How were your beginnings at ARCA?

Starting as a sales engineer in the office, I gained my first insights into the various departments within sales through a rotation program and was able to absorb the wealth of experience of senior engineers and integrate them into everyday life. Due to the systematic induction of experienced practitioners, I managed the first larger, more complex projects quite early on and was responsible for the preparation of the quotations, order processing and commissioning of the valves.

What has your professional development been like in recent years?

Through commitment, the acquired specialist knowledge and the bond with the company, I was able to continuously take on more responsibility beyond the area of sales.

As Head of Product Technology, I am currently actively shaping the future of the company and am involved in cross-divisional internal and external projects with a very varied everyday life and exciting challenges.

What prompted you to choose your job?

After studying at RWTH Aachen, I was looking for a job where mechanical engineers can work broadly and use expertise from various disciplines such as thermodynamics, machine elements, materials science, etc. At the same time, as an expectant father, family values in a company were important to me. ARCA not only offered me an exciting workplace, but also created opportunities to reconcile family and career.

What makes working at ARCA special? What is typical for ARCA?

A special feature of the company is the cross-hierarchical communication at eye level. Typical ARCA teamwork and cooperation is hearty, factual and imaginative, and humour doesn’t fall by the wayside.

Would you recommend ARCA as an employer?

I recommend the company to all those who are looking for a stable, traditional family business and a technically varied activity with a collegial atmosphere.

What was your professional career like?

I was initially a sales employee in internal technical service, then switched to field service and was later the deputy manager of an engineering and sales office. I have been working at ARCA as a sales manager in field service for West Germany since 2020.

Do you enjoy working in a team?

The team is the backbone for my daily work outside at the customer. Only together can we meet customer requirements by offering and ultimately delivering ARCA products of the desired quality. We pull in the same direction to achieve our goals.

What makes working at ARCA special? What is typical for ARCA?

Internal: ARCA has a flat hierarchy with fast decision-making routes. Cross-departmental work is mandatory, that way we get an insight into the processes of our colleagues and can interact together.

External: We let the customer explain the processes to us and offer the optimal technical and commercial solution for his application. We are customer-oriented, we motivate and support each other.

After Corona – how do you like to work the most? In home office, at the office or both?

For me personally, the question doesn’t arise, because as a sales representative I am used to working from home. During the pandemic, I missed the personal contact with colleagues and customers. Discussing tasks together at the table is always a great inspiration for me.

What do you regard as success?

For me, success is when we can continuously inspire our customers as a competent partner. For me, competence means that we are technically competent, reliable, focused and binding.

Which values are close to your heart, also in your working life?

• Authenticity in my actions, thoughts, speech and feelings
• Identification with my tasks.
• Responsible, entrepreneurial action.

What was the best advice that you ever received?

To remain true to my values and to live them. When the wind of change comes, do not seek out the safe haven, but set sail.

What was the biggest obstacle that you were able to overcome?

At the beginning of the pandemic I had to restructure my sales tasks and collaboration with customers and colleagues within a short period of time and reorganise myself.

Together we have found new ways of communication and used them effectively. Many of the ways found will permanently change our working world.

What is important in your work or what would you like to say to others at this point?

As a sales representative, I can be the face of ARCA at the forefront. For me, conveying this image (professionally and personally) is both pride and responsibility.

All of us, no matter in which position, are responsible for leaving a lasting, positive impression of ARCA Regler GmbH with our customers.

What prompted you to choose your job?

For me, ARCA is a control valve manufacturer that manages the technical balancing act between standard valves and special valves. We close the gap so that our customers receive a technically high-class and high-quality complete valve package from a single source.

What do you do differently from the people around you?

I can’t judge whether I’m doing something worse, better, or just different from others. However, I am convinced that I have not done everything wrong. Not all of my roads were straight – even via detours you get to the destination, maybe this is the more interesting way.

Does ARCA support you in your further development and in reconciling your private and professional life in the best possible way?

Especially as a family business, ARCA Regler GmbH is very aware of social responsibility. The professional and personal development of committed and motivated employees is supported. The focus is on people.

What do you particularly enjoy about your work?

“Sharing knowledge is power” (Jimmy Wales). At ARCA, we are in close technical and personal contact with our customers and colleagues. We share common experiences, exchange successes and lesser successes. We learn through our work together and improve with every step forward.

Would you like to pass on anything else?

I am privately interested in many things: family, garden, handicrafts, motorcycling, BBQ, dancing. My sporting activities, especially running and cycling, require me to go to my mental and physical limits. In the end there is the joy and pride in what has been achieved. This balance to my daily work helps me to keep a clear head, to focus myself and to work in a goal-oriented manner.

What is your role at ARCA?

I work at ARCA as a mechanic in equipment construction and produce control units for Siemens and other partners.

Do you enjoy working in a team?

Working in a team with friendly colleagues who think for themselves is always a positive experience.

Which values are close to your heart, also in your working life?

Approaching others with positive thoughts.
To have the feeling of having made good use of the entire day.

What was the best advice that you ever received?

Many years ago, a head of ARCA advised me to give up smoking. That was a good thing. It encouraged me to stop.

What is important in your work or what would you like to say to others at this point?

To manufacture a product that I can stand be proud of and that (also in interaction with my colleagues) satisfies the end user.
Convey? – My advice: A value-adding activity is always part of your life’s journey and is not a by-product of the day.

What do you do differently from the people around you?

When I observe the digital media a little, I see that I still go my own way. I would like people to question themselves more.

Does ARCA support you in your further development and in reconciling your private and professional life in the best possible way?

Absolutely!

What do you particularly enjoy about your work?

The opportunity to contribute my own performance – in other words, the goal-oriented implementation idea.

What was your professional career like?

School education and training as a machine fitter;
many years of self-education in various companies;
switch to ARCA Sales

Do you like working in a team?

Absolutely, because in a medium-sized company you can actually only be successful in a team!

What makes working at ARCA special? What is typical for ARCA?

The special feature is the largely free design of the work processes without missing the “red guideline”.

After Corona – how do you like to work the most? In home office, at the office or both?

I prefer working at the office in direct contact with my colleagues

What do you regard as success?

Achieving the set goals together.

Which values are close to your heart, also in your working life?

I value a harmonious environment in general and of course also in the company. Above all, respectful dealings with colleagues are important to me here.

What was the best advice that you ever received?

Accept challenges, don’t dodge them! Following this advice has had several positive effects on my professional career.

What was the biggest obstacle that you were able to overcome?

There have certainly been many obstacles in the past 41 years of work. However, it is important not to be discouraged by obstacles, but to see overcoming them as an opportunity for one’s own development.

What is important in your work or what would you like to say to others at this point?

A special feature of my work is the required technical expertise, in combination with sales and commercial aspects. An often challenging combination.

Does ARCA support you in your further development and in reconciling your private and professional life in the best possible way?

ARCA promotes the development/further education of young employees in further training, studies or other courses, almost without restriction.

What do you particularly enjoy about your work?

I think getting the feeling that your own work contributes to the success of the company is particularly pleasing.

“What was your professional career like?

I started my professional life with an apprenticeship as an automotive mechatronics technician and gained a few years of experience there.

I decided to attend night school to become a state-certified mechanical engineering technician. After graduating from the technical school, my career began at ARCA. Today, my area of responsibility includes the processing and support of orders, as well as communication with the customer after receipt of order.

Do you enjoy working in a team?

Working in a team is very important to me because it is essential for the success of the company.

After Corona – how do you like to work the most? In home office, at the office or both?

I think a healthy mix of both would be perfect. Personal contact with my colleagues on site is very important to me and at home I can get started right away without a long journey and distraction.

Which values are close to your heart, also in your working life?

Taking responsibility; quality, because I have high demands on myself; team spirit.

What was the biggest obstacle that you were able to overcome?

The biggest obstacle that I overcame was finishing technical school and moving to a new work environment.

What prompted you to choose your job?

I wanted to take on new challenges after my further education.

What was your professional career like?

I was a teacher for almost 20 years. I took courses at a nearby college to become an I&E technician (electrical engineering and instrumentation). My favourite class was a valve class where we worked on valves, actuators and positioners.

Do you enjoy working in a team?

Yes, because I value team input, but I also enjoy taking responsibility for my individual performance.

What makes working at ARCA special? What is typical for ARCA?

Typical of ARCA for me are patience and friendliness. If I make mistakes, I get simple corrections and help.

What do you regard as success?

When others see the individual value of me as a person.

Which values are important to you personally, including in your professional life?

Family, fair and rewarding expenditure of time, flexibility, Christian values. They’re all important everywhere.

What was the best advice that you ever received?

You’re not the only pebble on the beach. (from my grandmother)

What was your professional career like?

– Started in 1994 as a clerk

– 1997 Construction and assembly of positioner accessories (ARCAPRO)

– 2001 Internal sales and field service

After corona – how do you like to work the most? In home office, at the office or both?

I would be in favour of both.

What do you regard as success?

For me, success is when my work is accepted and appreciated, when created quotations become orders and when I have been able to gain the trust of our customers.

Which values are close to your heart, also in your working life?

-Honesty

-Reliability

-Acceptance

What was the best advice that you ever received

Don’t give up, even if it gets or is difficult.

Does ARCA support you in your further development and in reconciling your private and professional life in the best possible way?

Yes I am.

What was your professional career like?

After studying, I started my career at ARCA, first as a project employee in the production planning / steering in work preparation, then in operations and in materials management. I am currently an order manager and coordinate the orders throughout the entire handling process.

Do you enjoy working in a team?

Yes, I enjoy working in a team.

After Corona – how do you like to work the most? In home office, at the office or both?

After Corona I would like to work in the office again.

What prompted you to choose your job?

The diversity and flexibility associated with the position led me to choose my job, as both economic and technical aspects come together here.

What do you do differently from the people around you?

Coordinating the diverse orders through all departments from receipt of order to shipping requires flexibility and never allows my work to become monotonous.

Does ARCA support you in your further development and in reconciling your private and professional life in the best possible way?

At ARCA, professional development is well supported and one’s own initiative is also encouraged.

What do you particularly enjoy about your work?

I particularly enjoy the coordination and organisation of the output, as well as the communication between all departments.

What was your professional career like?

In 1987, I completed an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at ARCA and then deepened my English skills through additional training as a foreign language correspondent. I have been employed in Sales / Management Assistance / Marketing at ARCA since 1990 and I am responsible for technical documentation, price lists, data sheets, the organisation of trade fairs and conferences, and for some areas of the ARCA website. In addition, I have also been following up on quotations (telesales) for some time now.

What makes working at ARCA special? What is typical for ARCA?

The work at ARCA is characterised by the fact that you can very quickly work independently and on your own responsibility.

After Corona – how do you like to work the most? In home office, at the office or both?

After Corona, I would prefer a combination of working in the office and working from home.

What do you regard as success?

At the end of the day, I am satisfied if I have gained some orders through telesales and I have done my job well.
The greatest praise is positive feedback from colleagues or customers about my work.

Which values are close to your heart, also in your working life?

Friendly cooperation, being able to rely on others and teamwork are very important to me.

What was the best advice that you ever received?

You don’t have to be able to do everything, but you have to know where to read about it or who to ask.

What is important in your work or what would you like to say to others at this point?

In my work, you have to be well structured and be able to set priorities in order not to lose track. At the same time, you have to be flexible and do short-term, important work immediately.

What prompted you to choose your job?

I chose my job because of the location of the company (short distances), the internationality, my interest in foreign languages and the varied activities with ever changing challenges.

Does ARCA support you in your further development and in reconciling your private and professional life in the best possible way?

ARCA supports its employees in developing themselves and reconciling their private and professional lives in the best possible way through training courses, flexitime and home office offers.

What do you particularly enjoy about your work?

I love my work because I can work independently and one my own responsibility and the work is very varied.

What was your professional career like?

Apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at ARCA
Permanent position as sales assistant
Head of Sales Support

Do you enjoy working in a team?

Very much so – and that since 1990.

What makes working at ARCA special? What is typical for ARCA?

The ARCA family, as we call it.

After Corona – how do you like to work the most? In home office, at the office or both?

I would prefer a mix of both.

What do you regard as success?

For me, success is doing a job that I like and can do freely, in a place where I feel comfortable and appreciated.

What was the best advice that you ever received?

In stillness lies strength.

Can you tell us something about the apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic? 

The apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic takes 3.5 years. First, you learn the basics of metal processing and, among other things, train your spatial imagination. In the beginning, for example, filing flat is a challenge. In time, you also learn how to use drilling, turning and milling machines. During the apprenticeship you get the opportunity to go through each area of the company once and thus also to manufacture valves and actuators with your colleagues. In the final exam, theoretical knowledge is queried, while the practical part is about mastering tasks with the skills learned, understanding technical processes and developing solutions for problems that arise.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I like variety and learning new things. I enjoy mastering challenges. That includes manufacturing at ARCA.

How did the training go during Corona? How did you feel about this time in general?

The work hasn’t changed too much for me personally. You get used to testing and wearing masks. My trainer at the company gave me excellent support during home schooling.

Was it difficult to find an apprenticeship place?

I had several options and chose ARCA.

What brought you to Arca?

I particularly liked the technical course, even at secondary school. Then the Job Centre gave me the idea of applying to ARCA.

What would your advice be to others who are looking for an apprenticeship place and the right profession?

You should definitely do something that you enjoy and that you do with passion. Only then do you learn for yourself and not just in order to pass an exam.

Is there anything that you would wish for at ARCA?

I think technology-based excursions would be a great thing, for example to see where our products are used, or a trade fair visit.

Can you tell us something about your apprenticeship? What are you currently learning? How often do you go to vocational school? etc.

As a cutting machine operator, I operate turning or milling machines to produce various workpieces made of steel or similar materials. I am currently studying in the company and in the vocational school for my upcoming final exam. I have been attending the vocational school once or twice a week during my apprenticeship.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy working on CNC lathes most, if I can write programs directly on the machine.

How did the training go during Corona? How did you feel about this time in general?

Apart from masks and temporary online lessons, I hardly noticed any difference. My training has not been neglected.

Was it difficult to find an apprenticeship place?

If you write enough applications, you will find an apprenticeship. Provided you can provide an appropriate certificate.

What brought you to Arca?

I did work experience training and was convinced by the good working atmosphere and by recommendations from the apprentices at the time.

What would your advice be to others who are looking for an apprenticeship place and the right profession?

You should think about it early enough and use the school internships sensibly in order to get a taste of imaginable professions. It is best to take the initiative and even to use the school holidays. You might then even find an apprenticeship place.

What’s the best piece of advice that you ever received in your life?

You should acquire as many qualifications as possible. That makes things easier later on.

What do you associate with the keyword development and ARCA?

If you have a certain job in mind and you work on it and inform your superior about it, then you can definitely achieve everything. You can do everything if you think positively and make an effort.

How do you envisage your work in the future?

More work will certainly be automated, but the work processes will still have to be monitored by a thinking person. With many tasks, it would be too complicated and/or too expensive to use automated machines anyway. Therefore, you will never be able to do without human specialists and most professions will continue to prevail in the future in my opinion. That also includes cutting machine operators.

In which field of work would you like to work later?

I definitely want to stay in the mechanical engineering industry, because technology interests me most out of all the professional fields.

Can you describe ARCA in 2030?

Valves such as those from Arca will always be needed, and since Arca attaches great importance to the quality and durability of its products, it will certainly be able to assert itself in the future. You can also see that the Arca is trying to come up with innovative ways to continuously improve its valves. The interior and the machines are also being continuously modernised step by step.

Can you tell us something about your apprenticeship? What are you currently learning? How often do you go to vocational school? etc.

You pass through different stations during the apprenticeship. Most recently, I did holiday replacement in Dispatch. Once a week I attend the vocational school in Dülken, where there are 12 learning fields from the field of technology & economics on the curriculum. The exam preparation in the company was very helpful. We have discussed and repeated old exams. With my instructor I had virtually a 1:1 tutor.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

What I particularly enjoy about my work is the processing of the various materials. I am very interested in the production and assembly of the individual valves. Industrial mechanics are later employed in assembly and assemble valves, pumps, etc. I also like dealing with my work colleagues.

How did the training go during Corona? How did you feel about this time in general?

Since the vocational school was cancelled due to corona, the students had to learn all the material themselves, but since we could do this in the company, there were no problems. We can contact our trainer at any time if we have any questions.

Was it difficult to find an apprenticeship place?

It’s not difficult to find an apprenticeship place. It’s only difficult to find a suitable apprenticeship place.

What brought you to Arca?

I became aware of the company through stories from a friend, showed direct interest and applied. I love technology.

How do you envisage your work in the future?

In my opinion, professions such as cutting machine operators will disappear in the long run, or at least will no longer exist to this extent. Only CNC programs will be written and run on the corresponding machine. With a completed apprenticeship, however, you have many opportunities and paths that you can take, be it taking your master craftsman’s diploma, becoming a vocational school teacher, starting technician training or going to university.

What’s the best piece of advice that you ever received in your life? “All that glitters is not gold” and “You don’t get anything for free”.

What happens after your apprenticeship?

If ARCA gives me the opportunity, I would like to stay here and gain more experience.

Can you tell us something about your apprenticeship? What are you currently learning? How often do you go to vocational school? etc.

I’m in the middle of preparing for my first exam. I attend school twice a week and am in the company the other three days.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

What I enjoy most is disassembling and assembling valves and recreating a pneumatic circuit diagram.

How did the training go during Corona? How did you feel about this time in general?

Training went well even during Corona. The period was normal for me.

Was it difficult to find an apprenticeship place?

It was very difficult to find an apprenticeship place.

What brought you to Arca?

The Job Centre made me aware of ARCA.

What would your advice be to others who are looking for an apprenticeship place and the right profession?

You should choose a profession that you enjoy and not give up until you have found an apprenticeship.

What’s the best piece of advice that you ever received in your life?

The best advice I got was that I should go my own way and gain experience.

Is there anything that you would wish for at ARCA?

I hope that ARCA will continue to do so well.