How Labman’s long-standing team built a legacy that lasts
Labman is often recognised for its cutting-edge automation systems - the ones that run for decades, evolve with industry needs, and quietly keep some of the world’s biggest laboratories moving. But behind every system, every breakthrough, and every milestone, there is something even more remarkable.
People who stayed. People who built entire careers within these walls. People whose expertise became the backbone of our innovation.
This is their story, and the story of how Labman’s longevity has been shaped not just by technology, but by continuity.
The foundation for Labman’s success
Long before Labman became a global player in laboratory automation, a handful of committed, curious individuals were laying the groundwork…
When Andrew Whitwell bought the business in 1992 and renamed it Labman, he didn’t just bring a new direction - he set in motion a culture that would attract and keep people who loved solving problems and pushing ideas forward.
Alongside him were people who would go on to become key figures in Labman’s identity:
Simon Parker, who joined long before TIDAS became a household name in paints and coatings labs, evolving from robotics technician to Head of Sales for our flagship system.
Scott Baker, who arrived in 1992 as a CAD engineer and became a project manager overseeing complex, boundary-pushing systems.
Mark Walton, whose journey began in software in 1992 and grew into product management and sales, helping drive the development of both bespoke systems and Labman’s own product range.
Nick Eastham, who joined as an apprentice in 2001 and rose to become Head of Custom Automation, leading multidisciplinary teams and shaping our approach to highly specialised systems.
And many others along the way, including Christine Smith, our Financial Director, Paul Chilton, Head of Engineering and Ian Riley, our MD, and many, many more. These aren’t just long careers. They’re decades of accumulated knowledge - welded, wired, coded and refined into the core of Labman.
Why people stay
When you speak to long-serving Labman staff, the reasons they stayed are strikingly similar and refreshingly simple.
They stayed because they were enabled to build things that mattered. They were trusted to experiment, to challenge, to create. Because the work was never repetitive, and the problems were always interesting.
The climbing wall, the fireman’s pole, the pool tables, the gym… these are often the first things visitors notice. But for the people who’ve been here decades, the real attraction has always been the same:
The chance to innovate every single day, surrounded by people who genuinely care about their craft.
Continuity as a driver of innovation
In many industries, long tenure is unusual. In automation and robotics, it’s almost unheard of. Yet this continuity is one of Labman’s greatest competitive advantages.
A team that has worked together for decades carries an extraordinary depth of technical memory - an intuitive understanding of how systems behave, how customers operate, and how to solve problems.
This shared knowledge is the reason Labman systems run reliably for decades, why customers return to us, and why we’re trusted with complex, first-of-their-kind projects.
New generations on strong foundations
Today, apprentices, graduates and new specialists join a company shaped by those early pioneers. And what they discover is a team ready to teach and pass on what they learned through years of building, breaking and rebuilding.
It’s this blend of old and new - continuity and curiosity - that keeps Labman inventive, resilient and future-ready.
Our legacy is people
Labman’s legacy isn’t defined only by the systems still running 10, 15, even 20 years after installation. It’s defined by the people who built them, improved them, supported them and stayed to help build the next generation.
They are the quiet strength behind our innovation.
The guardians of our culture.
The reason Labman is not just here today - but will still be here decades from now.
Decades later, the tools are different, the building is bigger - but the people remain at the heart. These recreated photos celebrate the journey from those early days to the team we are today.