About Us
Leadership
At Laybr Automation, our story begins with Joshua Bradshaw, our CEO and Founder. Joshua's journey into the world of engineering and manufacturing began in his childhood, driven by an insatiable curiosity to understand how everything is made. With over 20 years of industry experience, his relentless pursuit of knowledge has made him an expert in the field of automation machinery design and manufacturing.
Joshua's has held and managing nearly every position within a manufacturing company. His career path includes helping to build a successful turbocharger manufacturing company, founding (and selling) his own machinery manufacturing company, and creating a direct-to-consumer order fulfillment company that shipped up to 250 orders per day on Shopify.
This unique blend of experiences allows Laybr Automation to truly understand and tackle the challenges our clients face. We bring firsthand experience and expertise to deliver innovative and effective solutions.
Career Highlights: Rotomaster Turbochargers (7+ years)
After graduating from the Mechanical Engineering program at BCIT in 2004, Joshua Bradshaw accepted the challenge of becoming the first employee at a new turbocharger manufacturing company called Rotomaster. He embraced the opportunity and spent the next seven years working tirelessly with the ownership group to build the business into the industry leader it is today.
During his tenure at Rotomaster, Joshua rapidly advanced through the ranks, managing several critical departments, including Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance (QA). His dedication and expertise played a pivotal role in the company's success.
In 2017, Rotomaster was acquired by Cardone Industries, the largest privately held auto parts re-manufacturer in the world, for an undisclosed valuation.
Career Highlights: Vital Manufacturing Inc. (10+ years)
In 2014, Joshua founded Vital Manufacturing Inc., a company he would transform over the next seven years into a world-class supplier of automation machinery servicing customers across North America.
After selling a majority share of the company in 2020, Joshua remained with the company for another four years until his resignation in December of 2024. During this time, he focused on developing innovative products while overseeing nearly every aspect of day-to-day operations, including Sales, Business Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Commissioning.
Career Highlights: Cap Shield
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, Joshua saw an opportunity to help prevent the spread of the virus. He invented a unique face shield product called the "Cap Shield," which could easily be attached to the brim of a standard baseball cap. Design and manufacturing began in March 2020, and by the end of April, the company was already shipping orders on Shopify and selling out fast.
The Cap Shield was an instant success, featured on Global News across Canada. The products were sold direct-to-consumer and B2B, shipping up to 250 individual orders per day, with some orders reaching up to 10,000 kits. The company consistently ranked in the top 1% of Shopify stores started at the same time and expanded to include third-party related products for anti-fog and cleaning.
This venture provided a profound learning experience, offering a glimpse into the complex world of high-volume order fulfillment, direct-to-consumer marketing, and inventory management. The Cap Shield remained a favourite among many consumers until the government mandated the use of face masks.