Rodime

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rodime was an electronics company specialising in hard disks, based in Glenrothes, Scotland. It was founded in 1979 by several Scottish and American former employees of Burroughs Corporation and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1986, becoming Rodime PLC.

Rodime produced a wide range of hard disks, initially 5.25 in form-factor ST506-compatible devices, later launching the world's first 3.5 in hard disk and also producing SCSI and ATA disks.

Due to increasing competition and delays in developing new products, Rodime became unprofitable after 1985, and a financial restructuring package was put in place in 1989. However, in 1991, Rodime ceased manufacturing and was reduced to a holding company which continued to pursue patent litigation against other hard disk manufacturers such as Quantum and Seagate.

Some ex-Rodime engineering staff went on to form Calluna Technology, which specialised in 1.8 in PC Card form-factor hard disks.

In 2000, Rodime PLC performed a reverse takeover of the Littlewoods gaming business, thus changing its principal business to gaming and betting. Soon after, it changed its name to Sportech PLC.

[edit] References

• Coopey, Richard (1995). "Venture Capital and the Computer Industry: Financing Growth Companies in the UK". Business and Economic History 24 (1). 

• Mackintosh Consultants (2000). Information Storage in the UK: a guide to research, manufacture and services. Department of Trade and Industry. Retrieved on 2008-04-09. 

• Living By Litigation, Tiny Rodime Takes On Seagate. Computergram International (1998-08-17). Retrieved on 2008-04-09.

• Sportech plc - About Us - Company History. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.