Turning machines, teamwork and a love of gardening

Werner Weinlich - Ampack's Longest-Serving Employee

What keeps someone in the same company for almost 40 years? For Werner Weinlich, it's the support of his team, exciting opportunities for professional growth and changing responsibilities and tasks. For almost four decades, the trained CNC machinist has been manufacturing components for the filling lines in the Ampack portfolio – ensuring that spare parts reach customers as quickly as possible.

Mr. Weinlich, from the point of view of many younger colleagues, it is quite unusual to remain loyal to a company for so long. Have you never thought about working somewhere else?

Weinlich: Of course I also looked around for job offers from time to time, but in the end none really appealed to me. Instead, Ampack has always offered me opportunities for professional growth. I started out as a machine fitter in single-part production and, over the years, tried my hand at many different areas of production, such as welding and drilling. By attending night school, I trained as a CNC machinist and completed several additional courses offered by CNC machine manufacturers. I'm glad my company gave me these opportunities because it allowed me to keep my finger on the pulse. Today, the component production for our filling equipment is highly automated. That's why my know-how in this area is one of my greatest strengths.

What makes working on the CNC lathe so interesting?

Weinlich: In other companies, there is a separate expert for each step in component production on the machine. For example, one person selects the suitable tools with which the workpiece can be completely turned. Another colleague programs the machining program for the CNC machine, while an operator finally clamps the tool and starts the manufacturing process. I am able to perform each of these production steps. In addition, I often support my colleagues with difficult tasks – that can be very challenging from a technical point of view.

After all these years, are there any projects you like to think back on?

Weinlich: I particularly like to remember the jobs where my colleagues and I first had to fiddle around for a while until we figured out how best to manufacture certain individual parts. In such cases, the entire team – from milling, welding and programming to mechanical processing – pulls together. For the moment, we put aside the usual day-to-day business and work together to get the job done as quickly as possible to our customers' satisfaction. Sometimes I wish we could work like that more often and forego daily administrative tasks as much as possible. I guess that wish makes me a child of my time.

Your retirement is slowly approaching. Have you already made plans?

Weinlich: I'll finally have more time to spend on my motorcycle again and tackle one or two do-it-yourself projects in my garden. I have over 1,000 square meters of land. There is always something to be repaired and improved – and afterwards I can relax, of course.