Toon Manders Foreman welding department

‘I started as a welder and now I am a foreman. Managing colleagues and supervising our operations is what I deal with. I don't want to become a manager. I would much rather be on the shop floor, where the real work is done. We recently gained even more clout, because two VDL companies merged to form VDL Systems. This means we can now manufacture complete products more independently. From work preparation to welding and assembly. So we have even more influence on the end result - and I like that. It makes me proud every time we deliver a good end product.’

Investing in people as well as machines

‘In my field, I see a lot happening. We are moving towards a world where there are fewer and fewer good professionals. And in which we have to deal with more automation and modern technologies. That is why I think it is important to work for a company that invests in people and machines. Fortunately VDL is doing plenty of that. In my view, you have to keep up with this change to safeguard your leading position. It is then my job to ensure that the welders also move with the new working methods and technologies. For the old guard, this is not always easy; it is a matter of patiently massaging them. It feels good when I can make them realise that work can also be done more efficiently by automating and with better quality. Seeing colleagues finally embrace such automation gives me real satisfaction.’ 
 

Full of innovation: robots for the strawberry industry 

‘As a foreman, I think it's important that we constantly keep looking for how our work can be better or smarter. Not only for a good end product, but also so that our work becomes more enjoyable. After all, in my eyes, you can automate everything. It's cool to see that we can do more and more and raise our own standards. For the strawberry industry, for instance, we are now working on robots that cut off the crown of the strawberry. So that people no longer have to do that manually.’

Getting better and better

‘What I like most about my job? VDL is a good employer and there is a pleasant atmosphere. But above all, we make beautiful, innovative things. For many different customers, from the food industry to the chip industry. Everything comes along. For example, we make large freezers for freezing chips or vegetables. And you see those frozen products back in the supermarket. That's nice. Then later, when I'm standing in the supermarket, I can proudly say to my grandson: ‘Look boy, Grandpa contributed to that’.’