From toolbox to strategic projects: Grard Nooijen has left field work behind and is now one of the driving forces behind innovative projects at Peka Kroef. After years of traveling and working in the field, he moved to the role of Project Engineer. “The transition was a big change,” Grard explains. “As a Field Service Engineer, I was always on the road, independently solving problems.
Now, as a Project Engineer, I coordinate projects and manage teams.”

“As a Field Engineer, I was the on-site guy, the one who communicated directly with the customer and provided technical solutions,” Grard explains.
“Now, in my new role, I am more involved in planning and executing projects at a higher level. I work with different departments and make sure everything goes according to plan.”

From Field Service Engineer to Project Engineer

“As a service engineer, you focus on the details, on that one piece that has to be just right. Now I look at the whole project, and that involves many more parties and facets,” Grard said.
A year after his transfer, the journeyman engineer, who did not shy away from customer contact and technical challenges, has found his niche as a Project Engineer at Peka Kroef.
This company has been a leading manufacturer of refrigerated potato products for 50 years.
“Every day is different,” he says.
“One day I’m working on refrigeration systems, the next day I’m installing a mixing machine and then again I’m working on food packaging.”

But it’s not just the variety that appeals to Grard.
It’s also the chaos, the pressure, the challenge of keeping everything running smoothly.
“Performing under pressure, that’s something I’m good at,” he says with a smile.
“It requires resilience and adaptability, but that’s exactly what keeps the work interesting.”

Up for the challenge

The challenges Grard faces in his new position are diverse.
“Communication is a big part of my job. I make sure everyone is on the same page and that projects run smoothly. It requires a different set of skills than I was used to, but it’s a challenge I’ve taken on with both hands.”

With his unique combination of technical knowledge and practical experience gained as a service engineer, Grard not only manages his projects, but really makes them his own.
“It was a learning process,” he admits, but it is clear that his learning curve has shaped him into a versatile project engineer who speaks both the language of technology and the language of the customer.

What’s next?