1. Tell us how long you have been with the company and what position you started in.

I have been with the company for almost 16 years. I started as a plant and machine operator in the foaming production area. In 2019, I moved to the PD/QD department under Andreas Hagedorn, where I have worked ever since, including as a quality inspector.

My journey on the Works Council began in 2014, when I stood for election for the first time and joined the council as a substitute member at the end of that year. In 2016, I became Deputy Chair, and in 2019 I took over as Chair when my predecessor retired. I have held the position ever since, which suggests that I must be doing something right.

2. What kind of educational and professional background do you have?

I completed my intermediate secondary school qualification. After leaving school, I joined the German Air Force, where I completed technical training as a flight dispatcher and flight operations adviser in military air traffic control.

During my service, I completed a wide range of additional training courses, including CBRN rescue and recovery, occupational-safety-related training combined with basic medical instruction, particularly in preventive assistance, and various leadership programmes. All of these helped me develop further.

After completing active service, I moved into civilian air traffic control. Unfortunately, an illness meant that I could not continue in that role for long, so I had to change direction and decided to pursue further technical training.

That path eventually led me to Trocellen GmbH.

3. How did you get promoted?

I would not really describe it as a promotion. I am an employee who has found his own path, perhaps with a little luck and good judgement along the way.

There are no promotions as such in employee representation either. Elections are held every four years, and what matters is the trust of the workforce. The result ultimately reflects that trust.

Perhaps it also has something to do with my charming, slightly cheeky manner. I would rather leave that for others to judge.

4. What are your main tasks and responsibilities today?

In short, one of my responsibilities is to test the physical properties of foams and record the results in various forms to meet the needs of Trocellen GmbH and its customers. And there is quite a bit more besides!

As a Works Council member, and especially as its Chair, my responsibility is to establish and practise a constructive social partnership between the employer and the Works Council. This means working as equals and pursuing and shaping shared interests in a balanced way.

The aim is to reconcile the workforce’s operational interests with the company’s economic needs.

That is also what I always expect from the employer.

Negotiations should therefore always be conducted in a spirit of partnership, even when firm positions clash.

5. You have worked here for many years. Why do you still enjoy being here?

This October, it will already be 16 years, which is somehow crazy! Looking back, it feels like only a short time has passed, as if it were yesterday.

On a personal level, it is because of my colleagues. There are highs and lows, but what has always made Trocellen special, both then and now, is the way people work together.

In short, it is about the company’s character and the potential that lies within it.

6. Could you tell us a little about your personal life or hobbies so that we can get to know you better? How do you balance work and private life?

Management!

Just kidding. I have a fantastic wife, and we have now been married for 20 of my 44 years. I have to admit that things would not work nearly as well without her support. The same is true of my two children, who help me see many things differently and sometimes simply make me laugh at myself.

I enjoy playing football, although I unfortunately do not have enough time to do it regularly. I also love swimming, but do that too irregularly as well. I volunteer as a lay judge at a labour court, which may sound boring at first, but is actually extremely interesting. I could tell you stories that are sometimes truly unbelievable …

I also enjoy travelling, especially to sunny places. Spain is my absolute favourite.

7. What advice would you give new colleagues who want to build a similarly successful career at Trocellen?

Find your own path and make use of the opportunities that come your way. Do not remain in the same place only to wake up later and regret it.

Especially when something does not work out, it is important to stay persistent and patient. Dust yourself off, get back up and simply keep going, because the journey is the destination!