Today we're talking to Glenn (32). He enjoys working at System Flex in Dongen, a finishing company that produces and installs glass and system walls daily. Currently, Glenn works in the drafting department and is happy to share his career journey with us. Because for him, it didn't all start in the drafting department.

When did you start at System Flex?

That was in October 2015, so that's over seven years ago now. I started as an all-around workshop worker, working in various departments. I collected materials for projects, but also worked in the aluminum department, the wood department, and sometimes the glass department.

How did you end up at System Flex?

I actually started here through the temp agency. I had a diploma as an assistant accountant, but after my internship, I didn't want to pursue that field. I wanted to do something completely different, but I didn't know exactly what yet. The agency eventually gave me an offer in Dongen. I called Richard Haarmans, and he said that if all went well, I could stay on. That was the deciding factor in joining System Flex.

What's the highlight so far?
One of the highlights was my advancement from the workshop to the drafting department. After a while, Richard saw that I needed more of a challenge, so I moved on to the CNC milling machine. There, I started supporting a colleague and eventually managed the CNC department. After a few years, the former draftsman asked me over coffee if I'd be interested in drafting. I was a bit surprised but said I'd enjoy it. The draftsman then went to my boss and mentioned it. That's when things started moving. Initially, I was in the department occasionally for drafting, but after a few months, I was working there as a full-fledged draftsman. I also trained in Tekla Structures, the drafting program we use. I became head draftsman in a relatively short time.

"One of the highlights is that I progressed from the workshop to the drawing department."

What makes working at System Flex so much fun?

Working on diverse projects! The interaction with colleagues is also great! Everyone is open with each other, and there's an informal atmosphere. For example, I sometimes wear earplugs to isolate myself. This is helpful, as I need to be focused for precise work.

How does System Flex distinguish itself in terms of work?

We are constantly working on automation and have developed many different plugins to improve the drawing process.

I'm also very happy with our own fitness room! After work, I can go there for some exercise. I mainly do strength training there.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I've already grown tremendously within the company, but what I'd like to see in five years is a strong and efficient art department. A group of artists you can brainstorm with and where everyone can work independently. Once that's in place, I can focus more on development, and who knows what else will come my way!

Developments, can you explain that?

Yes, a few years ago when I started in this department, many more individual steps were required to sign a project. In recent years, a great deal of automation has taken place.

Plug-ins have been developed for our systems. For example, you can choose the walls plug-in for our Flex-Light 2.0. With two clicks, the wall is drawn. This wall is linked to a window with various menus. This makes it easy to adjust the wall, for example, with a different height, glass division, and RAL color. The drawing automatically adjusts accordingly!

This enables the drawing department to draw better, easier and therefore much faster.

I'm constantly developing and improving the plugins. I'd like to be involved in this more in the future.

System Flex is also truly committed to innovation. Take our new measuring equipment, for example. We recently installed a Leica geosystem; with the push of a button, it takes 360-degree HDR photos in 30 seconds and measures 680,000 points within a specific range. This allows the surveyor to measure much faster, and we will be able to achieve paperless surveying in the future.

Would you recommend System Flex as an employer?

Yes! System Flex is a great employer where you're not just a number. You can continue to develop, learn, and grow within the company!

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