff on unfamiliar software.
Looking ahead, both parties are energised by what the partnership can deliver. Richard Newhouse describes it simply as a win-win, with Renishaw gaining access to new markets and specialist capability, while Status Metrology benefits from the credibility and reach that association with one of the world’s leading metrology brands provides.
Dean Tillett perhaps captures it best: “We are proud and excited to be associated with Renishaw and are confident the future looks bright — most importantly for what this partnership can offer our customers and, ultimately, UK engineering as a whole.”
