Could you tell us when you joined TAKRAF Group, explain in a few sentences what your role is, your responsibilities and give us some of your experience?
I joined TAKRAF in September 1981, almost 43 years ago. Until 2012 I worked in production planning, most of the time as a CNC machine programmer. Since 2012 I have been Head of Fabrication with overall responsibility for all production processes at TAKRAF Products in Lauchhammer, Germany. This includes both technical and disciplinary management of the production team.
What has been your personal highlight at TAKRAF Group and perhaps also outside of work?
One of my personal highlights was when we started manufacturing the first HPGR (high pressure grinding rolls) in 2018/2019. This includes in particular the welding of the rolls. For this purpose, we bought a machine at an auction from the estate of a liquidated company. It was an in-house development - a mixture of an old lathe and a welding machine, combined with an "old" control system and there was hardly any documentation. Initially, few people were convinced that we would be able to get this machine up and running again. Even I, a rather optimistic person, had my doubts. But we were driven by the challenge. After many attempts, including failures and rebuilds, we succeeded. We created training materials, trained the employees, and developed a company agreement for a rolling work schedule. It felt incredibly good to overcome this challenge together. And because we spent so much time with this machine, we even gave it a name, but I won't reveal it here 😉.
What do you enjoy the most about what you do at TAKRAF Group?
Above all, I enjoy working with people. I have a great appreciation for my team and the people in production. 99% of the time I enjoy working with them 😉. Without the contribution of each individual, I would be lost as a manager. I am also fascinated to see how components, parts and equipment are manufactured on a daily basis. Getting a taste of the shop floor, being in the middle of it and not just on the sidelines, is especially valuable to me.
Why is mining or engineering a stimulating sector for women to enter?
With their creativity, communication and social skills, women can bring new impetus to these industries. What's interesting to me personally is that everyone can do small things 😉 - we prefer to focus on the big things - I mean just think of the world's largest self-driving land vehicle.
If you had to give one piece of advice to a young person on how to enter and succeed in the world of work, and in the mining sector in particular, what would it be?
My advice would be to keep your eyes and ears open from day one, ask questions, and generate as much knowledge as possible from the experience of your senior colleagues. This knowledge, coupled with new innovations, is a good foundation for working in our industry. Perseverance is also important. Even when things aren't going well and you feel like giving up, get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Being respectful and treating everyone as an equal, regardless of their position, is also crucial.
Which woman would you like to sit down to dinner with and why?
I would like to have dinner with Angela Merkel - not out of political interest or to talk about politics, but because I find her personality interesting. I appreciate and admire her as a woman for her life's journey from scientist to chancellor. She radiates sovereignty and objectivity, does not polarize, and I can identify well with her pragmatic nature. I think we would find interesting topics to discuss.
This article is part of our ongoing series spotlighting the remarkable women contributing to the mining industry at TAKRAF Group. Stay tuned for more inspiring and personal interviews with our international colleagues.
Innovation out of tradition – It pays to talk to a specialist!