People behind RAUKANTEX

Stephan May – REHAU
Jens Klasen – REHAU
Sophie Siragusa – REHAU

Stephan May – REHAU

Stephan May – a career dedicated to edgebands

Stephan May has been working with edgebands for 35 years. Stephan joined REHAU in 1982 as an apprentice toolmaker. His path within the company included various roles around the world, and he also studied in parallel for a degree in economics, before he became Plant Manager and then Executive Director Operations & SCM of the Furniture & Industrial Solutions divisions. We spoke to Stephan about his impressive career and his special passion for edgebands.

Stephan, you have two anniversaries coming up soon: 40 years of the Visbek plant and also 50 years of RAUKANTEX. How and where will they be celebrated?

Both of these occasions must indeed be celebrated. We just need to approach things creatively during the coronavirus pandemic. We are delighted about the new edgeband magazine that will shine a spotlight on our product, but also about the many articles on the web and on Daily that make us proud of this success story. If the infection rates allow it, we will celebrate with our employees at the Visbek plant. We are currently considering various scenarios.

The edgeband is a common thread running through your career. What makes it so exciting that you have remained loyal to it for so long?

In a nutshell, it’s the people and the shared successes. Right from the start, I was fascinated by the enthusiasm of the FS team around the globe as it worked to overcome challenges, and also the respect that people have for each other here. Technically, it was mainly the different materials, from PVC to ABS and PP, that pushed me to keep breaking new ground – tinkering, trying things out, using initial failure as motivation... Then there are the unbelievable evolutionary steps in decorative designs, textures, gloss levels or processing methods, right through to the laser-welded edgeband. And – despite all of the modern measurement techniques and quality standards – ultimately, it still needs a ‘trained eye’ to get the final decorative design settings exactly right.

Which project has particularly fascinated you along the way?

The material polypropylene, without a doubt. I was able to be involved in its entire development and can now see what a huge evolution has taken place in terms of the process. What was unthinkable 20 years ago is now standard. When we first started PP production with our pilot customer Waldner Labormöbel, it was certainly no walk in the park. To begin with, what came out of the extruder had very little to do with edgebands. Even so, we ‘tamed’ the material and forced it into the correct shape to form a product ready for serial production. These days, the PP edgeband is the standard in the kitchen market and it is now going through the next stages of its evolution in view of the requirements of sustainability.

Did you have a mentor who shaped and encouraged you in the early years?

Yes, two highly respected colleagues believed in me and encouraged me. The first was Thomas Schaller, who had just returned from Canada in 1986 and became Plant Manager of Plant 3 at Rehau. He taught me to put my trust in people, to talk to them, respect them and to find out what their strengths and potential are. My second mentor was Dr Ulrich Günther, who was manager of the production department at the end of the 90s. To me, they were both discoverers and visionaries, and they were my mentors for many years, driving me to keep reflecting on myself, developing and (setting an example by) putting my values into practice.

It will be five years in December since you took over as manager of the Visbek plant, the most important hub for edgebands in Europe. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges?

There are now approximately 650 people working at Visbek. We are therefore a big family and we need to take everyone with us on our edgeband journey, motivating them and training them. Only those who are well trained will be able to withstand the current pressure to perform in production and logistics. We all have to make decisions every day, frequently and quickly. This dynamic has increased massively since the introduction of the internet. It means that everyone needs to keep a clear head. Expertise is the basis of everything we DO and, ultimately, employees need to make their own independent decisions and trust in them. Developing this mutual trust and delegating responsibility was important to me right from the start when I became the new Plant Manager at Visbek. That is my management style.

How have customer requirements changed over the years?

Every customer always wants a perfect product, but the quality requirements and the associated professionalism and reliability of the product and process have now reached a whole new level, especially in industrial production. Customers are driving the use of highly automated processes at furniture plants. Reliable partners are therefore needed, with transparent processes and professional quality management, to ensure that production doesn’t come to a standstill. REHAU is able to perform at precisely this level. Digitalisation processes now make it possible for me to see from my workstation exactly which edgeband is being produced on which machine. We can precisely track every coil and every batch, which is important in case of complaints and for finding solutions together with our customers. And with every coil, we can send our customers their specific processing parameters right to their machine.

You are currently managing the next chapter for Visbek – the expansion of the logistics centre. What are your expectations for this milestone?

I was delighted that the decision about where to locate the new logistics centre went in Visbek’s favour. This is a personal milestone for me, one where I can really leave my mark. I am convinced that it is the right way to further expand our service concept across Europe. With our concept of ‘any quantity, any length’, we can supply the carpentry sector with edgebands of one metre and more from a pool of more than 100,000 variants and decorative design, color, finish and processing options.

What tip would you give to young technicians or engineers who are just starting their careers?

Make your own decisions, trust people, be brave and see it through. Success has two letters: “DO”.

Thank you for the interview, Stephan!

Jens Klasen – REHAU

From construction to the assembly line: How Jens Klasen became an edgeband expert

Jens Klasen is in a good mood. He takes a day off in lieu, so he can be flexible when it comes to the interview. In this case that also means that Jens may have to go to work at the REHAU plant in Visbek at short notice. "Have to?" he laughs. "Get to!" he says. What kind of man would talk so enthusiastically about his work?

Jens, you're off today – normally you work shifts at the Visbek plant. How did you get your job?

I started at REHAU in 2014 as a career changer. That was no coincidence; I really wanted to work at this plant. I knew REHAU edgebands well because I had already dealt with them professionally. I am a trained carpenter, so I knew that really good products are manufactured here.

What makes your old job different from your job at REHAU?

I used to leave the house in the early morning and come home late at night. I was on construction sites no matter the weather. As a carpenter, I worked in a very small company, and we constantly had a stress level that was hard to bear. I spent almost no time with my family back then, which was bad for me. I was unhappy with the situation. But I didn't want to just do anything else. It had to be with a company that I could identify with. And that’s how my connection to edgebands led me to REHAU. What luck!

What are your responsibilities at the Visbek plant?

I am an operator; I extrude edgebands. I consider dimensions, shapes and surfaces, intervene in processes, monitor the machine and package my products. I admit, when I was still a joiner, I didn’t realise how challenging it is to make edgebands. I have to check a lot of values to make sure our manufacturing meets all criteria. When I was initially trained in 2014, it made my head spin. It was stressful for me to have to learn so much. I came from a craft shop, so I was used to working meticulously with my hands. But at REHAU, I had to absorb a huge amount of knowledge about products and machines. My supervisors helped me a lot – they saw what was working well and where I needed support. Today, I know my machine inside and out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

What are the greatest challenges in your work?

Sometimes it’s not easy to keep up with the speed of the machine. But a good routine, technical support and the team all help to make sure everything runs smoothly. In summer, the heat is a bit of a challenge. The good thing is that I can work in a t-shirt all year round. I couldn’t do that before, working at the construction site.

Now that you’ve told us about your professional experience with your lateral career move, what did the change mean to you on an interpersonal level?

Our team, we’re about 20 people, is just great. There are some quite young people but also some older colleagues. We stick together and the atmosphere is fantastic. I sensed it from the very first day at REHAU: these people support one another. It’s an environment where you can ask a question for the sixth time if you didn’t quite understand the answer after the fifth. Now, I carry that mindset on and try to help new colleagues. The management is approachable – we laugh a lot and have coffee together. Nobody goes around with their nose in the air, and I like that. Just recently we got a new plant manager, Lukas Martin Bachmann. With him, there was trust and a sense of familiarity from day one.

I can see you really feel at home here at REHAU. But isn’t working shifts exhausting, too?

That depends on the person. For me, working shifts is the best thing that could have happened to me. It lets me take part in life again. I have two children, and thanks to the shift schedule I can plan things well. In the mornings I can do some shopping, and in the afternoons I can spend time with the kids. If there’s a school event, I know if I have time and can commit to being there. REHAU helped me have a family life again and that makes me happy – it makes my family happy too.

What are your professional goals at REHAU?

The plant in Visbek is a place where you can grow old. I want to work here until I retire. I’m continuing my training so I can do that. During the annual reviews, for example, you always get open feedback: what is going well, where there is room for development. That motivates me to recognise my strengths and build on them.

But even if you’re passionate about your job, every now and then you need a break, don’t you?

My family and friends balance it out perfectly. But I also have hobbies – I like to fish and bike. I commute 15 kilometres to work every day on my e-bike. And of course, as a joiner, you have a connection to wood, and I often tinker at home in my workshop.

So you’re quite busy in your private life as well.

I am! And you know what? Sometimes my work is the perfect counterbalance to my leisure time.

Thank you, Jens, for the interview! Your enthusiasm is truly infectious.

Sophie Siragusa – REHAU

My clients aren't only buying a product, they're also buying a service. That's why I carry out a consultation rather than a sales pitch.

Sophie Siragusa has been Sales Manager FS in France for two years. But her journey at REHAU began in 2001 in a completely different arena. As a graduate engineer with a focus on mechanics, she joined the automotive division for air and sealing products in 2001. When production was relocated a few years later, she was able to contribute her skills as a scheduling manager for the civil engineering (BS) and windows divisions. In 2014, she moved to sales with the key account for major French window customers where, in addition to the technical and customer-specific further development of profile systems, she also became heavily involved in the topics recycling and the circular economy. In 2019 came another turning point in this exciting career. The FS Division knocked on Sophie's door to offer the position of Sales Manager for the industrial business, i.e. French kitchen furniture manufacturers. Her cross-divisional experience in sales and supply chain, as well as her openness for new things, helped open doors for the next step of an eventful REHAU life. Today, Sophie is the face of REHAU for our industrial customers and a valued contact person when it comes to bespoke customer solutions and new developments.

Sophie, be honest, had you ever heard of edgebands before joining REHAU?

Before I started at REHAU, the product was completely unknown to me. But when I worked in the administration office in Morhange in 2001, I couldn't miss this product. Because right next to the entrance was a huge room full of edgeband samples in every color and decor, and I was always curious to see what could be created with it.

You joined the REHAU FS sales department in 2020. What fascinated you about the Interior Solutions Division?

For one thing, I was captivated by the team. So many colleagues, bringing with them all their expertise and years of experience, work here alongside younger colleagues in such a natural way. The exchange is open and creates a feeling of community. On the other hand, the interior industry is, of course, dominated by design and trends. It goes without saying – there are always new developments in the Window Solutions Division. But the furniture world is more like the fashion world and is more fast-paced and creative. Everything revolves around collections, presentations or trade fairs and is somehow always in motion. That's what makes it so fascinating for me.

REHAU is one of the most important manufacturers of edgebands. Does the RAUKANTEX brand open doors for you with respect to new customers?

The RAUKANTEX brand is recognised as the market leader in France. It stands for quality, delivery capability, reliability and, especially, innovation. This means that doors are always opened for me during a sales discussion.

Your customers are mainly in the kitchen industry. Where do you consider the challenges to be during a collaboration?

In these turbulent times of scarce raw materials, energy price increases and changing logistics routes, customers are looking for real partners. That's the kind of partner I want to be with REHAU. Innovations are important and due to this, so are the solutions that I tailor specifically to the customer. That's why I have to know the people I'm talking to and listen to them attentively. Active listening is the be-all and end-all.

What is more important for the industry today? The product or the service?

For me, every client discussion requires meticulous preparation. I have to emphasise the added value for the customer, figure out solutions and offer services. The product is only one component of my offer. What’s much more important is the service and our technical know-how. Whether it's custom packaging, logistics, technical problem solving, sustainability or digital connection – these are all topics that I talk about with my customers. That's where you can find the added value that REHAU offers.

Have customers asked you directly about sustainable edgebands? How do you assess the development here?

Environmental and social responsibility has already been implemented into many government initiatives in France. With the ‘Loi AGEC’, a law that came into force in January 2022, France is already a pioneer when it comes to waste prevention and the circular economy.

Our customers have to rethink and introduce recyclable products and logistics concepts. At Schmidt Küchen, for example, there is already the ‘Origin’ line which integrates specific recycled contents into furniture fronts. For me, it was great, of course, that REHAU was the first supplier of edgebands to launch two product lines that pursue exactly this strategy. With RAUKANTEX eco, an edgeband with 50 percent recycled material, we can contribute our share to sustainable kitchen fronts.

But logistics, packaging, _CO2 emissions in production, the recycling of production waste and the return and professional processing of old furniture – ‘second-hand furniture’ – are also topics that we not only talk about but are already developing solutions for with our customers.

What advice would you give to young colleagues who would like to gain a foothold in sales?

Learn to listen to your customer. Only when you understand your customer will you be successful and develop together.

And never forget that our greatest treasure is the team. Use the experience of others, create networks and also pass on the openness shown to you to others. In doing so, you will find your ‘great place to work’.

Thank you Sophie for the exciting insights into your ‘sales life’ at REHAU.

Sophie talks to Schmidt Küchen during a visit to Rehau

Learn more about the past and future of RAUKANTEX:

RAUKANTEX moves with the times

RAUKANTEX vision

RAUKANTEX tradition