Gertjan Uiterweerd has been working at Bredenoord for over twenty years and has since risen to the role of Repair Team Leader in Apeldoorn. In this interview, he talks about his career, his passion for technology and the special projects he and his team are working on. “A generator is such a wonderful product; it incorporates so many different technologies.”
“Over twenty years ago, I rode my moped to Bredenoord to see if they had any work for me. I’d just qualified as a Level 4 agricultural mechanic, but at the time there was little stable work to be found in that sector. I decided to move more into the engine side of things, and that’s when my mum suggested I apply to Bredenoord. I enjoyed the work placement I was offered so much that I asked afterwards if I could stay. ‘Just go upstairs, they’ll have a contract ready for you,’ was the reply, and I’m still working there today.
I did my internship as a maintenance mechanic. After that, I progressed to mechanic, senior mechanic and team coordinator, or assistant foreman. I am now Repair Team Leader in the assembly & repair department in Apeldoorn. In this role, I’m responsible for workshop planning, ordering parts, presenting figures to management and holding various meetings and discussions. In my previous roles, I also did some hands-on work, which I do miss a bit sometimes, but this new challenge gives me a lot of energy."
Challenging technology
“Although I must say I don’t necessarily need that extra challenge; the technology is challenging enough as it is. A generator set is such a wonderful product; it incorporates so many different technologies. You deal with engine technology, electrical engineering and control systems – that combination makes it incredibly interesting. We also have gas engines and batteries, and we have to find solutions that meet environmental requirements. Developments just keep coming, and we’re keeping pace with them. In our workshop, you’ll find the very latest Stage V machines, customer systems from the 1970s and everything in between, in all shapes, sizes and brands. That’s because we don’t just work on our own rental fleet, but also on our trading stock. We see all sorts of things come through.
Special projects
“The projects we power are also special. Last year, for example, we bought a fleet of used generators, which we then repaired, converted and extensively tested, before they were sent to Aruba. We literally spent thousands of hours on them in the workshop, and we did that ‘in between’ other jobs. That was quite a challenge in terms of capacity and planning, but we managed it. Those generators went straight onto a boat and were up and running on site two months later. You immediately see what you’re doing it for. You just know that your work ensures there’s energy wherever you are in the world and that people there really benefit from it.
"You just know that your work ensures there’s energy wherever you are in the world, and that it really makes a difference to people."
Gertjan Uiterweerd, Bredenoord
That’s what I love about this job: interesting technology and the chance to make a real difference. Bredenoord is a growing company and there are all sorts of opportunities. You have a secure future here. Demand for electricity is growing everywhere, so there’s always work to be done here. And yet we still have a great, informal working atmosphere here. Everyone wants to help each other. In the workshop, you don’t just work with cutting-edge technology, you make friends too.”