[Article from ScrapBook No 5 2014]
Steen Jensen is one of our experienced installation technicians having worked at production facilities in over 30 countries around the world. During his 25 years within this work he has seen many men give up. This has never been an option for Jensen: “The combination of technical challenge and opportunity to meet different cultures is thrilling.”
How would you describe your job?
“You have to like your own company and you have to be self-driven. When we arrive to a production facility to build up a new recycling plant, we are most often alone from Eldan. We are Supervisors that are responsible for the total installation and training of the customer’s personnel. As the customer trust you, your technical knowledge about the recycling plant as well as your leadership skills must be 100 % reliable.”
What makes you like this job?
“When you work with people from different countries, you get to know the culture in a much better way than travelling as tourist. All those cultural meetings enrich my life even though the work can be rather challenging. Another part is the focus on solving problems. The installation project must succeed, and you are the one who is in charge of every phase of the project.”
Do you remember when you solved an exceptional situation?
“Two years ago we were about to install a complete tyre recycling plant in India and everything went according to plan until our container equipped with all our tools where dropped down in the Hamburg harbour. I had to build this plant only with tools local installers could provide us with and I had to lead the working team via translator. In a situation like this, there is only one focus: Solve the problem, and that we did.”
What are the challenges?
“There are many, but of course building a new recycling plant is a challenge. A plant consists of many different machine modules that must fit together and run smoothly after closing the installation project. We cooperate with local installers who sometimes never have installed a recycling plant before. There is a great challenge in communicating and leading the work. For example different cultures have different sense of time which can make time planning difficult, but over time you learn how to read people and establish relationships.”
How do live during an installation project?
“That depends of location of the production facility. In some countries we stay at hotels close to the facility, but in few other countries we have to live on site. That can be rather simple with only a bed and a wardrobe. You have to be physical strong; that is why 9 of 10 fall off.”
What will be your next project?
“Probably Pakistan or India again, but first I will have two or three weeks off at home. I hope to continue working as installation technician for many years to come.”
