“The combination of responsibility, variety, and teamwork makes this the perfect place for me.”

• How did you find your way to Aurubis Olen, Sander?
  During my studies, I did holiday work at Aurubis Olen, including in HR, sales, purchasing, and Contimelt. Thanks to that experience and the positive stories from friends who already worked here, I eventually ended up in the electrolysis department and started as an operator. 

• After several years as an operator, you have now progressed to the position of DCS coordinator. Tell us more.
  After a while as an operator, I was looking for more of a challenge. The position of DCS coordinator immediately appealed to me, because as an operator I was in regular contact with them. It seemed like a logical next step and I have now been a DCS coordinator for almost two years.

• What exactly does your role as DCS coordinator involve?
  We monitor the entire electrolysis process: from the flow of the electrolyte, the settings, and the alarms to checking the trends on the screens in the control room. We work together with production and maintenance technicians to keep everything running optimally, intervene in the event of malfunctions to avoid production downtime, and issue work permits.
  
  In addition, water purification and safety functions are also part of our tasks: in the event of an accident, we are the first line of defense. This means that in the event of an evacuation, we check that everyone is safely outside. The work is varied, involving both control room and production work, and comes with a lot of responsibility.

• What do you think are the most important qualities of a DCS coordinator?
  Safety always comes first. You have to dare to speak to people and be strict when necessary. In addition, it is essential to remain calm under pressure, because often several parameters require attention at the same time. A good DCS coordinator maintains an overview and offers support to others in stressful situations.

• Can you give a brief explanation of how the electrolysis process works?In the electrolysis department, copper is actually ‘extracted’. Our department is actually full of large tanks filled with liquid in which the anodes are suspended. These anodes are cast in the smelter, another department at our company. In these tanks, the copper is further purified and grows on an electrode, which then becomes the copper cathode. This process takes about a week.

  So, in short: it starts with an anode that is cast in our smelter, and during the electrolysis process in our department, a cathode with a copper content of 99.995% is created.

• What does a typical working day look like in a continuous shift system
  It depends on the shift. The early shift is busier due to maintenance, which means I spend more time in production. It's quieter at night and on weekends, when I perform routine tasks such as taking samples and checking the water treatment system.

  Every day is different, and the variety between control room work and responsibility for production and safety makes it exciting.

• How would you describe your team and the atmosphere?
  We are a close-knit team in which everyone supports each other. You can feel that we are motivated, and that creates a pleasant dynamic. We work with focus, but we also have a good laugh together. That means you start and end every shift feeling good.

• What makes Aurubis an attractive employer?
  You earn a good salary here. Aurubis is investing in the Olen site, including the new BOB recycling department. In addition, you get lots of training and career opportunities, and Aurubis organizes all kinds of initiatives for its employees, such as ice cream in the summer.

Ready for a career at Aurubis Olen?

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