Engineer 4.0 at Krones

You’ve read about the engineer’s multifaceted remit and the attractions of working for Krones … now, as promised, Veronika talks about future challenges. Because even though it’s nice, of course, when everything runs smoothly, it’s really the challenges that make the everyday workplace so varied and exciting.

Veronika sees digitalisation as the biggest change at present. Not least because this had admittedly not necessarily enjoyed maximised priority in R&D during recent years. “Hitherto, the focus was very much on design-enhancing the systems and lines – though that continues to be an important aspect, but meanwhile, you see, we’ve for some time been concentrating more on the digital issues, and there we all have to work together in order to achieve our goals,” emphasises Veronika.

Basically, of course, the principal focus is always on the client: what requirements does he have? With what innovations can we persuade clients to opt for Krones? What do clients want? Clients want maximally fast, dependable, cost-efficient production, and Veronika and her colleagues are tasked, for example, with examining how Krones can assure this with the aid of digital solutions.

However, digitalisation is manifested not only in regard to lines and machines, but also in the working methodology as such. Networking is the magic word! Collaboration between different departments is vital. But each specialist department has its own ideas and approaches, of course. “You first have to bang some heads together to arrive at a consensus,” laughs Veronika, “but that’s what’s so exciting about it – and the result makes everything worthwhile!”

Digitalisation will continue to affect the engineer’s job profile in the future as well. Mechanical innovations will no longer suffice for persuading a client to buy his machines from Krones. In the field of mechanical engineering, too, information technology and artificial intelligence are an increasingly prevalent factor. The engineers first have to acquire the background knowledge required, like programming skills.

Krones supports its engineers here, for example, with special programming courses, enabling them to program minor automation routines at least.

Needless to say, this speeds up development work, and opens up entirely new options for the engineers – such as those offered by 3D printing. “You design something and you get it directly delivered within a few days as a finished part,” says Veronika. “So you can immediately start testing, modifying and optimising it. This substantially shortens the cycles in the development process.”

The fascination lies in the diverse remit

During the interview, I repeatedly realised what fascinates Veronika about her job: it’s the sheer diversity involved! “You’re continually dealing with new, interesting issues and projects. It’s really satisfying to observe ongoing trends and technologies, and translate them into actual products! It means you don’t get trapped in a single specialism, so you don’t spend the rest of your life doing the same thing. Something new always comes along – new challenges, new contacts with institutes, and inside the company as well. This enables you to accumulate an incredible amount of knowledge!”

As you can see, if you like developing and tinkering, if you love fresh challenges and a diverse remit, and feel happy working in a team, as an engineer at Krones you have a chance at your dream job! I was definitely captivated by Veronika’s enthusiasm for her job. You too? Then seize the opportunity, and apply to Krones for a job as an engineer!