Interview with Marcel

On August 19th, Marcel celebrates an impressive 30 years with Nijssen. Over that time, he has grown from an apprentice refrigeration technician into a project manager. A true veteran – or, as his colleagues jokingly say, he’s become part of the furniture.

Instantly hooked on refrigeration technology

After completing his electrical engineering training, Marcel saw an ad in a local newspaper for an apprentice refrigeration technician. He already knew a little about Nijssen; through his childhood friend Theo Nijssen, he was familiar with both the family and the company. Even so, refrigeration technology was a virtually unknown world to him at the time.

“You don’t really know exactly what you’re getting into beforehand. But the work turned out to be so diverse that I was instantly hooked.”

As an apprentice, Marcel shadowed an experienced Polish technician, from whom he learned the tricks of the trade. Back then, it took four to five years before you were truly ready to work as a fully qualified technician. Marcel started in service, then moved to new construction, and eventually got his own van. In total, he spent about fourteen years working in the field.

From the field to the office

When a need for support arose in the office at Nijssen, Marcel saw it as a great opportunity for professional development. He started in work preparation for new construction projects, where he created drawings and ordered materials under the guidance of the project manager. He subsequently advanced to project engineer and then project manager.

The role suits him well. “One moment you’re working on a project for a pharmaceutical company, and the next for an auction house or an ice rink. The combination of office work, client visits, and regularly being on-site gives me energy.”

Over the years, Marcel has also worked on various projects abroad. His work for Nijssen has taken him to countries including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Cyprus. Sometimes he traveled with colleagues, and sometimes he went alone. These are experiences that have always stayed with him.

Far from finished

After 30 years, Marcel is still not tired of the work. On the contrary: “I just hope I can keep doing this with great pleasure for a long time to come.”