Sales and marketing
Ryan Ashworth
Ryan has been with Vapormatt for over 10 years and has delved into all areas of the business. From operations to purchasing to marketing and more, the vast amount of experience and knowledge managing various depts. within Vapormatt has brought Ryan to the role of Head of Sales and Marketing.
Henry Gomm
Henry has over three years of experience and a deep understanding of wet blasting applications across aerospace, defence, wire and cable, and several other manufacturing industries. Working closely with maintenance and production teams, he helps customers find the right surface finishing solution for their finishing challenges.
Larisa Varvaroi
Larisa joined Vapormatt in 2024, bringing a rich cross-sector background and a natural talent for building lasting customer relationships. Multilingual and highly adaptable, she combines clear communication with a proactive, solutions-focused approach — making her an invaluable point of contact for customers.
Miles Pluckwell
Having held various senior marketing positions in different industries and being CIM post grad. qualified, Miles brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the marketing function at Vapormatt. Marketing responsibilities span the entire marketing mix, in several different industries globally.
Parts and service
Steve Hazell
Steve leads Vapormatt's global team of service and commissioning engineers, drawing on a hands-on career in field service and multi-skilled engineering. With a practical, solutions-focused approach, he manages post-sale customer support for the company - keeping customers' equipment running at its best with minimal downtime.
Emily Caddy
Emily is one of Vapormatt's most experienced aftermarket team members, having built up an extensive knowledge of the company's machines and processes over many years with the business. She handles all aspects of aftermarket support, from machine servicing and repair to general customer assistance - making her an invaluable point of contact for customers looking to get the most from their equipment.
Kimberly Howells
Kimberly is part of Vapormatt's aftermarket team, specialising in parts sales and spares coordination. Whether you're running a Vapormatt machine or equipment from another manufacturer, Kimberly can advise on the right parts for your needs - helping to keep your equipment operational and minimising costly downtime.
Executive
Robin Ashworth
Robin joined Vapormatt in the 1980s as the 3rd generation of the Ashworth family to be involved with wet blasting. During his time, Robin has held many roles from design and commissioning to sales and service. Robin took on the role of Managing Director in 2003 and in 2023 transitioned to CEO.
Terry Ashworth
Terry has been with Vapormatt since the beginning when he founded the company with Stewart Ashworth in 1978. With a deep understanding of the wet blast process Terry provides direction for the design, research and development teams within Vapormatt. He has also helped secure numerous patents.
Helen Brown
Helen started her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she gained a solid understanding of company finance and accounting practices. Prior to joining Vapormatt in 2015, Helen gained extensive knowledge and experience in several roles across a number of different sectors.
Martin Slade
Senior Level Operations Director with a proven track record of driving transformation, enabling change and improving company performance. Health, Safety & Quality are at the forefront of all operational management initiatives, achieving a workplace where staff work safely and efficiently.
R&D and Engineering
Matt Ashworth
Matt Ashworth is an R&D Manager at Vapormatt, based in Guernsey, where he has built a career spanning nearly eleven years across engineering and innovation. He joined Vapormatt in 2015 as a Control Engineer before progressing to his current leadership role in Research and Development in 2019.
Dom Wilcock
Dom has been with the Vapormatt since 2011 where he joined as a mechanical design engineer. Throughout his time at Vapormatt, Dom has designed, project managed and commissioned many bespoke wet blast systems for clients in different industries across the globe. As the Head of Engineering, Dom now leads the Mechanical, Electrical, Software & Process design teams, along with Project Management and Pre-contract technical specification activities.
FAQ
Who leads Vapormatt?
Vapormatt is led by CEO Robin Ashworth, the third generation of the Ashworth family to work in wet blasting. He became Managing Director in 2003 and CEO in 2023. The leadership team also includes co-founder Terry Ashworth (Research and Development Director), Helen Brown (CFO) and Martin Slade (COO), while the fourth generation of the family, Matt Ashworth (Head of R&D) and Ryan Ashworth (Head of Sales and Marketing), already hold senior roles.
Who should I speak to about buying a wet blasting machine?
Speak to Vapormatt’s sales team, led by Ryan Ashworth, Head of Sales and Marketing, with Henry Gomm and Nathan Whittaker as the team's International Sales Managers. They will discuss your components and the finish you need, and bring in Dom Wilcock’s engineering team to prepare the technical specification when a machine needs to be built around your parts. Outside the UK, you can also contact your local Vapormatt partner.
Can I talk to a wet blasting engineer before I buy a machine?
Yes. Tell us about your components and the result you need, and a Vapormatt applications engineer will advise whether wet blasting can achieve it and which machine and process would do it best. We can also arrange process trials on your own parts before you commit.
Who do I contact for wet blasting machine spare parts, servicing or repairs?
Contact Vapormatt’s aftermarket team. Steve Hazell, Aftermarket Manager, leads the global team of service and commissioning engineers; Kimberly Howells, Aftermarket Sales Coordinator, handles spare parts for Vapormatt machines and equipment from other manufacturers; and Emily Caddy, Aftermarket Coordinator, supports servicing, repairs and general customer queries.
How experienced is the Vapormatt team?
Many of Vapormatt’s people have been with the company for years, some for decades. Co-founder Terry Ashworth has been with Vapormatt since it was founded in 1978, CEO Robin Ashworth joined in the 1980s, Head of Engineering Dom Wilcock joined in 2011 and Head of R&D Matt Ashworth joined in 2015. The team also builds on the Ashworth family’s long history with the process, which Norman Ives Ashworth invented in the late 1940s.
Who leads research and development at Vapormatt?
Research and development at Vapormatt is led by Matt Ashworth, Head of R&D, who is based in Guernsey and has led the function since 2019. Co-founder Terry Ashworth, Research and Development Director, provides direction for the design and R&D teams and has helped secure numerous patents. Their work includes Vapormatt’s patented K-factor edge honing method for solid carbide tools.
Where is the Vapormatt team based?
The Vapormatt team works from its head office at the Vapormatt Innovation Centre, Robins Drive, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4DL, UK. Matt Ashworth, Head of R&D, is based in Guernsey, where Vapormatt was founded in 1978, and Vapormatt partners provide local sales and support in 19 countries.