Renishaw brings Additive Manufacturing to America’s Cup sailing challenge
December 14, 2015
Renishaw has announced that it has joined the UK based Land Rover BAR Technical Innovation Group as an official supplier in its attempt to win the America’s Cup sailing challenge. The company will contribute its expertise in metal Additive Manufacturing and position feedback encoding.
The America’s Cup is the oldest international trophy in world sport and Britain has never won it. It’s the world’s premier sailboat racing contest and the 35th race will be held in Bermuda in 2017, in foiling multi-hulls. Land Rover BAR is the British challenger and Ben Ainslie, winner of four Olympic gold sailing medals, is the Team Principal and Skipper.
The Land Rover BAR Technical Innovation Group (TIG) was formed to bring together advanced technologies and develop them to give the sailing team a competitive edge. The TIG complements the existing Land Rover BAR design team and allows it to rapidly develop, test and prove these technologies.
Metal 3D printed manifold for Land Rover BAR produced on
Renishaw Additive Manufacturing system (Credit Renishaw)
The TIG has already engaged a number of key partners and suppliers from British industry, including Land Rover, BT and BAE Systems. The TIG is governed by a steering group, chaired by PA Consulting’s Dr Phil White with the BAR team represented by Andy Claughton, Land Rover BAR’s Chief Technology Officer.
“As a British engineering company with core skills in precision and performance, combined with expertise in position encoding and metal 3D printing, we are delighted to have the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the TIG and help Land Rover BAR bring the America’s Cup back to Britain,” stated Robin Weston, Marketing Manager of Renishaw.
Renishaw’s contribution will be through its metal Additive Manufacturing knowledge, helping to optimise the design and construction of critical metal parts of the team’s race boat. It is also contributing by providing ongoing expert advice on position encoder technology.
“We don’t underestimate the challenge ahead of us. We are a first time challenger for the America’s Cup, and only one challenger has ever won it at the first attempt. We want to leave no stone unturned in our search for new technologies that will help us to bring the Cup home. That’s why we have developed the Technical Innovation Group and are pleased to have the support of Renishaw with its heritage of over 40 years of breakthrough innovation,” stated Ben Ainslie.
www.renishaw.com/additive | www.renishaw.com/encoder
www.land-rover-bar.americascup.com
