1. Since when have you been with Berghof?

I joined Berghof Laboratory and Automation Technology as a mechanical engineer in 1997. I became the first technical head of production in plastics technology. Fluoroplastics Technology didn’t exist as a dedicated area yet at the time.

2. What do you find fascinating about PTFE?

PTFE is a very diverse material. Our work is just as diverse. New challenges from different industries are brought to us every day. We solve them creatively with PTFE – even though our customers may not be able to imagine a PTFE solution at all initially. I have always enjoyed the search for such solutions – in particular finding out the many things that PTFE can be used for.

3. What is the secret of success of Berghof Fluoroplastics Technology?

I think it is about two things: On the one hand, we are a highly committed and motivated team that is able to familiarise itself with new subjects quickly. We work in nearly any industry: the automotive, paint shop, chemicals industry and many others. Each of them has its very special challenges. Being able to immerse themselves in them anew every time in order to solve the challenges using PTFE is a special skill our employees have. On the other hand, we have concluded many new development partnerships with various automotive suppliers over the years, which has made us a recognized problem-solver for renowned companies. That pays off eventually, of course.

4. How did the relocation to the new building in May 2017 proceed?

Planning was decisive in order to securely transport the machines and keep production downtimes as short as possible. Everything went smoothly, and production recommenced after only two weeks. But just as it always is in those moments: when a machine isn’t running, something urgently needs to be completed on it. In the end, we managed that as well.

5. What changed after the move?

We put great value on giving our employees modern office workplaces and integrated state-of-the-art technology into our production workplaces. This enables us to work more efficiently and most of all to produce more industrialized.

6. What is important to you when you are not working on new PTFE solutions?

As a father of triplets, I have relatively little time left for other things. My family clearly is the centre of my life outside of my work. They need my full attention. Again, however, just as when relocating our company: It is all a matter of proper organization.