From Design Engineer to Executive Vice President: Thomas Langthaler
Employee interview - Thomas Langthaler
From Design Engineer to Executive Vice President: Thomas Langthaler in an Interview
Thomas Langthaler
Executive Vice President Engineering
After graduating from HTL, I began my professional career at EBNER in June 2001, starting directly in the Mechanical Engineering Design Office. In the first few years, I had the opportunity to work on various types of plants and facilities, which gave me a comprehensive overview of the company’s entire product portfolio.
With the strong growth in the strip float line segment, I took on responsibility as the plant manager. In this role, I gained valuable experience in direct collaboration with customers and actively contributed to the further development of our product.
In 2021, as Senior Manager, I was given responsibility for leading the MKB Aluminum team. Due to the new company structure, I was ultimately given the opportunity last year to take on my current position as Executive Vice President Engineering.
7 Questions | 7 Answers
Describe your job in one sentence.
In my role as Executive Vice President Engineering, my main focus is on organizing, improving, and strategically further developing engineering processes in the best possible way. This also includes making technical processes and interfaces with other departments more efficient, ensuring a smooth overall workflow.
Thanks to my many years of experience in the aluminum sector, I am also happy to continue supporting the technical engineering of projects as well as the further development of our products.
What do you look forward to when you go to work in the morning?
I particularly value the excellent collaboration with a dedicated team and the wide variety of tasks. The new challenges we face every day keep the work highly diverse and offer continuous opportunities to learn and grow—both professionally and organizationally.
What was your most interesting work experience at EBNER?
A particularly memorable experience was a business trip to the USA for the kick-off meeting of our first large strip float line. In addition to the intensive technical discussions and project coordination, we were fortunate to use a day off to visit Niagara Falls.
Everyone needs inspiration and motivation in their daily work. What drives you?
What motivates me most is tackling exciting and challenging situations together with a dedicated team. My top priority is to continuously develop our products and processes so that we remain successful and competitive in the long term.
Equally important is celebrating our achievements together afterwards and recognizing the team’s performance.
What does your typical working day at EBNER look like?
In addition to technical and organizational meetings, my responsibilities also include project planning and, when needed, supporting ongoing plants and installations. Particularly important to me are the regular and constructive discussions with my colleagues, which make a significant contribution to an efficient and well-coordinated working environment.
What benefits do you appreciate most at EBNER?
Especially positive aspects are the flexible working hours, including the option to work from home, flexitime, and the possibility of a four-day workweek. Also advantageous are the convenient access by public transport and the ample parking available on site.
What advice/tip would you give to someone who wants to apply for a job at EBNER?
What matters most for working in our field are the ability to innovate, a strong team mindset, and determination. With diligence and commitment, you can develop well across a wide range of departments and gain valuable experience. And if you’re willing to travel to some extent, you’ll have the opportunity to support international projects and get to know different regions of the world.