Experience

The NMC magazine for employees and business partners
N
o
.
7 8
–
0 6
/
2
0
1
4
Overview
p. 6-9
Perfect image
p. 14-15
Master of machines
p. 18-21
Experience
EDITORIAL
Dear reader,
Experience is a valuable element which people actively gain
throughout their lives and that nobody can take away. Over time,
I too learnt much more about myself also to better understand
others. Therefore I found out that no one can say without due
cause: experience is the best teacher. Our experience grows
along with our self-confidence. The pieces of information complete or correct our appreciations so far and give us more and
more confidence in the decisions we make. Complex tasks and
difficult decisions which I had to make all left a permanent mark
on me, but also contributed to the growth of my experience. However, it is crucial that we never lose our willingness to learn from
and to appreciate new experiences as the consolidation element.
I wish I could share the same curiosity even when I grow older and
continue to be opened to everything that is new. So I keep trying
not to take negative feedback personally, and to consider these
situations as an opportunity to improve myself in order to better
deal with difficult situations. I also had to understand that there
are things one cannot change.
Discovering one‘s own limits can be extremely painful. But this
process enables us accept help from others and actively receive
proposals. I have discovered the importance of this process in
respect to my own losses and to the losses of my dear ones, and
as a father who wishes to help his children follow their path. Children wish to live and must live their own experiences. When I
was young, we didn‘t accept our parents‘ advice either. But an
open and constructive relationship will strengthen our willingness
to accept feedback and to gain new experiences, with all the
opportunities and risks these new experiences could entail. This
also applies professionally as we can learn so much from our
superiors and our colleagues in order to better ourselves so that
we improve our know-how, as well as our personality.
For me, experience is a highly dynamic process: we must keep
asking ourselves and we must keep searching whether the things
we learnt are still valid. Environments, globalisation, other coexistence and collaboration forms, new materials, and state-of-the-art
technical solutions keep changing our expectations of ourselves
on a personal level and on a professional level. This dynamic
exchange of experience with our customers and business partners
from around the world, with our collaborators, our family, and our
friends has therefore turned it into a mandatory process. On the
other hand, there are some experiences which are very unique
and that we wouldn‘t miss for anything in the world. For me, these
experiences included the birth of my children, which I consider
the happiest days of my life. I wish you as well, my dear readers,
a wealth of experiences that do not stop evolving, and that can
ensure your growth on both personal and professional level.
Yours sincerely, Hubert Bosten
CEO
-5
Familiarity with the particular
E
xperiences are our navigation system though life. We
can gather them from childhood on and guard them
like a treasure. If used properly, they help us attain
any goals with great benefits.
One becomes wise by experience. Or just doesn’t – depending
on what one makes of it. Touching a hot cooktop is usually so
memorable, that it will not be repeated. Likewise, we consistently
avoid people or situations that we associate with bad experiences.
As for the culinary temptations, on the contrary, we are very happy
to repress the inevitable shock we have when looking at the scales
on the following day. Thus, the individual way of dealing with
experiences makes us what we are.
Experiences are signposts, not campgrounds, as the Irish writer
George Bernard Shaw knew already. We learn from them to judge
situations, solve problems and avoid mistakes. The knowledge
based on our own positive experiences motivates us to accept
new challenges and trust our capabilities. Bad experiences show
us our limits, make us sensitive to risks and losses. Both types of
experience are part of life from an early age. If we accept them
and learn from them, they help us mature. From correlations that
we see and understand we draw valuable conclusions for our further actions. So the confrontation with experiences says a lot about
our ability to learn. If this exists, we become skilled in the matter
and confident in acting – in day-to-day life and in our profession.
Experience is priceless, but it pays off. Therefore, elder employees contribute significantly with their knowledge to the corporate
success, provided that the exchange of experience with younger
colleagues is used and controlled systematically. A central knowledge management attaches itself to the available knowledge and
makes it a control cycle at team level. This is the prerequisite for
cross-project, experience-based learning. Thus, people grow with
their tasks, while process quality, innovation capacity and satisfaction increase.
Personality and behaviour continue to develop with every new experience. Those who get involved in it do not admit any self-complacency, but focus on a continuous acquisition of competence.
Learning from experience is the school for life, with all its facets.
Or, as Aristotle called it, the familiarity with the particular.
6-7
Overview
NMC has a long tradition in training and development. Within the P.H.A.R.E. programme, ten trainees
from all business sectors of the company developed
their personal skills and acquired their first experiences in leadership.
„Phare“ in French means „beacon“. For NMC, this term is used
for a perspective plan aiming to develop the personnel‘s skills.
Therefore, for nine whole months, ten persons, aged 25 to 36
years, employed in all business sectors of the company, shall have
the opportunity to develop their skills in the following fields: work
organisation, communication, project management and management. The Management chose the participants from amongst
the 30 candidates proposed by their superiors. The training programme is a combination of several workshops, individual training
sessions, project-related activities, and outcome presentations by
the company‘s Management. The decisive importance of the train-
Photo f.l.t.r. : Daniela Brust, Laurence Belly, Benjamin Theves,
Stéphanie Bayers, David Brull, Axel Dannemark, Marc Havard,
Manuela Drosson, Sebastian Gielen, Jérôme Comuth
ing programme stems from the fact that the participants benefit
from an opportunity to discover a new perspective outside their
current field of expertise. Under the P.H.A.R.E. (Projet Humanisme
Action Responsabilité Entreprenariat) programme, the trainees
learnt how to define a project outside their current activity, to implement it focusing on objectives with the support of a team which
they manage, and to present their outcomes before the management team. In order to ensure this, they benefit from recommendations and concrete facts from their experienced mentors who,
as empathic listeners and coordinators, support the independent
problem solving process. In June 2014, the first participants have
completed this refresher training. The trainees‘ assessment report
contains positive results.
Mrs Manuela Drosson is extremely happy to have had the opportunity to coordinate such a project which falls outside her
usual activities. In her opinion, the need for defining clear and
precise objectives and to implement them based on a consistent
deadlines management constituted a one-of-a-kind experience.
„My mentor offered me the support I needed whenever I could
not see the forest for the trees“, she recalls. The equal partnership experience exchange between the mentors and other participants was seen as an important advantage. „I learnt many
things about myself and my working style“, she summarises her
conclusions.
Mr Sebastian Gielen also appreciates the experience exchange
inside the group. „We did not have to face all the challenges by
ourselves“. He saw as a very positive experience the combination
between the activity within the project and the workshops which,
in his opinion, contributed to consolidate what they have learnt.
For him, the project was a completely new experience. In particular, this includes the need for joint planning, which also takes into
account the availability and the potential of other participants
to the projects. This is his conclusion: „The workshops and the
coaching sessions gave me the opportunity to learn important
information which will help me not only in my carrier, but also in
my personal life.“
Mr Axel Dannemark shares his opinion: „The experience I gained
here will also help me in my personal life.“ He considers very
motivating the freedom of action which the project participants
enjoyed since the selection of the project. His presentation before the Management of the company represented, in his point
of view, another key event. At the beginning, he felt frustrated by
the restructuring of his presentation demanded by his mentor. The
success of his edited presentation and the discussions with other
training participants showed him the importance of the introductions of such a proposal. At the end, he was grateful to his mentor
for the information he provided, which he considers that strengthened the confidence.
8-9
For Mr Jérôme Comuth, the experience he gained regarding time
management represents a valuable experience. Defining his objectives and focusing on the essential throughout the implementation
constitute a valued experience which will come in handy in the future.
Mr David Brull feels proud to have had the opportunity to take
responsibility within his project. The operator developed a training
programme for the PS production. In his opinion, the workshops,
the coaching and the project-related activities constituted a new experience completely different from his daily tasks. Through a systematic approach to the process structures, he was able to identify links
on the equipment which he never saw before in practice. The experience exchange with the employees from other departments, with
whom he had never worked before, gave him important impetus.
This is an experience which Mrs Stéphanie Bayers would have
never wanted to miss. She fondly recalls the sense of solidarity
and the team spirit which arose during the group coaching sessions. She particularly appreciated the one-on-one consultations
which allowed her to identify her strengths and her weaknesses.
She had the chance to put into practice the development opportunities identified on this occasion, for example when carrying out
the projects, which she will use in her daily activities.
It is not only the participants who recall fondly of the P.H.A.R.E.
experiences. The mentors also appreciate the benefits provided
by this program. For Mrs Jamila El Hajjaji, it was a true joy and
privilege to be able to lend younger colleagues her extensive 20year knowledge she gained working with the company. On the
other hand, it was, for her as well, a learning experience to identify
the differences between the perception and approach to duties of
the representatives of the creation and engineering departments.
In her opinion, this constructive interacting diversity is a true example of NMC’s success model: „We will succeed together“.
For Mr Guido Königshoven, what was extremely interesting
was to discover the way he is perceived by others. „Others are
not blinded by the routine that settles through the years and they
are able to quickly discover duplicate information paths or even
losses.“ In his opinion, an important task as a mentor is the approach to methods, the paths and the implementation proposals
within the discussions with the trainees, while regularly analysing
together the results on the field. Not at least important for him was
the involvement of the department in the P.H.A.R.E. programme to
ensure the acceptance and the needed support to achieve the desired outcome. Two objectives which he now sees in the project’s
success. 10 - 11
Experience transposed in practice
during several generations
ADEFIX®
ARSTYL®
CLIMAFILL®
CLIMAFLEX®
CLIMASNAP®
CLIMASOL®
An idea came true: The first foam materials developed by
Gert Noël are also currently found in numerous successful
products and innovations.
COMFY®
DECOFLAIR®
DOMOSTYL
®
EXZENTROFLEX®
INSUL-SHEET®
INSUL-TUBE®
ISOTUBE®
NMC NATUREFOAM®
NOMA®
NOMA®BEAM
NOMAFLEX®
NOMAFOAM®
NOMAPACK®
NOMA®PARKETT
NOMASTYL®
NOMATEC®
NOMAWOOD®
NOMAZIP®
WALLSTYL®
Upon the incorporation of the company NMC, Gert Noël started from a
dream: the cost-effective industrial production of synthetic foam. After approximately 20 years of hard work, in 1971 he presented the ISOTUBE®
insulation for pipes made of polyurethane foam for heating installations.
Through this revolutionary innovation, NMC made available a long expected alternative to the expensive insulation commonly used at that date
based on mineral wool. In 1976 the company released NOMASTYL®
plastic material profiles applied as foam, made of polystyrene foam, as
decorative trimmings for the ceiling, being followed shortly by CLIMATUBE™, pipe insulations manufactured from extruded polyethylene.
Flexible and easy to close through an adhesive sealing system, these
products offered specialists a superior comfort in processing. Until
now, numerous additional innovations made of synthetic foam materials transpose in practice the original idea formulated by Gert Noël:
in the 1990s, foams based on elastomers for INSUL-TUBE® insulating
materials with a remarkable degree of flexibility represented a new
standard. In 2000 insulations for windows followed, which were made
of polypropylene applied as foam, which are part of the NOMATEC®
sort. Starting 2006, NMC is present at global level with foam materials combined with polyolefins, used for protection against impact
on sports fields and leisure spaces. In 2008, the company, through
NOMAWOOD® outdoor profiles, released on the market patio tiles,
fence slats or shutters for windows made of high density foam. In
2011 the development of PET foam materials continued, which were
indented for windows insulations, which starting with 2014 are also
part of the range of products traded by NOMATEC®. Through the bio
foam based on polyolefin, NMC opened in 2012 the door towards
a new era in the field of foam materials: NATUREFOAM™, the first
foam material certified in Europe, is manufactured in a significant
proportion of renewable raw materials and it is completely recyclable.
Until now, all these foam materials developed by NMC remained equally
important. Their continuous improvement represents the results of experience gained during many decades and which was systematically
developed. Over 40 employees currently carry out their activity in the
research and development centre from Eynatten, Belgium, in order to
develop new products. Density, characteristics, finishing and processing
are adapted within this individual centre based on each client and his/
her requirements. Along the years, the team managed by Jean-Pierre
Mayeres developed different additional covering layers. Also, the colour
trend in architecture and in terms of lifestyle items was promoted within
this centre in an extremely very form and also considering market’s requirements. Therefore, through its varied range of available colours for
sportive, play and leisure items known as COMFY® or FLORI®, NOMAFOAM® conquered kids’ hearts quickly. Now, colourful pool noodles are
always present in any pool. In the field of facades, restaurants with outdoor terraces and pools arrangement, outdoor profiles NOMAWOOD®
offer remarkable accents by the specific Mediterranean colours. Also, in
connection to these aspects, NMC took into consideration, even from
the start and every time, the effects of manufacturing processes and the
products. For this reason, NMC was the first company that voluntarily
renounced, in 1988, to the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and opted
for a manufacturing procedure that does not affect the ozone layer.
The company is not confined only to the promotion of an exchange of
experience at internal level. A decisive secret for the success enjoyed
by NMC is represented by the permanent cooperation with clients. By
transposing into practice the permanent appropriation towards the
users, NMC identifies in advance new challenges and possibilities,
and due to the extended experience achieved along decades, it succeeds in rapidly transposing this information into solutions launched
on the market. 12 - 13
Birth of a new neighbourhood
A new neighbourhood is being built on the Elba shore.
Several buildings with an impressive architectural design owe their long-standing comfort also to the pipe
insulations manufactured by NMC.
In Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany, and a Hanseatic
city with a rich tradition, a new neighbourhood is being built on
a total area of 157 hectares and which, thanks to its scale and
location, is one of a kind in Europe. The ultimate objective is the
creation of a widespread work-specific environment with combines
with family, culture, and pass-time settings. In this neighbourhood,
the HafenCity, various spectacular buildings have been developed
during the last few years or are about to be completed, of which
the most famous one is the Elba Philharmonic Orchestra‘s concert
hall, which will be completed by the end of 2016, and which will
open in 2017. This new concert hall of the Hanseatic city raises
above the old clinker cocoa warehouse, thanks to its glass dome
which will be up to 110 meters high and will reflect the environment and the light of day. The building designed by the Swiss
architects from Herzog & de Meuron will comprise, besides the
three concert halls, a hotel, a restaurant and 45 apartments for
sale, as well as an area opened to the public, which will provide
a fascinating panoramic view of the city.
The attraction of this new neighbourhood built on the Elba shore
is also the new headquarters of Unilever, which opened in 2009.
This futurist-looking building is home to about 1,100 employees; it
was designed by Behnisch, an architecture company from Stuttgart,
based on unitary sustainable architecture principles. This building
also comprises an atrium with shops and restaurants which are
opened to the public. The well-renowned Barcelona World Architecture Festival Award was granted to this building for its open and
green concept; it was also considered as the best office building
in the world. Another building which was designed by the Böge
Lindner K2 architecture company from Hamburg is also the focus of
attraction, namely the office and commercial area S-Kai from Santorkai. The purist shape of its shining coppery facade harmoniously
integrates into the partly modern and partly historical environment.
Besides these three buildings, since 2004, in HafenCity there are
several outstanding buildings which count on NMC‘s reliable
products and experience. In accordance with the requirements
of the regulation on energy savings and as per other EU standards, as well as the high standards of the owners of the buildings
regarding quality and performance, the pipe insulations manufactured by NMC, and which proved useful in several projects,
meet the standard of various buildings of this new neighbourhood. No matter whether it‘s flush mounted or mounted behind
the wall, in the ceilings or in the flooring, the CLIMAFLEX® and
EXZENTROFLEX®COMPACT insulations minimise the unwanted
heat loss, the bodies and steps’ noises, and the phenomena specific to heating, cooling or hot water pipes. Thanks to the appropriate classification, the polyethylene material manufactured
by NMC observes the requirements regarding the volume of
flammable materials. The eccentric route of the piping for the
EXZENTROFLEX®COMPACT allows also for an extremely reduced
height of the flooring structure. The companies executing various
works in the new HafenCity neighbourhood from Hamburg also
benefit from the support offered on the construction site to fitters
and supervisors by the expert consultants of NMC.
14 - 15
Perfect image
Brazilian passion comes alive on the Maracanã stadium, which was completely renovated to accommodate the 2014 world football championship. The
plinths manufactured by NMC are also used in the
elegant VIP lounges.
For 64 years now, the Maracanã stadium is a sports temple even
outside Brazil. Built in the heart of Rio de Janeiro for the 1950
world football championship, the biggest football stadium at the
time has not lost its initial attraction. Its fame grew with the unforgettable final match, which took place the same year, between
Brazil and Uruguay, the one thousand goal of 1969 of the leg-
endary Pelé, or the 2007 Pan-American Games. As a concert
arena, the Maracanã stadium was the Mecca for fans gathering here for Madonna, Paul McCartney, or the Rolling Stones‘
concerts. At the 2014 world football championship, this centre
of passion gathered all the attention seven times, of which most
importantly, for the final match. This is why, for the second largescale show represented by a FIFA football world cup, this football
temple was completely renovated, except for the facade which
is classified as a monument. Besides the new grandstand for the
media representatives, the modern players‘ locker rooms and the
innovative roof which protects against rain, the VIP lounges now
contribute to its reputation as the best stadium.
At the 2014 world football championship, the stadium, which
underwent an overhauling, will be offering 73,500 seats, so it
is still the biggest Brazilian football arena. In terms of equipment and security, it can compete with the most modern stadiums in the world. It also comprises 88 VIP lounges, which
have been built during the renovation works, and which allow
14 to 39 person groups to enjoy a stylish space, offering
the best visibility on the game. The challenging interior design concept is highlighted essentially by the materials which
have been used. The classical elegance, the high quality and
the pure comfort have been the requirements of the designers. With NMC and its branch, NMC Deco Industria S.A.,
they worked with a manufacturer who, thanks to their vast
experience in high-quality profile manufacturing, offered the
required expertise. 4,000 of linear meters provide the appropriate framework for the modern graphic flooring used in the
lounges. The perfect finishing and easy and quick assembly
contributed to the selection of this type of flooring. This positive experience of the designers and contractors will surely pay
off in the future, as the Brazilian construction sector is going
through an intense phase of development.
Because NMC’s philosophy in Brazil as well is: The game
goes on even after the final whistle. 16 - 17
Let‘s learn from our experience
HORTUS and NMC have been working together for
many years now. The mix of skills was once again
the key to the successful creation of a new type of
floor slabs.
Long-term trading relations are based on the reliability and
the competence of both partners. The best example is the collaboration between Andrea Prati, the Manager of HORTUS, an
Italian company with extensive experience in the flooring field,
and NMC. In respect to the most recent product idea of this
company - the Hortus Woven collection - HORTUS has once
again built on the Belgian foam manufacturer‘s know-how. The
square and rectangular floor slabs present a hard polymerbased foam core which is manufactured by NMC. HORTUS
then coats the slabs in vinyl so as that the plastic boards ensure
a treading comfort which is similar to that provided by carpets.
Depending on the layout, the various colours highlight the familiar feel and transform your patio or space into a relaxation
space. You can choose from ten colours ranging from bright to
natural tones which you can use on your floors: one single colour, or a more subtle stripped design. Due to the high quality
of their products, HORTUS offers solutions to individual design
needs for stylish outdoor floorings. The textile look of the ceramic slabs give an overall comfort feeling.
In addition to this appeal, the Hortus Woven collection
stands out due to its particular functionality. Unlike wood, this
material preserves its expressive colours over the years thanks
to its UV radiation, water and weather resistance, and to its
un-breakability and chip-resistance capacity. This is why the
volumetric weight make these floor slabs the perfect construction material for roof top patios. Considering the fact that they
also provide noise insulation, they also turn any space into a
stunning relaxation oasis.
In order to create these innovative floor slabs, NMC built on
the vast experience gained with NOMAWOOD®. A year ago,
HORTUS, the foam materials expert, presented the prototype of
the latest floor slabs. It proved to be a real success even from
the delivery of the first 25 meters sample; Italians immediately
made an important order to NMC, and since then, regular
orders have been made.
www.hortusfloor.it
18 - 19
Master of machines
T
he team spirit, the love for the product and the passion for solving problems are the prerequisites of the
machine operator profession within NMC. Thanks to his
technical knowledge and a long experience, the machine operator manages the cost-effective production of
sensitive foam products. It is thus explained why this profession, learned during in-house trainings, is still sought.
Machine operators hold a key position within NMC’s production
activity. In this context, tasks and challenges associated with this
profession are largely a mystery for the unacquainted. The production of foam materials does not represent an element that can be
learned as simple as the multiplication table, but it is based on
accumulated experience. For over 40 years, NMC trains machine
Photo f.l.t.r. : Eric Brandt, Erwin Steils, David Brull
operators both theoretically, and practically; approximately 60
employees currently hold this position only at the mother company
in Belgium, within the production activity of foam materials based
on polyethylene, polystyrene and polyurethane.
Their main attributions are to equip, prepare and configure extruding
and foaming installations. Each foam product has its own characteristics, which means that the parameters required for its manufacture
are different. This category contains both the exact compliance with
the customers’ requirements and the implementation of economic
aspects, in order to obtain a high quality product. In addition to the
actual process of foam production, the machine operator also monitors the different stages of further processing of foam materials. In this
context, his attributions have significantly developed in the past years:
while, in the past, a machine was partly used to produce the same
product for several days, the rule is now represented by a constantly
updated production process with much smaller lots and frequent
changes. Because due to increased customer demands, product
variety and execution became much more complex and more sophisticated, the modern machine operator must show a much higher
resistance to stress, ability to adapt and ability in his actions.
The requirement for a successful training is to have technical
knowledge and practical skills, logical thinking, teamwork and
communication skills. Thus, a locksmith certificate or a technical
diploma is a good starting point for improvement. Most people
who currently hold the position of machine operator within NMC
began their activity as production workers and thus acquired the
basic knowledge with regard to processes and products requirements. After having acquired the proper initial experience, the
actual training for the qualification of machine operator subsequently lasts two to three years. Within the training program, in
addition to the practical side of the course at the machines’ level,
a theoretical training is also performed, with an approximate
duration of one week. Here, issues such as equipment security,
knowledge of the raw material with specific information about the
rate of melting or additives, as well as metering scales servicing
are analysed. And the constructive and mechanical principles of
worms, cylinders, extruders, heat exchangers or Sulzer machinery,
as well as the exact dosage and the use of gas or alkanes are part
of the complex material presented within the course. A graduation
test demonstrates the knowledge gained by the participant.
20 - 21
A properly trained operator should also master aspects related to production quality and processing – for example, the compliance with tolerance margins, densities and surface structures, cuttings, application
of coatings, printing and packaging. As, in addition to servicing the
extruder, all necessary equipment should also be known, for example
moulds, cutters, winders or other technical systems, which are related
to the actual extrusion process. Training and monitoring of employees
from the production department who assume these tasks, as well as
handing over at the exchange of shifts complete the training.
After completion of the course, the respective persons have a sure and
well-defined career. Through continuous improvement they have the possibility to qualify as „polyvalent machine operator”. This person knows
more processes and installations and, in this position, he/she can be
involved even in assuring interventions in different departments. In the
next stage of their career, these persons, as team leaders, also take over
coordination tasks at the machines level besides their basic activity.
Within NMC, there are even machine operators who managed to
occupy management positions within the production departments,
being currently foremen or even department coordinators. Such
a person coordinates a team composed of over 30 employees,
manages projects and is responsible within the department, including for the training of young people. In NMC, in the production activity coordination team, there are various examples of such
a successful professional career.
Thus, Erwin Steils started in 1987 his career as machine operator
within NMC. After stages where he held the position of exchange
foreman and coordinator for the transfer of new products from
design to serial production, since 2007 he has been coordinator of the department for methods and industrialisation. From his
point of view, there are key moments every time when, within the
team, solutions to a difficult production problem are searched for
and identified.
As a specialised electrician, Eric Brandt began his activity at NMC
more than 30 years ago, as an employee in the production field,
and, after graduating the course of machines operator, he continued his career in the development department starting 1989. For
15 years, together with his team composed of ten people, he has
been responsible within this department as the foreman for the
development of production parameters for the new types of technical products of foam materials, frequently ensuring individualised
product solutions depending on customers’ requirements. Within
his professional activity, he is enthusiastic about the new products
and procedures which expand the spectrum of workable solutions.
David Brull also began in 2001 his activity of temporary worker
within the NMC. Starting 2003, he attended a machine operator
class with duration of two years and reached a higher position
in the PS sector accumulating knowledge of polyvalent machine
operator. Further, he was familiarised with the additional technical
attributions associated to the development activity. He has been
holding the position of team leader for two years within his production department. In the same time, he will graduate in June the
P.H.A.R.E. improvement course and, as trainee foreman, he will
prepare for other attributions as well. He is attracted by the variety
of the production activity of foam materials and by the improvement possibilities associated with these actions. In his opinion,
additionally to the know-how, experience, curiosity, desire to solve
problems and a constant love towards the product are required.
An opinion also shared by Roger Kniebs, the Human Resources
Manager within NMC. “We also need in the future employees
with the ability and willingness to question different aspects and
who want to continuously improve. Only in this way we, NMC,
can constantly develop our complex experience luggage and we
can constantly expand our position as innovative manufacturer of
foam material products.” 22 - 23
White luxury
Wherever It People congregate, NOMAWOOD® has
to be there. In the it club in the famous Belgian city
of Knokke Le Zoute by the Northern Sea, the owners
play on decorative and resistant hard foam.
Knokke Le Zoute is for Belgium what Saint-Tropez is for France,
the meeting place of the rich and the beautiful. The sand beach
which spreads over ten kilometres, the wild and romantic landscape, and a complete range of offers for art, shopping and
cuisine enthusiasts, turn any dream into a reality. When the sun
mysteriously sets, the beach clubs and bars open up to entertain
the guests. A must see is the Monroe Beach Club, who delights
its guests as its slogan suggests, „Feel the Vibe of a Real Luxury
Beach“. A true point of attraction is the white sand beach which
contrasts with the blue sea. This is why the entire set-up is also
white: from the long chairs and the sun umbrellas to the lounge
furniture and the palm tree large pots. Due to their shiny white,
the patio and the pontoon are the focus of all the visitors.
The club‘s managers, Christoph Trio and Glenn Van Hoeck,
pay a particular attention to the special look of their club. Up
until today, this look required important efforts maintenance
and cost-wise. The sand and the salty water considerably affected the furniture and the treading surface, so just for the
maintenance of the paint they would pay each year more than
Euro 5,000. In addition to this, there would also be the outrageous costs required for painting everything white twice a year.
Starting this year, it will all be in the past. Because from now
on, the gangway and the terrace seats, all glisten in a modern
white NOMAWOOD®. In addition to the easy and quick assembly, the synthetic wood made from the hard and resistant
foam produced by NMC, impresses thanks to its Mediterranean
look. Completely indestructible and chip and slip-resistant, and
easy to maintain, it makes the visitors and the managers‘ moments on the luxurious beach a more pleasant experience.
No matter your wish to dance, wander, or see and be seen,
NOMAWOOD® invites the visitors to walk barefoot and offers
each and everyone their ideal scenery. The catwalk of nearly
100 meters lengths build with NMC’s terrace planks perfectly
integrates into the picturesque scenery of the Monroe Beach
Club. An attraction which will soon go beyond the modern
world limits of Knokke Le Zoute. www.monroebeach.be
24 - 25
<
f.l.t.r. :
Isolde Visé
PR & CI Corporate
Communication Coordinator
Maurice Aussem
Machine Operator
Margrit Holzweiler
Assistant Finance Benelux
Brigitte Grosch
International Sales Assistant
Manager DiY
Time to talk..
n
mc-LIVE calculated that Maurice Aussem, Brigitte
Grosch, Margrit Holzweiler and Isolde Visé total 165
years of experience within NMC. All four of them started
their activity at this company when the company had less
than one hundred employees and its founder Gert Noël,
was laying the foundations for the current success. His
entrepreneurial charisma and passion put their mark on
them until now. Our interlocutors have discussed with
the nmc-LIVE on the gained experiences, on the effect
on the personal and professional existence and on the
current motto of existence outlined in this context.
What does experience represent for you?
For me, experience represents a learning process with results: we
take up the challenges and prove ourselves in the most various tasks.
many new things. In this respect, the various training courses offered
by the company presented a special utility.
Margrit Holzweiler (40 years of service within the company):
On one hand experience represents the acquirement of know-how ,
and on the other hand, the accumulation of knowledge by knowing
other people.
Brigitte Grosch: Through my work as assistant for various directors,
I had the opportunity to discover our entire business model and to
accumulate great technical knowledge. Currently I take advantage
the most from the constant development of my competence in the
field of foreign languages.
Maurice Aussem (40 years of service within the company):
Within my activity, I pay special attention to continuous improvement.
This way, I learned to set priorities and to appreciate decisions.
Looking back, with what would you associate the 40/45 years
of experience within NMC?
Brigitte Grosch (45 years of service within the company): By the
different experiences that I lived, I gained life wisdom, which I can
currently pass on to young people. The exchange of experience with
them inspires me and constantly ensures a source of freshness in my
professional and personal life.
Isolde Visé: By my activity within the different departments, for example research & development, management within the NMC group,
sales or marketing, I gained an extremely profound insight into the
company essence.
Isolde Visé (40 years of service within the company): We constantly have the opportunity to discover new fields and perspectives.
Margrit Holzweiler: For a telephone operator and a qualified secretary, each change within the company involves the necessity to learn
Maurice Aussem: My career was marked by ups and downs. However, overall, the numerous positive experiences obviously predominate. For me, my professional activity was longer than my family life,
as I have been working for 40 years at NMC, but I have been married
for only 32 years. I love my job and this defines my existence.
What happened with the dreams and objectives you had at the
moment you started your activity at NMC?
Brigitte Grosch: Initially, I wanted to work in the artistic field, but the
fact that I was engaged by the NMC Company was as a true win
at the lottery. When I began my activity in the sales office I was very
young and I was searching an enthousiastic job . I was never domi-
nated by a burning desire to make a great career. Over the years,
I became more and more independent. For this reason, the years
when I was responsible for the corporate image of the company represented the best period for me: in this context, I had the opportunity
to enhance the value of my creativity and to work independently at
the same time.
Margrit Holzweiler: For me, the fact that I transferred at the time to
NMC represented an opportunity to improve both my specialty development level and the financial situation. I managed to do this. With
regard to my personal life, I focused on starting a family.
Isolde Visé: Considering that I was constantly interested in the technical aspects, the fact that I began my activity within the research &
development department represented a correct choice. During the
respective period, NMC had developed the first extruder and our
R&D team conducted really a pioneering work for most of our current products. Due to my knowledge in the field of foreign languages,
tasks from the international field were assigned to me from the very
beginning, for example organising events, an opportunity that allowed
me to also enhance the value of my creativity. My current attributions
in the marketing field ideally combine technique and creativity.
26 - 27
1y6ea5rs. .
Maurice Aussem: I did not have dreams related to my activity, but I
relied on the performance of my attributions. At NMC I had the opportunity to develop my practical skills – previously I had worked as
carpenter – and to gain great technical knowledge.
. .of
e
c
n
e
i
r
expe
Margrit Holzweiler: I had the opportunity to see the importance of
trust. We have to be able to rely on each other.
Maurice Aussem: The familiar structure and the dialogue within the
company offered me stability. For me, NMC is like a family.
Which are the experiences with which you remained in the
last 40 years?
To what extent you were transformed by the experiences you lived?
Isolde Visé: By the expansion of NMC, I had the opportunity to
discover the importance of dialogue within a company. Also for this
reason I was involved for a few years as the personnel representative
to promote dialogue between the management and the employees
from the company committee.
Maurice Aussem: I became more relaxed. By the skills gained at
NMC I got to have “gold hands”. This helped me very much for
the renovation of my home. I help my neighbours when they face
a problem. At NMC, I had the opportunity to see the importance of
experience exchange. I see, I understand, I act.
Brigitte Grosch: The existent safety in this initially small company was
lost together with the company development. After transferring the
whole NMC activities at the current location, a high level of incertitude appeared. Problems could not be solved directly at the round
table anymore, as was done in the past, the procedures becoming
longer and more anonymous. The lack of safety was compensated
by the sense of belonging actively promoted and by dialogue. In
this way, I learned to eventually capitalize change in all cases as an
opportunity.
Brigitte Grosch: The experiences that I lived helped me to reinforce
the confidence in myself. For this reason, I react more relaxed at personal level as well. I approach new tasks more easily.
Isolde Visé: My professional and personal experiences helped me
develop myself, and currently I have the ability to examine the situation with a certain detachment.
Margrit Holzweiler: I react more calmly in certain situations.
What is the experience you want to pass on and to whom?
Brigitte Grosch: I want to pass on the calm to the younger generation. Its representatives must learn to not react unexpectedly, but to
opt for a structured approach and to prepare themselves.
Isolde Visé: Before acting, they must bear in mind that the night is a good
adviser. This is the advice that I want to transmit to my younger colleagues.
Margrit Holzweiler: I want to transmit especially to young people
the knowledge gained by me. They must approach the problems with
calm and prepare themselves well.
Isolde Visé: I constantly stated: “I am a student at the university of life
and I am participating in all its classes” until the end of my existence.
Margrit Holzweiler: Personally, my life partner offers me support
through his experience. Professionally, I gladly accept the advice of
my colleagues.
Maurice Aussem: If I cannot manage to solve technical problems,
professionally or privately, I seek the advice of people who have experience in the field.
What is the motto of your existence?
Maurice Aussem: I want to transmit to my four children the fact
that objectives are achieved with small steps. Additionally, when they
chose a job, they should not look primarily to money, but to the tasks
assigned to them and to assess whether they are to their liking.
Brigitte Grosch: Carpe Diem (seize the day).
Which are the experiences you want to discover further on?
Maurice Aussem: Do not speak badly of others. Look at yourself
better in the mirror.
Brigitte Grosch: I feel fulfilled personally and professionally. For
this reason I am not looking for experiences, but I am receptive
to everything new.
Isolde Visé and Margrit Holzweiler: Balance – in the professional
and personal life.
Thank you for this discussion.
Central theme of the next nmc-LIVE: flexibility
Do you have any suggestions, criticisms or praise for nmc-LIVE? Please write to the editors at redaktion@nmc.be.
We are pleased to receive all contributions.
Imprint nmc-LIVE:
Editor: NMC sa, Gert-Noël-Strasse, B-4731 Eynatten,
+32 87 85 85 00 – +32 87 85 85 11
Responsible editor: Hubert Bosten
(Responsible in the sense of the press law)
Editorial team: NMC sa, redaktion@nmc.eu
Text and concept: impetus.PR, Agentur für Corporate
Communi­ca­tions GmbH, Aachen, +49 241-189 25-0,
info@impetus-pr.de
Print: leën, Hasselt
Circulation: 3,200