Eirik R. Johnsen

"Årdal is a local Norwegian community that is made up with people from all over. In a place like this it isn't hard to come from outside. People here are helpful, and it's no coincidence that a lot of things are done voluntarily in Årdal," says Eirik R. Johnsen (27), a process engineer at Hydro's technology centre in Årdal.

At the technology centre, his job is both about profitable upgrading of Hydro’s metal plants and research that will lead to tomorrow’s technology for producing aluminium.

He points out the interplay between the metal plants as both productive and necessary. Without continuous improvements, Hydro wouldn’t be competitive, and we wouldn’t do a good job without close interaction with colleagues and the plants.

Leading in technology

Do you feel that you are working in an international company?

“I would say a definite yes. Things we are working on, have significance for the operation of smelters in Kurri Kurri in Australia, and we are making contributions to ensure that the process technology will be taken into use in the new plant in Qatar will be at the forefront of the industry.”

Even though the main steps in the production of aluminium have remained the same for many decades, there is still room for further development of the technology. However, major leaps require research and development for at least a decade.

Seeking relevant careers

Eirik Johnsen is educated at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim and wrote his thesis on a topic in process metallurgy. He explains that after completing his studies in 2005, he sought to achieve a broad understanding of relevant careers in the labour market.

“"When I was offered a position at the technology centre in Årdal, I was happy to accept. As a learning environment, Årdal and the technology centre are unique,” he says.

Both young and experienced colleagues

“You quickly see that it is valuable that someone has been here for a long time, and can help us to gain insights and knowledge,” he says.

And it’s not only the people in Årdal that Eirik has come to appreciate. “The opportunity to pursue varied outdoor activities here is quite unique.  With the Jotunheimen mountains as our closest neighbour, living in Årdal is spot on,” says Eirik Johnsen.