Hello
My name is Irma Neerhof-Richter

“I have worked at 247TailorSteel since April 2018. In the past, I have also worked as a bending machine operator for a well-known manufacturer in Eindhoven, the city of lights, but that was with relatively thin material. Someone who worked there had already started at 247TailorSteel before I did and I had heard good things about it. I thought, ‘I know what I’m capable of, so I’m just going to try it.’ When I came here to apply, I immediately thought, ‘Great!’. I was coming from a light factory, but the light here is amazing (in the shop where the bending machines are, red.).

Bending steel between the trees

Before I came here for a job interview, I had already watched the videos and seen the photos. They give you an idea in advance. In particular, I thought the trees scattered around the shop floor were unique. I applied for a job in the morning and the next day I was informed that I had been hired. When I came to sign the contract, I was given a short tour. All in all, the approach was very professional.
I wanted to keep working with press bending machines, because that's what I like to do. I was used to do everything myself. When I say that I mean things like looking for the program yourself, getting your tools together, etc.

The system I work with now is much better. Many things are automated, but at the same time, you have to be very resourceful once in a while. Especially because you are working with different series. I was typically used to bending ten thousand pieces. Sometimes, you only get one piece to work with, which only passes through one time. Of course, that’s a part of the customized work that we do. Recently, we had a great “puzzle” and I really enjoy working on those.

Finding solutions

What’s typical for the company is that time is set aside to do that calmly. You move through the program gradually. Would it be possible with an EasyFormer, even if the program is set to pneumatic press? Those are the kinds of questions that you solve together with your colleagues. It’s really enjoyable! Maybe we have to make a 90-degree angle, but the EasyFormer is in the way. If so, we bend the material to 100 degrees first to make room for the EasyFormer, and then we can bend it back to 90 degrees. The bending machines here offer those kinds of options and I find that kind of technical stuff to be very interesting.

These types of modern machines are not only interesting, but they are also ergonomic and do not affect your health. One example is “bending help”, which keeps you from bearing the entire weight when you perform steel bending. Of course, the automatic tool changer is perfect. It makes it easy to do the work well, regardless of whether you are a man or woman. I’m living proof of that."