Ed Bensink

 To start, could you tell us a bit more about your professional background?

Sure. I'm a process engineer. My education began in the field of process engineering and later evolved into chemical technology. However, chemistry was never really my thing; I preferred to focus on process technology. At the beginning of my career, I worked for a detergent manufacturer and was involved in bulk material processing. The topic of bulk materials and processes has been with me throughout my entire professional life. Later, I transitioned into sales at JONGERIUS, the former representative of JOEST, which was already 25 years ago. At that time, I thought JOEST was relatively small, but in the last ten years, the company has grown significantly. It's enjoyable to see how it has developed. I believe the employees here also find joy in their work because JOEST is known for its high quality and reputation. When my predecessor at JONGERIUS retired, I took over his role, and I've been the representative of JOEST in the Netherlands for the past 10 years. To this day, I still enjoy it very much.

 What exactly does your job look like? Do you have a specific daily routine?

My job is quite diverse. What I particularly appreciate about my job is the combination of technology and customer interaction. The technology is often very clear and defined, while sales and marketing are more abstract. I like the opportunity to combine both aspects. I spend time both in the office and outside with customers, especially in factories, to assess their processes. When I first started in sales, I found it challenging to approach unfamiliar people and ask questions. But over time, I learned how important it is to clarify all necessary information in advance to work efficiently. It's about quickly understanding if collaboration with JOEST makes sense and if the requirements are understood. My job requires a mix of office work and technical expertise. Sometimes, when I spend a lot of time in the office, I look forward to having appointments with customers, and vice versa. My daily routine is a constant balance between both aspects. Order processing is done internally at JOEST, so I'm not responsible for writing quotes and orders. This has its pros and cons but also makes me dependent on internal processes. It's a great collaboration; I need my colleagues here in Duelmen, and they need me to drive business in the Netherlands. That requires a lot of communication. That's why I'm frequently here to resolve things in person. Not every week, but regularly. It's a two-hour drive for me, so it makes sense. It makes things much easier, and I can also be on-site for customer acceptances.

 What were the biggest and most exciting projects you've worked on?

To mention two projects that stand out to me: Prezero and Urban Mine. The story of Prezero began in 2019, and it took some time for the order to materialize. The order initially went to the competition. However, it later turned out that the promised couldn't be delivered, and the purchaser canceled the project. That brought us back into the race, and we received the order for a 31-meter-long resonance channel for waste incineration. I remember receiving the news on a Friday, which made the weekend even better.
Urban Mine was another exciting project in the field of concrete recycling. After a very positive meeting ten years earlier, our contact partner was keen to work with JOEST. The product parameters and precise and correct separation cuts were particularly important. Accordingly, several screens and vibrating conveyors were manufactured for the innovative concrete recycling plant.