Climbing on board to chase elusive cup success

RENISHAW has thrown its support behind a British bid to win the America’s Cup The global engineering company, based near Wotton-unde-edge, has come on board to support INEOS Team UK under the guidance of Sir Ben Ainslie.

As the team’s official precision measurement and additive manufacturing partner, Renishaw will contribute its engineering expertise to the build process as they bid to win the 36th America’s Cup in 2021.

The America’s Cup is the oldest international trophy in world sport and one Britain has never won.

First won by America in 1851 – and held by New Zealand – the competition was turned into a challenge trophy, open to sailing clubs from around the world.

INEOS TEAM UK was formed to challenge for the America’s Cup in 2021, with petrochemical and manufacturing company INEOS making the biggest investment in the competition.

Renishaw’s head of communications Chris Pockett said: “Renishaw is proud to again contribute our expertise to the British America’s Cup challenge, having supported Sir Ben’s team for the 2017 challenge in Bermuda.

“It means a great deal to us that our

past contributions have been recognised and that we will be a key partner for INEOS TEAM UK, providing a range of innovative solutions and becoming an integral part of its engineering team.”

He continued: “Leading manufacturing technologies are crucial to the performance of the boat.

“From giving real-time position feedback during racing to the use of metal additive manufacturing for lightweight, highly complex components, we are very excited about the contribution we can make to the performance of the boat.”

The AC75 boat will be a 75-foot foiling mono-hull built and equipped with some of the best of British technology.

Renishaw is supplying its products and expertise in metal additive manufacturing, position encoders, manufacturing process control and Raman spectroscopy.

This will include contributing to the design optimisation and manufacture of 3D printed metal parts.

Sir Ben Ainslie, who will skipper the boat, said: “We’re really excited to be working with Renishaw.

“They’ve been a fantastic partner to us and we’re really looking forward to the challenge to bring the cup home in 2021 with their support.”