Family man with a passion for plastic

22 February 2024

An employee portrait of production management assistant Marcel Wallantin

Marcel Wallantin actually wanted to join the US Marines after school – he had passed all the exams for his career and had already been accepted. But then a family member fell seriously ill and even then it was clear to the sporty young man: family comes first! “I am an absolute family man and have never regretted this decision,” he emphasises.

The journey from the Marines to plastics wasn’t that far for Marcel: “I wanted to do something practical and always thought that plastic was a material with a future. That’s why I completed my training as a process mechanic for plastics and rubber in Wittmund.” He has been part of the ENNEATECH team since April 2023. He started out as a machine operator on the extruders. A job that he knows inside out. ENNEATECH quickly recognised the potential of this dedicated man and opened more doors for him: “I’m currently doing my master craftsman training and have grown into many new tasks. I am now an assistant to the production manager and when I complete my master craftsman training, I can take over production management completely.” At ENNEATECH, the working week is only five days, which is a great relief for Marcel and his family. The father of three is a committee member of his local football club in his spare time and coaches his son’s team. “The new working hours give me the freedom to spend time with my wife and children. That’s very good for all of us!”

A look at everyday working life

Marcel’s working day begins with a large cup of coffee and countless emails. He then gathers his team and distributes the tasks for the day. As a production assistant, he is responsible for personnel planning, production planning, but also for manufacturing new products and developing new recipes. He enjoys the diverse and varied tasks. As a plastics professional, he can contribute his decades of expertise and equally long experience. In his view, it wouldn’t work without them either: “One of the most important factors in compounding is timing. In order to produce a perfect product, all machine components must be precisely coordinated and the right additives must be selected in the correct dosage. I enjoy working with plastics and trying out new things.”

All pulling in the same direction

It is often challenging to reconcile the wide range of tasks. This is where his organisational talent comes in handy. It is important to him that his team members work well and quickly, but that he creates the necessary conditions for this. “People need to have the best possible conditions to perform well. However, it is just as important not to overburden anyone. Everyone should work at the pace they can manage and at which they produce good quality.” The team is important to Marcel: “We can only overcome the daily challenges and manufacture sustainable products if everyone pulls together.”

A good choice – both professionally and privately

Marcel values his new employer not only for the professional development opportunities, but also for its values and commitment. Sustainable products are close to the production assistant’s heart – and he is able to manufacture them every day. “We live in a time in which we have to use resources sparingly. I can make a contribution to this with my employer. The company is open-minded and curious, and looks for sustainable solutions. What more could I want?”

He also makes regular use of another of his employer’s assets: ENNEATECH contributes to the membership fees of HanseFit for its employees. This means that they only have to pay a small amount out of their own pocket and thus have free entry to gyms, swimming pools or climbing centres. This suits Marcel, a sports enthusiast, very well: “Sport is important. Exercise helps with stress management and keeps you fit. The fact that the company supports this is simply great.”

Although Marcel grew up in Berlin, he no longer wants to miss life in northern Germany. As a 16-year-old, he was happy to swap the hustle and bustle of the big city for the relaxed life in the countryside. “The peace and quiet here, my family, sport and long rides on my motorbike – these things are exactly what I enjoy.”