Insiders : Karol Kostrubiec
Have you ever met Karol Kostrubiec at ALWECO? You'll find him in the warehouse. Cheerful, friendly, and sporting a long ponytail, our Polish friend started working with us four years ago through an employment agency. Three years ago, he signed a contract to work directly for us.
"My employment agency asked if I could work with steel," says Karol. We're sitting in the company canteen at ALWECO's new premises on Honderdland. "That's how I ended up at ALWECO. Leo saw my work and recognized that I understood the job, so he wanted to sign me on with ALWECO pretty quickly. I worked another year through the agency as a sort of trial period, but it was clear—I really wanted to work at ALWECO."
Puzzle-fitting containers
"I work in the warehouse. There, I gather all the materials needed for the projects, along with Ab. We make sure everything the customer needs is ready. The office provides us with a packing list and a deadline, and it's our job to fit everything into a container as efficiently as possible, on time and complete."
Karol, Ab, and their colleagues are so good at efficiently filling containers that they were rewarded with a nice treat on a Friday by Westland Greenhouse Solutions. This was a token of appreciation for how cleverly and fully the containers are always packed, which saves ALWECO’s customers significantly on transport costs.
"I know what is expected of me''
"Sometimes we also have to modify materials," Karol continues. "For example, cutting aluminum to size for horticultural projects. We even make custom doors sometimes; I do that together with Ab. I enjoy my work. I know what's expected of me, and thanks to good planning, there's almost always enough time to do it right."
Karol lives in The Hague. Every day, he rides his electric bike to Maasdijk. "Yes, it's quite a ride, but it's a beautiful journey. I always go via Kwintsheul and Naaldwijk. And when it snowed heavily a while ago, Ab came to pick me up. That’s what’s great about ALWECO—they take good care of you."
Busy month
"This month is busy," Karol concludes. "We're currently cutting ridge screens to size. We also bent steel motor boxes for thirteen motors. These are going to Canada. It has to be done right the first time, so we check everything carefully. It's fun work, and I'm really happy here."