Stijn performs his role as a trainer at voestalpine Sadef with passion and commitment, going far beyond the transfer of technical knowledge. He is a teacher, coach and future shaper. The 35-year-old Belgian worked as a machine operator on the bending machine himself when he joined the team in Hooglede-Gits around 15 years ago. With a background in technical training, he already brought a lot of knowledge with him and has acquired more and more expertise over the years. Today, he passes this knowledge on to his colleagues.
We have been producing cabs for cranes, tractors and various agricultural machines for more than 25 years. Our strength lies in our ability to flexibly adapt our roll forming systems to produce any desired profile shape for our customers. In Hooglede-Gits on the aforementioned 3D bending machine, cold-formed profiles for such cabin parts are produced. This is precision work, as the components are crucial for the safety and stability of the cabs of thousands of cranes, tractors, excavators or car and truck chassis. Around 80 to 90 % of the cab components made from Hooglede-Gits are intended for cranes or tractors.
Stijn knows that gauging is not just about the mechanical operation of the machine, but also about configuring the right parameters for each individual customer. Every profile is unique because we manufacture cabin parts that are individually tailored to the customer’s needs and requirements. Stijn shows his colleagues everything they need to produce a “good” profile, explains how they can ensure quality on the system and dives deep into the profile setup with them. A “good” profile is one that meets the quality department’s specifications and passes the downstream inspection process within the defined tolerances.
Stijn wants to be a “good” teacher – someone who can pass on technical input in such a way that even new colleagues with a less technical background can quickly grasp complex processes. Above all, he wants to communicate with his colleagues respectfully and on an equal footing. “I’m very open to new techniques and technologies, and I’m happy to pass on my knowledge,” says the family man. His approach of listening to and recognizing people’s individual needs earns him the respect and trust of his colleagues, who also seek his advice on matters outside of work – a confirmation of his approach.
Every few years, voestalpine Sadef nv in Hooglede-Gits opens its doors for an “Open Day”. There, Stijn and his colleagues show their families, friends and the interested public their workplace – their plant. This look behind the scenes is often eye-opening for visitors. “They are surprised at what we do here,” says Stijn and continues: “Above all, it is often the dimensions that they are not even aware of – the market volume of voestalpine Sadef nv or the voestalpine Group.” This impression is also confirmed when he is out and about with friends or family: where Stijn lives, agriculture has always been practiced, and agricultural machinery and tractors are still part of the landscape in Flanders today. When he explains that 30,000 driver’s cabs are produced for one tractor manufacturer alone, for example, the people he talks to are often amazed, especially when he adds: “Yes, and that’s just one manufacturer, we have – probably – 30 customers in this sector.” If they look at buildings, railroad lines or cars, Stijn says: “Yes, that’s all part of voestalpine. That’s what we do. This is what we produce and make possible – here in Belgium and all over the world.” This certainly gives Stijn the feeling of being part of something big, something important.
In our new brand and image campaign #FavoriteMoments, we show our contribution to a modern, sustainable life from the perspective of people. We focus on their individual favorite moments and the commitment of our employees that makes such moments possible. The specially composed song “All these moments” accompanies the campaign and musically conveys our values, courage, community and our joy for the future and is authentically accompanied by pictures of our employees.
Die voestalpine ist ein weltweit führender Stahl- und Technologiekonzern mit kombinierter Werkstoff- und Verarbeitungskompetenz. Die global tätige Unternehmensgruppe verfügt über rund 500 Konzerngesellschaften und -standorte in mehr als 50 Ländern auf allen fünf Kontinenten. Sie notiert seit 1995 an der Wiener Börse. Mit ihren Premium-Produkt- und Systemlösungen zählt sie zu den führenden Partnern der Automobil- und Hausgeräteindustrie sowie der Luftfahrt- und Öl- & Gasindustrie und ist darüber hinaus Weltmarktführer bei Bahninfrastruktursystemen, bei Werkzeugstahl und Spezialprofilen. Die voestalpine bekennt sich zu den globalen Klimazielen und verfolgt mit greentec steel einen klaren Plan zur Dekarbonisierung der Stahlproduktion.
