Fourteen years ago, Dick van Bommel wasn’t actually looking for a new job at all. He was working in IT for the greenhouse horticulture sector and didn’t necessarily have any plans to leave. Until, through an acquaintance, he popped into the Vencomatic Group one day. Just to have a look around and see what they were on about. “I wasn’t looking for a new job, but when I went for an interview, I thought it would be nice to try a different environment. A completely different direction; that appealed to me.” And now, more than a decade later, he’s become an integral part of the company.
From the start to the present day
Dick started out as a Design Engineer in the R&D department. Over the following years, he progressed to become a Project Manager on development projects and eventually took on his current role as Mechanical Lead Engineer. “I started out as a Design Engineer, and I’ve since progressed to a position where I now manage other Design Engineers,” he explains. “Now I mainly take a broader view and make decisions throughout the development process.”
Whereas he used to focus mainly on development, design and testing, his working day looks very different these days. “Before, it was mostly development and design. Now I spend most of my time in meetings and managing the team.” As Lead Engineer, he is also something of a walking encyclopaedia within the organisation. “I helped develop all the systems that have been developed here. Questions from support, projects or the field often end up with me.”
The actual drafting work is now mainly done by his colleagues. “I leave that to the structural engineers. I oversee the process and keep an eye on things to ensure the right decisions are made. The detailed work is down to them.”
Freedom, trust and just acting normal
What matters to Dick in an employer is crystal clear to him. “Flexibility and appreciation”. And he believes Vencomatic Group has that covered. “There’s plenty of scope to progress or explore a different direction”. Trust is indispensable in this regard and a key value for him. “If I want to go to America to monitor systems, I can. You’re given a lot of freedom and trust here. Of course, it’s always in consultation, but basically everything works out fine”.
If you ask Dick, you can see that genuine care is evident throughout the company. “Programmes like VencoFIT show that the company cares about its people. With everything going on, it’s easy to lose sight of that, but that’s certainly not the case here.”
Flat organisational structure, short lines of communication
According to Dick, the atmosphere within Vencomatic Group is informal and hands-on. “It’s a flat organisation. You can discuss matters with anyone if necessary.” It’s no different in his own department: “We can have a bit of a laugh together, but when there’s work to be done, we get the job done.” He considers that informal nature important: no fuss, just doing what needs to be done whilst having a bit of fun. “We sometimes have a bit of a laugh and grab a beer together. That’s all part of it, alongside working hard.”
Growing through action
In recent years, Dick has developed not only technically but also personally. “I used to get really nervous about giving presentations. Now, I spend almost all my time presenting to project groups.” With experience and confidence, it has become easier and easier for him. “If I know what I’m talking about, I don’t mind even if there are a lot of people there.”
The international aspect of the work is something that appeals to Dick and adds an extra layer of depth to it. “Every country deals with systems differently. You can see that they handle things very differently in America than they do in Poland. That, in turn, gives you an insight into what you need to take into account during development.”
A sense of pride
The project he’s most proud of? Without a doubt, the Bolegg Gallery, a housing system for laying hens. “We really built that from scratch. I know every single screw in it.” And when he sees those systems installed at customers’ premises later on, it really means something to him. “When I see one of those systems somewhere in the world and see the results it delivers, it makes me proud.”
Will you be Dick’s next colleague?
