Meet Christian: Press technologist in Rackwitz
Christian Keller has been employed at the Rackwitz extrusion plant since 1999. He completed his training as an industrial mechanic here and now works as a press technologist in the plant. In this story he reports on his work and his diverse voluntary commitments in his free time.
From apprentice to long-term employee
Christian Keller began his apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic specializing in industrial engineering in the maintenance department of the Rackwitz extrusion plant. He successfully completed this in 2000 and then switched to production for the large P31 press. In the first year, he held various positions as a stretcher, at the saw and at the press. After that, Christian worked as a press operator for 15 years, which meant that his fascination with the material aluminum and our production processes continued to grow.
Since then, Christian has remained loyal to the company and as a press technologist, he is now responsible for plant and product-related optimizations in all aspects of the press process. He looks for improvement when quality problems occur. Above all, the temperatures have a very large influence on the extruded profile. For example, Christian checks the dependence of ingot heating on exit and cooling temperatures during the pressing process or in the aging furnace. Because the right adjustment here is the key to optimal productivity and quality. "In the end, pressing is always about temperature, temperature and temperature," emphasizes Christian.
The 43-year-old works closely with the press manager, the quality department and the process manager in Rackwitz. Because the greatest optimization effect can be achieved with frequently occurring errors and/or produced products. After an optimal solution has been found, it is always checked how this can be ensured in the long term. In this context, Christian also takes care of the corresponding projects for plant-related improvements in order to make production more efficient and stable.
The material as motivation
When asked what motivates Christian about his work, he quickly replies:
I love Alu!
He thinks aluminum profiles are cool products and fun to work with. Over the years, he has accumulated a lot of knowledge and can see, recognize and connect a lot. Thus, he is able to find solutions to problems in the process, which is his greatest motivation.
This is also reflected in Christian's goals. He would like to constantly improve the processes and find new solutions for new pressing errors that occur. He is also positive about the new third extrusion press in Rackwitz. He is looking forward to the challenges, the new processes and the mutual coordination of the processes.
Diverse commitment to the community
Christian not only demonstrates motivation and commitment at work, but also multitasking in his free time. Overall, he is involved in 4 clubs in his home town of Hohenprießnitz. What may sound like work to many is, above all, fun for the 43-year-old. Because each of these clubs is close to his heart and has a lot of meaning.
For example, Christian is the fourth generation of his family to be a member of the Hohenprießnitz volunteer fire brigade. The 43-year-old has been in action for 27 years and was the military chief for 14 years until last year. He supports the fire brigade at the district and state level and is the platoon leader of a disaster unit in the district.
With his work in the fire brigade, he can above all bring know-how and knowledge of human nature to his work at Hydro. He applies his knowledge from the management courses at the fire brigade every day in his work as a process manager.
Actively connected to nature and home
In the nature conservation association, Christian has been committed to researching and preserving the local nature in Hohenprießnitz since 1998. The animals and plants that occur are to be determined in order to be able to protect them accordingly, such as with toad fences.
In the local history association, he is concerned with the maintenance of local customs. Christian has been on the board since last year and takes care of events and a small museum which shows various exhibits that were used in the village.
Last but not least, Christian has also been a permanent member of the Hohenprießnitz Castle Choir since 1995 and delights the audience with a wide-ranging repertoire of classical choral music, folk songs and church songs.
In all his activities, he notes that pressure and coercion should not be paramount. The feeling of having done something great for yourself and others should prevail.
