Meet Timo Jansen – Our production manager in Expanite GmbH
Interview
First of all: What is your background, and how did you end up in your current role?
I actually started as a car mechanic. While i liked the job, i realized that I was particularly drawn to the dynamics of industrial production environments. I started in a production role and later completed further education in business administration in Germany, called “Betriebswirtschaft”, before qualifying as an engineer. This combination of practical hands-on experience and formal education has shaped the way I approach production today with a strong focus on efficiency, structure and continuous
improvement.
How would someone who knows you well describe you?
Production operations can be demanding with high pressure, tight schedules and high expectations for quality and delivery. To cope with this, I work a lot with structure – in fact, I love structure, clear priorities, and defined processes. Not all people work in the same (natural) structure, or they may like structure, but may not like my structure. This, of course, is a challenge, but I hope that those around me will say that I am a harmony-seeking person and I try to be good company for everyone and create a good atmosphere in the team.
What’s a day in life like for you at Expanite?
I start my morning by getting a production status overview. As we have people working in shifts from late in the evening and from early morning. I review what happened during the previous evening, check the calendar for events, reviewing the production plan to decide whether we need to change things around. From there, I am very focused on the order flow, incoming orders, and whether we need extra people. At Expanite, we are constantly looking to optimize and reduce our lead time. One of the key
parameters is our delivery performance. At the German plant, more than 90% of our deliveries are completed either on time or before the agreed delivery date.
What are some of the key technologies and tools you work with at Expanite?
I use a variety of tools, but the most important platform in our daily operation is Fenris, Expanite’s own centralized digital production platform. Through Fenris we control and monitor everything: the actual treatment processes, all parameters for the specific alloys, etc. The fact that all Expanite treatment processes are executed in the same way across all sites ensures a consistent and uniform quality for our customers, independent of location. To communicate and coordinate with my colleagues here in Germany and at the other Expanite treatment centers we mainly use digital tools like Teams, Outlook and Excel for data collection.
Can you describe a recent project you’ve worked on and your contributions to it?
Right now, the biggest ongoing project is the change from nitrogen bundle supply to big storage tanks for nitrogen at the German site. This project is similar to the solution we implemented in Denmark and has been underway for some time. With these tanks, the need for weekly truckloads of nitrogen bundles has been eliminated. Not only will it make us more efficient, but we will also
save the environment from a lot of unnecessary emissions from transportation.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work, and how do you overcome them?
My team and I are focusing on three things: First, the optimal performance of the furnaces themselves and the production environment. Second, we always look to ensure high quality, consistent and standardized production. The third issue is ramping up for growth: How can we meet the growing demand from our customers and scale capacity while maintaining high quality delivered on time? Denmark has been underway for some time. With these tanks, the need for weekly truckloads of
nitrogen bundles has been eliminated. Not only will it make us more efficient, but we will also.
How does the tech team at Expanite help your customers?
We constantly work on refining the optimal treatment solution for each component. We try to improve and make our customers’ lives easier. By helping them extend the lifetime of their products, we also contribute to a more sustainable world.
How does your work at Expanite impact the company’s overall goals and objectives?
Production is the key figure in executing our strategy. We are dependent on Sales and vice versa. Clear communication between Sales and Production is vital. Customer Service also plays a crucial role as an internal hub that connects everyone.
What trends do you see in the industry, and how is Expanite preparing for the future?
We are ready for the future, and when I look at the industry, we are in a strong position. We are spread across the world, our technology is both clean and well managed, and we know we can handle growth efficiently.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a technical role at a company like Expanite?
Keep the structure from the very beginning and maintain the overview. Don’t shout at the people; there is a balance between satisfying customer requirements and keeping employees happy. Stay organised and don’t push everything to the limit.
Can you share a memorable experience or accomplishment during your time at Expanite that stands out to you?
This is a good example of how we support our customers. One customer urgently needed components treated, so he came by plane from Spain, landed in Düsseldorf, took a taxi to Expanite Germany, hand carried his components that needed treatment to our treatment center, and waited in a local hotel. Two days later, we had treated his parts, and he flew back to Spain completely satisfied. He was grateful for our flexibility and fast turnaround times.
One of the biggest benefits in Expanite is that everybody in the company is quite close to each other. We have a very informal structure, which helps a lot. I like it a lot. I have been with Expanite for 7 years. We are good at sharing knowledge, we help each other, and we operate as one team.
About Expanite
Expanite offers state-of-the-art solutions for surface hardening treatment of stainless steels and titanium.
With Expanite’s processes, it is possible to increase the material’s surface hardness tenfold while at the same time maintaining and even increasing its corrosion resistance. Expanite is a global organization with a combined development and production facility near Copenhagen, Denmark, and hardening capacity in both US, Germany, Korea and China. Expanite’s solutions are flexible and can be introduced directly into a customer’s own production line as part of a licensing arrangement. Learn more on www.expanite.com.