I started as a trainee in 2013 and went through every stage of the overall process — Log yard, Recycling line, Mills, Hombak, Driers, Dry Chip preparation, Main Conti line, Sander, Lamination and even the Laboratory.
Bang-on one year later, I got a phone call: EGGER wanted me to take over for a technologist in the UK who was retiring.
But by then, it wasn’t just me. My wife had her degree to consider. We sat down with the division manager for France and the UK to discuss options. While studying biotechnology in Bratislava, my wife had been on student placement at the EGGER brewery in Unterradlberg and she absolutely loved it. But EGGER Hexham doesn’t have a brewery.
At our very first interview, we talked about student placements, language skills, and how I felt about going abroad. Sending me out probably was the plan from day one.
Being open to change creates opportunities
Eventually, we agreed that EGGER would also offer her a job at the lab once a suitable role became available. My wife and I moved to the UK in 2014. EGGER came through again. The company helped with flights so she could sit her exams in Bratislava before switching universities. It was amazing, really. My wife started her career at the Hexham lab.
Meanwhile, I started working as the plant technologist. A technologist’s focus is on quality and running tests and trials. The job is one step removed from production. But when production stopped, I couldn’t sit still in my office. I had to go out and see what was happening and help the process operators or production managers. About three years on, the raw board production manager, who reported directly to the plant manager, offered me the job as his assistant.
EGGER is growing fast, and workloads are growing at pace. We adapt by restructuring and adding people to share responsibilities. About two years ago, I took over as raw board section leader—my fourth role at EGGER in eleven years.
I had just started my ILM Level 5 course when my promotion came along. That was hard and a stroke of luck. Putting theory into practice helped me grow faster into my new role.
Finding solutions where production line and management intersect
I’m responsible for manufacturing raw boards, from output and quality to security and all aspects of safety. My line starts with the dry-chip department, and we take the process all the way to the sanding line. I work closely with four shift supervisors and 36 people in my section to keep the line moving 24/7.
I sit right in the middle of the production line, and day-to-day operations are busy, busy, busy: onboarding people, providing mediation and guidance, ordering chemicals, overseeing quality and safety, meetings and projects, and on-call duty. It’s important to me to be available to sort out issues on the line that come up unexpectedly. There are just so many hours in a day. The raw board department definitely needs more people, and we have a plan in place to hire. I, for my part, am very much looking forward to my works manager getting an assistant who will share some of the workload.
Along for the ride in a fast-moving company
I’m focusing on gaining more experience and growing my leadership and management skills. And my wife has just moved to a new role in the environmental and energy department. Making long-term plans with two small kids will be difficult for a while. But I do like pushing myself. I’ve completed a Six Sigma Black Belt project about moisture management of the wet materials in the drying process. What’s really great about EGGER: It’s a fast-moving company, and it validates its people’s contributions. With sites opening and expanding worldwide, new opportunities are constantly opening up. I feel at home at EGGER and am excited to see where the journey goes.
About Lukas
Lukas Majer has been with EGGER for 11 years. Before taking over as section leader in the raw board department, he worked as the plant technologist at EGGER Hexham and the production manager’s assistant. Lukas joined EGGER as a trainee in Unterradlberg after earning a degree in wood engineering at the Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia. Besides being passionate about their chosen careers, Lukas and his wife love the variety and active family life that comes with raising two children.
Get the ball rolling
We are looking for more than just employees: We are looking for people who can enrich our international team with their individual talents. Regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, or in which culture you feel at home, we look forward to increasing the diversity in our companies!
