25 years in one company. Did the time pass by quickly?

Yes, it flew by so quickly, I feel like it was just a moment. I even remember my first day. I came in for the second shift and saw all these machines, which were completely new to me at the time. Earlier, I also worked in the profession of carpentry, but I was dealing with manual work, we cut everything on saws. And here you press a button and the machine works by itself.

Was the transition from manual work to machine operation a cause for concern for you?

It was something new, and new things are always scary. You wonder whether you will get it or not. When I started, there were other new people in the team with me who were just learning. You have to remember that 25 years ago there weren’t too many operators. There was one employee in Melaco at that time, operating the machines, he was responsible for everything and he was the one who trained our entire new team. So we were all in the same situation, only they left and I stayed.

How long did it take you to master working with these devices?

I think 2-3 months have passed because here you have to understand how the machine works and how to operate it. I started on the so-called “table”, i.e. I cut elements on the press. Over time, more devices were introduced, including milling machines, and so 25 years passed.

You must have known each of our machines very well. Do you also know them technically? Are you able to predict that something is going on with the machine?

If there is any unusual sound, we turn off the machine, but in fact, our electronics mechanic or service is responsible for technical matters and checks the devices regularly. We are able to catch some minor faults, for example, a problem with the bearing, and when it comes to the service itself, the machine is also properly programmed. If something is entered incorrectly, it will not start production. It will also not go if we put too large an element to be processed.

You said that 25 years ago Melaco was already a modern plant compared to previous workplaces. What has changed in the company during your years of work?

A lot has changed. When I started, there was one hall less, the new hall was built over time when the company began to expand. New devices have also arrived. During my work, the company has invested in many new machines. So this development is very visible.

Have the designs changed too?

Definitely. We carry out more and more difficult orders and more complicated designs. At the moment, furniture elements with a louvre pattern are very popular. This is something we haven’t done before and we had to learn. For this, we use a machine with aggregates that can be set at any angle, and in this way, a louvred surface is created.

Such projects are an interesting challenge?

Definitely. After so many years in the industry, I can’t imagine doing anything else, but I would certainly like to keep on learning and developing my skills. Such projects allow us to learn new things and it is interesting, such as contact with new technologies. Apart from the louvred fronts, we also make elements in the folding technology, we have the MICRO MILLING™ technology, which also requires a separate approach to each pattern. So there is no routine. In addition, there is the Flick&Click™ system, which is also developing – now, for example, it is possible to connect elements at an angle of 90 degrees.

These are things that people used to know nothing about. Today, these technological possibilities are very large and it is certainly interesting. The fact that the cabinet is assembled practically without using any tools, only with a “click” is something that would have been unthinkable in the past.

In that case, we wish you as many interesting projects as possible and we are waiting for other challenges the industry will surprise us with. Thank you for the interview.