Lars Hoogerbrug (31) from Aalten knew from the age of four that he wanted to be a baker. No sooner said than done. In 2015, he qualified as a baker and began his career. Yet technology had always played a role in his life – even in the bakery. Read on to find out how Lars made the switch from baker to assembly worker at Prinzen.
How one open evening changed everything
Once his dream had become a reality, doubts began to creep in after all. When he started a family, he increasingly found himself hampered by inflexible working hours. Balancing work and private life became more difficult, and, on top of that, he missed the sense of fulfilment and recognition for his hard work. Lars looks back: “When I was looking round, I came across Prinzen’s open evening. I already knew a few people who worked there, so I thought: I’ll just pop in and have a look. I practically walked out the door with a contract in hand, haha!” Both sides were enthusiastic. Not long after, Lars started at the BBL course in Mechatronics Level 3 at Prinzen. He has now successfully completed that and has started Level 4.
Assembly at Prinzen
Lars explains how a project begins: “Our sales representative visits the customer to identify all their requirements and needs. They look at the number of animals and eggs, and discuss which solution is most suitable. The enquiry is then forwarded to the Projects department. They draw up the layout and produce the plans. It is then passed on to Work Planning, where the work is further allocated”.
Within the assembly department, colleagues work on various parts of the process. Lars works at the pre-assembly. “When I started here, I was building conveyor belts. After a few months, I became curious to learn more and was given the opportunity to build egg-packing machines, such as the Prinzen 70”. He now builds and commissions complete production lines. This means that, in Aalten, he assembles several machines into one operational line. Lars: “That’s where I really find my challenge. No two machines are the same. They may look similar at first glance, but ultimately every machine is tailored to the customer.” He has a set way of working. “I always start with the latest version of the drawing and work out how I can assemble everything as efficiently and effectively as possible. And the most important thing is levelling the machine. If it isn’t levelled properly, it affects how the machines operate and, ultimately, the customer’s results.”
Getting energy from work
“Sometimes I watch a video made by my colleagues in After Sales. You can see the machines running smoothly and everything working properly. That makes me happy!” But it’s not just the end result that gives him a sense of satisfaction. Lars: “I often plan things out in my head, and if it actually works out, I’m happy. But I’m also happy when I’ve organised my work in such a way that, if I’m off sick, my colleagues can carry on seamlessly so that nothing comes to a standstill”.
As well as his work, Lars also enjoys working atmosphere. He says: “The working atmosphere here is brilliant; you can really tell it’s a family business. In fact, your closest colleague is just as friendly as our CEO. That shows just how welcoming it is here”.
Still energy left to go for a run
One of Lars’s hobbies and main interests is running. He enjoys keeping fit and wants to keep challenging himself – even outside of work. The VencoFIT programme fits in perfectly with that. Lars says cheerfully: “I think it’s a fantastic initiative! As someone who loves sport, I naturally think it’s great, but it’s also nice to be active together with colleagues. We motivate each other, of course, and get to know each other in a different way than just at work”.
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