A talk with Thomas Schramm, new Director Services at Exelliq
Since August 7, Thomas Schramm has taken over the role of Director Services at Exelliq. He can look back on 42 years of experience in the extrusion industry. Over the past 18 years, he has held top management positions at various companies, including Technical Director at APU and the Salamander Group. Most recently, he was Head of Operations at Döllken Profiles, with responsibility for four different production sites. We met him for an interview.
Mr. Schramm, where are you from?
I was born in Rehau in Upper Franconia, so I'm a Franconian right up there in Bavaria, you could say. When you grow up there, you typically also go to REHAU AG later, where I spent the first ten years - including my apprenticeship. After that, I acquired a certain amount of know-how through further education, did my Master Craftsman and Business Administration degree – which was common at the time - and then continued to work my way around in the extrusion industry, from an apprentice to the managing director.
So that means you know extrusion from the ground up?
That's right - in the beginning as a machine operator and later as a production manager, technical manager, sales manager and general manager up to the technical managing director – more or less I got to know the whole range. My heart burns for extrusion and I have always had great fun in this occupational field. It was and is my goal never to change the industry in my life. But what I have changed now - with joining Exelliq - is the perspective: both during the 42 years and in the last seven years at Döllken Profiles, where I was no longer in the role of the customer, but in that of the supplier. Due to my new assignment, I moved to Austria with my family, and we are now at home near Linz.
What were your most important milestones in your career?
28 years ago, as a young man, I was given the opportunity to build up an extrusion plant from scratch. I was responsible for the part of the technical manager, while a friend of mine organised the commercial matters. In the beginning, we stood in front of an empty hall with two floors and an office building where there was nothing but neon lights on the ceiling. We were allowed - with a certain amount of courage and a lot of intuitive acting - to build a small, "but fine", medium-sized company out of it, which is still technically well equipped and has found its place in the extrusion world. That was a special highlight that fills me with pride.
What do you draw strength from?
With his 14 years, my son is at a very exciting age right now. When he's with me, man days are the order of the day - chips, Coke, McDonald's, then off to the cinema and later to the go-kart track. I really enjoy that and totally forget the passing of time. By the way, I'd love to go to a kart track on a grand scale - I'd love to drive a DTM car on a racetrack!
What will your first steps at Exelliq involve?
At the beginning, the focus is clearly on getting to know each other. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wolfgang Degwerth and the other directors, my team and the excellent crew in general, who have given me such a warm welcome. This makes the start much easier. Further, my top priority will be our entry into automation technology and special plant engineering.
Thank you very much for the interview!