With an impressive two decades at RPM International Tool & Die to his credit, this British born Kiwi brings a diverse skill set to his role. Specialising in problem solving and finding good design solutions, Steve gets great satisfaction from seeing a successful project through from design brief to customer delivery.

“For a business with thirty years track record, I really enjoy that RPM shows such a willingness to invest in new ideas and technology” says Steve, “This is the mark of a company that will continue to stay at the leading edge of toolmaking.”

Always interested in new adventures, Steve didn’t want to spend his entire life living in just one country, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1996.

Steve already had a professional background in precision engineering, having worked in the UK for a company making high spec low volume special bearings, with clients including Eddie Jorden F1 team (later Benetton) – so he brought a great skill set and attitude to his new role at RPM.

On joining RPM, Steve began working on the shop floor before getting into operating WEDM machines and becoming a programme operator using mainly 2D CAD CAM software.

As RPM moved on towards 3D parametric software, Steve started modelling (no, not the catwalk kind!), creating electrodes for manufacture. He added to his knowledge base with courses in what was then called Pro-e, advanced surfacing and modelling.

With this additional experience and skill development, in 2000, Steve was asked if he wanted to move to tool design full time as a Design Engineer. With his typical drive, Steve completed a diploma in design and specification of plastics, and has since enjoyed having the opportunity to work on some very challenging tooling design projects at RPM.

Playing tennis for relaxation, Steve was a volunteer firefighter for some years and worked his way up to being a fire truck driver and pump operator. These days, thanks to his daughters, most of his spare time revolves around horses. Steve says “As a young boy I was into motorcycles but having girls who only cared about horse riding has meant I have learned to ride and even competed on horseback. There is a certain sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that you get with horses; maybe because such a large powerful animal is working with you as a team.”

There you have it – a competent performer both in the saddle, and on the RPM team.

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