Tjeu Schaeken
There are few VDL Staalservice employees who know the company as well as Tjeu, who celebrated his fortieth anniversary with the Weert-based steel company last November.
Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain your role at VDL Staalservice?
“My name is Tjeu Schaeken and I am a quality officer at VDL Staalservice. My role involves organising documentation for defence, relating to the armoured steel. I make measurement programmes for products of all formats. I started as an oxy-fuel sheet cutter, developing over the years to set up a quality department, starting with an internship at VD Leegte Metaal in the 1990s.”
What kept you at VDL Staalservice for 40 years?
“The variety of the work and the unpredictability of each day keeps it interesting. No day is the same, and that makes the job fun. The corporate culture feels like a family with short communication lines, not just within Staalservice but throughout the VDL Groep. VDL is always there for its employees, in good and bad times.”
What changes have you seen in the factory over the years and how has VDL Staalservice developed?
“The tolerances have shifted from 4-5 mm to a couple of tenths, which is a huge improvement in precision. Specialisations like the punch press have become redundant due to new technologies like the laser. The machine park has become smaller but more accurate, and we have developed more towards welding.”
How has VDL Staalservice supported your professional growth and development?
“VDL Staalservice supported my growth by giving me the opportunity to set up a new department and get experience at VD Leegte Metaal. I have also worked as a job coach to train apprentices at VDL Staalservice.”
What do you value most about the corporate culture at VDL Staalservice?
“The short communication lines and the close cooperation within the company are things I value most. It’s a culture that you see throughout the company.”
What project or result are you proud of?
“The project that I’m most proud of is contributing ideas about the production of armoured plating for military vehicles. In a very short space of time, we successfully completed the project, which made it an unforgettable experience.
How has VDL Staalservice ensured a good work-life balance?
“I’ve learned not to take my work home with me. Work stays at work, but I make sure that I finish what I’ve committed to finishing. One time, for example, we had to deliver a product that absolutely needed to be ready the next day. That meant getting up in the middle of the night, at half past three, and going to the factory to check the quality and tolerances of the work just finished by colleagues. So that the product could be sent to the customer that same morning.”
What would you say to new employees who are just starting at VDL Staalservice?
“Make sure you do your job well. Good preparation is key. Be aware of our capacities, even in the preliminary phase, that’s something everyone needs to be aware of. After 40 years at VDL Staalservice, I can proudly say that it’s been a journey I wouldn’t have wanted to miss. I look forward to what else the future will bring.”