Claudia Tremonti: One year becomes 18
Growing up close to Venice, Claudia Tremonti ended up at Röchling Automotive in Laives (Italy) rather accidentally. After graduating from university with a degree in mechanical engineering, she did not find a suitable workplace in her home region, so she started to enlarge her search radius. “When I had my interview at Röchling, I immediately liked the atmosphere and the approach of the company,” Tremonti remembers. Still: Moving away from home is a big step. And so she gave herself one year to find out for herself if the move to Röchling would be the right one. That was in 2007.
Over the past 18 years, Tremonti has worked in computer-aided engineering, in the acoustics department, the lab, and in development. Since 2020, she has been involved in pre-development. “Working at Röchling gave me the possibility to thrive. We don’t want to remain state-of-the-art but try to move three steps forward,” she says. In her current role as an Advanced Development Engineer, she leads projects that focus on battery components. “In the automotive industry, the electrification is just at its beginning and everything is very open. This leaves a lot of room for development and new ideas.”
Being an engineer, Tremonti has become accustomed to being heavily outnumbered by men in her profession. However, things are starting to change: For a long time, she has been the only female in her team. By now, more and more are entering the workforce in engineering jobs. “There are still people that are surprised when they learn what I work as. But to me, that is an outdated mindset. In general, people have become way more open-minded,” she says.
Vanda Soares: Nothing is as constant as change
From Portugal to Emsland: The common thread in Vanda Soares' story is change. In 2013, she left her homeland for Germany. Here, she found a new home: Today, Soares lives in the tranquil Emsland region with her husband and two children; since 2021, she has been working at Röchling's largest site in Haren (Germany). "For me, it is something special to be part of such a large company," she says. "Yet, you can feel the family atmosphere everywhere."
From production to logistics: After moving to Germany, Soares started as a production worker at another company. As she came to Röchling Industrial, she retrained as a logistics specialist. In 2023, she switched from shipping to the preparation for Lignostone® – Röchling's historically first plastic. "We prepare the overall materials for the Lignostone® production, from manufacturing to packaging," Soares reports. "The different orders ensure that no day is like the other."
From a male domain to an equal team member: Soares has always been one of only a few women in her profession. This circumstance has become normal for her, especially since she does not feel any differences: "I drive forklifts just like the men, and I work with the machines just like the men." Ultimately, they are a team that supports each other, regardless of gender. And for Soares, it always applies: "If at the end of the day everything is done and we have overcome all challenges, then it was a good day."
Kristin Crouse: Striving for excellence
Most of the time, people can tell by their job title what someone does for work. That is not necessarily the case for Kristin Crouse who works as an Operational Excellence Manager for Röchling Medical in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (USA). “Typically, I tell people that my role centers on continuous improvement by implementing changes that increase productivity, reduce cost, and enhance customer satisfaction,” she says. “People then usually say: ’That sounds important, but stressful.’”
Before joining Röchling in 2017, she mainly worked in quality in the heavily regulated medical industry. Crouse has always liked the challenge that comes with her profession. “One of the most profound benefits is the personal growth that comes with it,” she says. Tackling complex problems forces her to think critically and to solve them creatively: “Growth doesn’t come from comfort; it comes from challenge.”
Crouse, who holds a degree in Biology, says that even though her area of work is very male-dominated, there are no disadvantages for her as a woman – at least none that are unique to her role. “While I am a strong advocate for women’s rights, I don't think that being a woman defines your workplace experience and opportunities for growth. It comes down to the quality of work you do and the type of person you are,” she says. Crouse is very passionate about her work, especially because of the outcome of not only her work but also of the whole company’s: “Röchling products are everywhere and can be found in many areas of our everyday lives. What can be more important than making not only our own lives, but the lives of our family and friends better?”
