How did you get into the packaging industry?
ed for a plastics manufacturer for 18 years. I then wanted to do something different, but not lose sight of the product completely. I had already acquired too much specialist knowledge over the years for that. In 2021, I "dared" to apply for a full-time position as Sales Manager Flexible Films at Etimex, although I initially wanted to work part-time. That worked out. At Etimex, I can work in an advisory capacity. That's what I enjoy. I don't want to sell an off-the-shelf product, I want to see which film fits the customer's needs. The packaging industry is more exciting than I thought. I now look at packaging in the supermarket in a completely different way than before. It's very true to life.
Who do you advise? And how?
We have customers from all over the world. I sometimes have a call with Asian companies at 8 o'clock in the morning and with those from the USA in the afternoon. However, most of them are based in Europe, so the time differences are not a problem. I work a lot with converters who use our films for their customers' products or end customers. So at the beginning there is the question of which area the film is to be used for. It's often food packaging, but our films are also used in the pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries. Among other things, I am responsible for customer projects, price agreements and new acquisitions. Sometimes I also take the experts from the technical area to the customer meeting or we have a joint on-site appointment.
What do customers currently want?
The demand for monomaterials is high. It's about recyclable, sustainable films, sometimes with additional properties such as barrier or low SIT. Sometimes a customer shows me a new product structure and asks for alternative materials. We then look for a solution together with colleagues from application technology. C02 reduction is a major concern. Second generation feedstock (second generation biofuels), i.e. fuels that can be produced from various types of non-food biomass, can form the basis for new materials. This is particularly important. Due to market requirements, we are currently reacting even more flexibly to customer wishes than before. The density of agreements is higher.
Speaking of flexible: you are away on business almost every week, even overnight. How do you do that as a mother of two small children?
I came back from Italy last night and my children were very happy because originally the return journey had been planned for this morning. My husband and I swapped jobs in May: I work full-time and he has gone part-time so that the children can be looked after. That's very important to both of us, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do this job. I work from home most of the time, so it makes sense for me to still be on site regularly – at the company and with customers or at trade fairs. I also e
FACHPACK is one of your attendance dates?
Yes, it's almost in my backyard. I live in Forchheim, so it's not that far to travel. I've already set aside Monday evening to Thursday evening to help set up and dismantle our stand. You meet lots of colleagues and customers from the industry at FACHPACK. It's an event I'm looking forward to.
How do you perceive the proportion of women in the packaging industry?
There are more and more women in technical areas of the packaging industry. Both in Germany and internationally. I find that very pleasing. As I also attend technical trade fairs outside the packaging industry, I particulary notice this. At Etimex, flexible working hours and part-time work are possible – that's important to many women – at least for a certain period of time.
FACHPACK takes place from September 24 to 26 in the exhibition halls in Nuremberg.
