Meet Caroline Molenaar: The zookeeper who became an extrusion expert
Caroline Molenaar is a unique employee in Hydro, which is saying something in a company that employs more than 32,000 people. And not because she is a team leader and mentor who operates one of the aluminium extrusion presses at Hydro Extrusion Drunen in the Netherlands. “I studied to be a zookeeper. I like working with animals,” says Caroline. “But this job is pretty nice, too.”
Drunen is a relatively small town – it has around 18,000 residents – in the southern part of the Netherlands. Its extrusion plant, established by Alcoa in 1966, also is relatively small. But the two-press operation packs a punch, and it is known by customers as a dependable supplier of long-length profiles and machined components.
Its business is going strong, due mainly to the engagement and expertise of its employees, such as Caroline Molenaar, the operator who would be a zookeeper. Or vice versa.
By the way, Drunen has a zoo. And Dierenpark De Schroef is located just 750 meters from the Hydro site.
Why did you take this job working in operations for an industrial company?
I needed the money, and this company was hiring. I remember my first day as a full-time employee. It was January 1, 2019. It was a good day. And now I like it. I like working with people, but I also like working with my hands, which is what you do on the machine. So that’s also why I chose it.
We have care and collaboration and courage as our values in Hydro. You have a feeling that you have a special culture here that they probably don't have over there. It’s a bit different. I see it in the plant. It’s neat. In factories you always get dirty, so it is nice to have something clean here.
You are receiving training now to improve your ability in leading people. What have you learned?
How to give feedback, critiques or compliments, and if something is going on, like fighting, what you need to do to fix it. As a mentor on the press, I teach people. I steer them. I tell them what to do and teach them things, and that's good. I like doing that. Mentoring other women and helping them along and keeping them, is also important. And maybe, it snowballs so we can get even more women.
At the end of the workday, I'm more tired in my head than physically, although you do walk a lot. For example, sometimes, if the machine has problems, then you have to do a lot of thinking. How can I fix it? Or should I let someone else fix it, so they can practice? If I already know the answer, then I'll let someone else do it.
Teaching someone and seeing that they understand gives me a sense of pride. With all of us at work, you’ve got to develop a sense of pride in something. It is the sense of pride that keeps you going to work, right?
