New colleague: Steven Cannaerts

We are pleased to announce that Steven Cannaerts is the latest member of the Roto Western Europe team having been appointed as Application Technician for Benelux. Steven will be serving our customer base and helping colleagues with everything technical. Just two weeks into his induction, we asked him if he would like to do the Roto More interview. Here is what we asked him:

What has been your background before joining Roto?

I don’t have a specific history with windows and doors, but I am very technically-minded and have worked extensively in the construction and building maintenance industry as an independent contractor. I have skills in electrical work, welding, woodwork and metalwork. I also have insights into the commercial side of business because I have worked in sales, mainly in the hotel industry. I speak four languages: Dutch, French, German and English, which will be very useful within Roto and our customer base.

What has motivated you to join Roto?

I got to the point where I decided to change direction, because as you get older manual construction work does not get easier! Even in electrical work there are heavy cables to move, things like that. So I wanted a new challenge where I can still work with my hands in a practical way, but where the day is not quite so manually intensive. I wanted a chance to use my brain too, so this offered an excellent balance between practical hands-on work and the aspects where you are using a computer or meeting with customers. I also like training people and that is a big part of this role.

What was your view of Roto before you started?

Initially, the recruiter presented me with the role but I did not know the company name. After I got further into the application stage I found out it was Roto, so I went and researched all I could about the company. There is an amazing amount of information on the website and I was very impressed. This was a selling point for me to want to work here. Not many companies have this database of knowledge available.

How has the reality of Roto compared to your expectations for far?

I am appreciating just how much there is to take in. After only two weeks I have already learned much. Technically, there is a lot with each product manual having over 200 pages! The opportunity to gain product knowledge via e-learning has been very useful. The combination of the e-learning, product manuals and hands-on training will definitely make me an asset to the customers and colleagues in the near future.

What about Roto has most impressed you so far?

I’ve been to the office quite a few times now and the colleagues are great – very welcoming and helpful. I am also very impressed by the range of products Roto has with not just hardware systems but also the thresholds, Deventer seals, spacer blocks. We have so much to offer to fabricators.

Can you tell us a couple of things you most enjoy doing outside of work?

For many years I have been involved in field hockey. I’ve been a goalkeeper for many years. Now I enjoy training goalkeepers from the new to the advanced levels more than playing myself. I have an advanced degree in goalkeeper training so that helps a lot. I also like 3D printing, which covers designing and making technical objects. It’s a very interesting area, and one that has uses for Roto too.

What are you looking forward to over the next few months?

It will be very interesting to visit the Roto head office and production sites, see exactly how these products are designed and made, and meet more of the wider Roto team.

My next step is that I will be doing more hands-on training, which I look forward to. I like to work with my hands. It’s one thing to read the manuals but another to use products in reality. I already have a few experience days at a customer factory arranged where I will be able to work with the products and install them for real.