Management Team

Brian Steatham
Chairman

Brian graduated in Production Technology and Management. This was followed by a period as a production engineer in British Aerospace in Bracknell before joining the staff of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Surrey . At UoS Brian worked with a consortium of manufacturing companies to introduce the new technology of Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). Then Brian became a consultant to the company (Pathtrace Ltd) that developed the CAM system, he was introducing.

After the UoS contract ended Brian set up as a reseller for Pathtrace, eventually gaining control of the whole Pathtrace operation and expanding into global markets with subsidiaries in the US and Japan and offices in China and Brazil. In January 2006 Brian sold Pathtrace to Planit Holdings PLC.

Brian is now focussed into developing Rodmatic - a company started by his father - into a truly global operation.

Bob Todd
Sales Manager

Bob Todd has worked on both sides of the supply chain business covering component sourcing as well as sales and has been involved in setting up operating divisions in France as well as being a key player in other western and eastern European fastener business operations.

Bob has been intensively involved in managing supply of added-value solutions where components and services were sourced as part of a ‘one-stop’ network to customers.  These involved in-depth logistics strategies using different sources of machined parts, pressings, bought-out components and assemblies.

"My role is to promote customer satisfaction whilst developing mutually benificial and profitable business"

Vernon Walker
Finance Director

Vernon trained as an accountant at a practice in Oxford followed by a move into local government for three years and then into industry. Working as the financial accountant firstly for Cliffords Dairies plc and then Hasbro Industries Ltd Vernon joined Pathtrace plc as group management accountant in 1988 and following qualification as a chartered certified accountant was promoted to financial director in 1993.

During his time with Pathtrace Vernon was responsible for all financial aspects of the group and assisted in setting up subsidiaries in Singapore, Canada and Japan. In January 2006 Vernon moved with Brian Steatham following the sale of Pathtrace to focus on the development of Rodmatic into a global operation.

Bill Button
Information Technology Manager

Bringing over 27 years experience in Information technology, communications and systems integration, 15 of which have been within the group.

The group having sold the CADCAM development part Pathtrace, for whom Bill was responsible for moving using the latest internet based technologies to being able to process, fulfill and support customers automatically without intervention 24/7. These systems were a major contribution to the success of Pathtrace putting the company way ahead of the competition and provided the customers with simple to use and functionally rich internet based systems.

Bill will now be focusing on the requirements of Rodmatic and its Customers. The first stages of this have already been put in place with the new website and its customer secure area, in addition to this there are projects currently underway to improve the services we provide customer and also for machine monitoring.

Chris Lloyd
Operations Manager

Chris has had over 30 years manufacturing experience in the hydraulics industry in both small and high volume piece part manufacture including assembly and test.

Before joining Rodmatic in 2002 he was Operations Director for a leading special purpose machinery supplier and sub-contractor to the grinding industry.

Chris now heads up Rodmatic’s logistics operation having implemented the companies manufacturing system. His prime responsibility is to ensure that our customers are given a consistently high level of service and support.

Jonathan Imm
Production Manager

Mr Jonathan Imm has been in the manufacturing industry for over 20 years and has specialised in the production of very high precision and difficult to manufacture components for many customers, including key Aerospace and Defence related work. Over 20 years experience of 3D Cad-Cam systems and multi-axis machining.

He is a natural engineer who enjoys a challenge and was previously Technical Director of a respected UK Aerospace Sub-contract engineering company for 5 years, moving to Rodmatic to set up the Hytek division in March 2006.

One of Jonathan’s roles is to work with customers and look at alternative methods of manufacture and reduce production costs of parts where possible.

Terry O'Sullivan
Works Manager

For over 20 years Terry has worked within manufacturing for “Tier 1 Suppliers” to high profile OEM’s such as Boeing, Airbus, Jaguar & Range Rover, experiencing diverse environments such as high volume low cost automotive through to high value high specification “One-offs” for the Aerospace & the Petro-Chemical industries.

Having originally trained as a Production Engineer, I have worked within manufacturing for over 20 years. In recent years I have specialised in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement for a number of Tier 1 suppliers to high profile OEM’s such as Boeing, Airbus, Jaguar & Range Rover, experiencing diverse environments such as high volume low cost automotive through to high value high specification “One-offs” for the Aerospace & the Petro-Chemical industries.