Service technician

What was your route into STILL?
I have been familiar with STILL since grade school. I did a two-week pupil internship at the Hamburg Head Office. I enjoyed it so much that when I finished school, I applied for an apprenticeship as a mechatronics engineer at STILL, and I was accepted. Following the three-year apprenticeship, I was hired as a result of my good performance and have been employed as a service technician ever since.

Why did you decide to work at STILL?
After school, I initially looked for an apprenticeship which I would enjoy and where I could make optimum use of my skills. In addition, I wanted to learn a profession with a secure future. STILL offered me just that. My current job is, and will remain, indispensable. And finally the service we offer our customers is an important aspect.

How did you get to your current position?
At that time, the Service department was looking for qualified staff. Based on my performance during the training, I was offered a job upon completion of my training.

Describe a typical working day and your working environment:
My working day starts at about 6:30. Before I get into my customer service truck, I take a load inventory to check which parts the overnight courier has delivered and secure them against slipping. I then drive to the first customer and carry out the necessary repairs, servicing or FEM test on the relevant forklift. Depending on how urgent it is, I then drive to the next customer. There, I carry out a damage diagnosis, for example, and produce an appropriate repair quote. If the customer accepts the quote, I order the spare parts. On average I repair or service three forklift trucks per day. Sometimes I change location three times a day. But sometimes I might go to only one customer for several weeks with only brief interruptions.

What makes your work at STILL so exciting?
My position at STILL enables me to work independently. For the most part I plan my assignments myself. That means my working environment is very varied. My fixed customer base is a constant.

Why are you a key player (at STILL)?
I bring 25 years of professional experience to the Service department. Owing to my regular participation in training events, I am able to repair almost every forklift. So I am able to assist our customers with experience and know-how and ensure that they can get the very best out of their STILL forklift trucks.

What have been the highlights of working at STILL so far?

The set-up and configuration of warehouse handling equipment is always exciting. The assembly of those products is not an everyday task and requires teamwork. They are delivered to the customer in individual components. As long as the conditions on-site allow for it, they can even be assembled using a telescopic crane.

Something else that has always been special is working on trade fairs. For example, I was allowed to present our products and the STILL service to the visitors and customers at the CeMAT in Hanover. The opportunity to work for STILL at a large leading trade fair is an extraordinary experience. What is more, you get to meet colleagues from other branches and make new contacts. 

Complete the sentence: Working at STILL is…
full of variety.

Describe STILL (as an employer) in 3 words:
STILL is an international player. But it is also engaged socially, e.g. with the emergency service ‘Nothilfe Hans Still e. V.’, a company-owned aid organisation for ‘STILLers’ in need. It is obviously also nice to be paid accordingly for your services as an employee.

What do you like most about STILL? 
That it is a traditional company.

Where else do you apply your skills as a key player?
In my family – if I can get a word in...