employees in their own words

Meet our employees

Shamil Visengerejev, Supply Chain Employee

Shamil works as a Supply Chain Employee in the Physical Distribution department at Profiltra.

Shamil, tell us a bit more about yourself: who are you, and what education and experience do you bring to the table?

I am 29 years old, born in Chechnya, and have lived in the Netherlands for 21 years. As an eight-year-old, I fled to the Netherlands with my parents. Due to the war in Chechnya, I was unfortunately hardly able to attend school there. Here, I first attended primary education at the asylum seekers’ center. At twelve, I transitioned to a regular secondary school. That involved hard work, focusing on both the Dutch language and subjects like mathematics. I had a lot of catching up to do, but I was determined to build my future in the Netherlands and was aware that I needed a good education for that.

After HAVO (senior general secondary education), I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Logistics Engineering from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. During my studies, I worked at Schiphol as a passenger flow manager, and in the final year of my studies, I conducted research there into internal goods flows. They were so satisfied with the results that I was hired by the GSA Group at Schiphol as a Logistics Services project leader. Unfortunately, I lost my job due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Why did you choose to work at Profiltra?

What immediately struck me during the job interviews was the passion and enthusiasm with which the employees, including my supervisor Ramon Kerker, spoke about their roles and Profiltra. Employees here truly feel responsible for providing excellent service to customers. They don’t just work here for the money; they are clearly committed to Profiltra and our clients. They are happy to go the extra mile. That appeals to me.

Which tasks in your role as a Supply Chain Employee give you energy?

Devising problem-solving solutions—how to get products from all over the world to our customers as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Where do you see the opportunities and challenges in your role at Profiltra?

I would very much like to grow into a role such as Supply Chain Manager. I am learning a great deal here about matters such as customs regulations and Incoterms, and I want to continue developing myself to provide the best possible service to our customers.

Daniél de Vente, Customer Relations Employee

A versatile career
Daniël started his career in the warehouse of a shower enclosure manufacturer. He quickly transitioned into an administrative role and subsequently progressed to a commercial position within the same company.

International experience
In 2016, he moved to England, where he began working for a manufacturer of mixing and bath taps. Here, he refined his commercial skills and gained valuable international experience.

The move to Profiltra
Upon returning to the Netherlands, he quickly found a new job, and in 2023, he was approached by a recruitment agency with an interesting opportunity: a role as a Customer Relations Employee at Profiltra. The combination of commerce and physical products immediately appealed to him. Refractory materials were new to him, but he saw that as a challenging opportunity. The warm welcome at Profiltra gave him a good feeling right away.

His role at Profiltra
Within the Insulation Solutions department, Daniël is responsible for purchasing, quotations, order processing, and customer inquiries. Additionally, he handles calculations and the scheduling of the workshop, where refractory materials are customized. He ensures that everything—from procurement to delivery—runs smoothly.

Customer contact and international collaboration
For Daniël, contact with customers is one of the most enjoyable aspects of his work. He finds satisfaction in solving problems and ensuring that orders are delivered on time and as efficiently as possible. The international dimension makes it even more interesting: he works with customers and suppliers worldwide and can fully utilize his English language skills.

Applying to Profiltra? Just do it!
What does Daniël value most about Profiltra? The social and open atmosphere. His advice to potential applicants: “Just do it! No two days are the same and you are given plenty of challenges. It is a great place to work and to further develop yourself!”

Amy Odlum, HR Intern

Amy Odlum, Intern [AD Management]

My internship was a period of growth and valuable learning moments where, thanks to an open culture and excellent guidance, I not only developed my skills but also improved my professional communication.

First impression
From day one, I was warmly received by my colleagues, who were always willing to answer questions and support me. It was immediately clear that I was seen as a full member of the team. For instance, I was actively involved in the operations and quickly given my own responsibilities, which enabled me to make a real contribution.
What I found particularly pleasant was the open culture in which I could always ask questions. This ensured that I did not feel pressured to do everything perfectly right away. Instead, I was given the space to learn how to do my work efficiently and well, with the assurance that I could always count on the necessary guidance.

Project
As an office manager, you perform various tasks. An example of this is planning business trips. At the start of my internship, thanks to good guidance, I quickly learned how this process works. Previously, all trips were planned alternately by the entire department; now, I am the one who handles all travel arrangements. I am proud to be trusted to complete projects independently.

Personal development
My internship at Profiltra has taught me a lot, both about the role of Office Management and about myself. I soon discovered that I find it quite difficult to act assertively. My internship supervisor noticed this immediately as well. She was right there to support me in this, and I notice that I am slowly taking small steps toward becoming more assertive.
In addition, I have developed practical skills, such as conducting business telephone calls and writing formal emails. Applying these skills in practice has specifically helped improve my professional communication.

I am grateful for the support and the opportunities I have been given to further develop my skills. I look forward to learning even more and further improving myself in the coming period. This internship offers me the opportunity to gain important experience that I can apply in my future career.

Amy has since started her graduation assignment in the HR department.

Mariana Dalemans, Customer Relations Manager

Meet Mariana Dalemans, Customer Relations Manager
Born in Romania and surrounded by a loving family, Mariana chose adventure at the age of 18. She worked in the hospitality industry in Italy and Spain to finance her studies. She completed degrees in microbiology and retail, learned no fewer than seven languages, and started her career as a consultant at Bouwmaat.

From ambition to success
With a clear goal in mind, Mariana joined Profiltra in 2021: to return to her field of study in retail. As a Customer Relations Employee in the Color Solutions department, she dedicated herself fully to customer relations and creative solutions. Her passion and perseverance did not go unnoticed.

From December 2024: Customer Relations Manager Performance Materials
Thanks to her dedication and growth within Profiltra, Mariana recently took the next step in her career: she has been promoted to Customer Relations Manager in the Performance Materials department. In this role, she continues her commitment to optimal customer relations and finding the best solutions within a dynamic market.

Growth and opportunities at Profiltra
Mariana’s story demonstrates that ambition and perseverance are rewarded at Profiltra. Here, you are given the space to develop yourself and grow. Would you also like to work in an environment where your efforts count and where you get the chance to realize your ambitions? Contact us and discover the possibilities! HR@profiltra.com

Oliver Konrad, Technical Sales Manager

Background
After completing his studies, Oliver began his career at Heubach GmbH, a pigment manufacturing company located just a few kilometers from his home in Northern Germany. “It was a logical choice,” he says. “At that time, working from home was not yet common, and I wanted to work within my familiar family environment.” Heubach offered him the opportunity to start in the export and sales department, where he quickly progressed within the company. “I started in the internal sales team, and after three years, I moved to the field sales team, where I was initially responsible for the German market,” he explains. Thanks to continuous growth opportunities, he remained with Heubach for 25 years. His final role was Global Key Account Manager, focusing on the DACH region: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Vacancy
When Heubach merged with another major European pigment producer and attracted investors, the corporate culture changed significantly. “The small, family-like structure disappeared,” he explains, “and I no longer felt at home within this large, global organization.” Searching for a company that better aligned with his values while remaining active in the industry where he had built years of knowledge and experience, he discovered Profiltra. “Profiltra combines professionalism with a personal approach — exactly what I was looking for,” he says.

First Impression
His first impression of Profiltra was very positive. “I felt immediately welcome during my interviews with Sebastian Faure, Patrick, and Edwin Cobussen,” he says. “Their interest in me as both a person and a professional gave me the confidence to take this important step.” The open communication and the company’s structured growth ambitions made a strong impression. “For me, the idea of working closely with reliable manufacturers in India and China who produce under our own brand — with our own Profiltra China team including Richard and Amber — is a great feeling when selling high-quality and competitive products on the European market. This is absolutely state-of-the-art: this is how it should be when working for a professional company. Our products are manufactured according to our specifications, everything is well-organized, and that gives me a very good feeling that my decision eighteen months ago was the right one.”
Balance between ambition and market knowledge
As Senior Technical Sales Manager at Profiltra, Oliver is responsible for the further business development within the Color Solutions department. “My experience and existing contacts in Germany are crucial here,” he explains. “Direct contact with customers and solving technical and commercial challenges give me a great deal of satisfaction.” He works closely with Patrick and Sebastian to assess whether the developed strategies are realistic and achievable. “The balance between ambition and market knowledge is essential,” he says. “It is important that in my role, I can use my knowledge and experience within the market to help determine whether strategic decisions are realistic or not.” The collaboration within the team, as well as with his supervisor, contributes to his positive work experience and strong commercial results. “We are on the same page, and that is vital for effective cooperation.”

Future
Oliver looks toward the future at Profiltra with great confidence. “My goal is to make Profiltra more visible in the market every day,” he says. “Twenty years ago, Profiltra was not a major name in the pigment industry, but the changing market — including the bankruptcy of Heubach — now offers enormous growth opportunities in the paint/coatings and plastics application areas.” He strives to position Profiltra as a reliable partner for customers. “We must continue to work on the recognition that Profiltra is a dependable partner. While Profiltra focused on a select group of customers and applications years ago, we are now working toward becoming a primary supplier of various pigments for companies. My ambition is not to be just a number in a large organization, but to actually contribute to the success and growth of Profiltra.” The international character, close collaboration, and family feel make his workplace not only a pleasant professional environment but also a place where he enjoys coming to work every day.

Roy Denneman, Color Solutions

Customer Service Representative in our most colorful department: Roy’s story at Color Solutions

When he was twenty, Roy began his career at a lamp importer, after which he spent six months a year traveling through Asia for large chemical companies. “It was nice,” he says, “but very hectic and impossible to combine with a family.” Seeking calmer waters, he ended up in the Pigments department of our company.

When asked what makes his work so interesting, he answers enthusiastically: “The international aspect of it, the contact with European and Asian colleagues and foreign customers – that is something I have always enjoyed very much.” It is clear that Roy thrives in the international team at Color Solutions. “Working in the team is just great fun,” he says, “and Profiltra is a true family business, where the social aspect is very important. They organize enjoyable team events and company outings throughout the year, so in short, I really enjoy my time here.”

Asked about the most important skills for his position, Roy answers: “In my role, you must speak fluent English and German, be willing to provide your own input, have commercial insight, and if you also have some understanding of logistical processes, that is a plus.” He emphasizes that there is still much to learn in his position and that the willingness to learn and take on new challenges is crucial.

The international character, the close cooperation, and the family atmosphere make his workplace not only a pleasant environment but also a place he enjoys going to every day.

Hugo Ferreira, Service Engineer at Profiltra

Our service engineer Hugo Ferreira is originally from Portugal. This skilled Portuguese professional has not worked in his home country for a long time. “The weather in Portugal is great, but the salary is not so good,” Hugo laughs. He finds the Dutch people open-minded and friendly, and — most importantly — he feels that he experiences more respect here as a professional.

Where craftsmanship and appreciation meet

With no less than 20 years of experience in the installation industry, including 15 years in refractory materials and recently also in wear-resistant ceramic materials, Hugo has more than earned his stripes. His enthusiasm for Profiltra is clear: “At Profiltra, I receive the respect I deserve, and my opinion is listened to,” says an enthusiastic Hugo. “Working with the Piping Technology & Wear Solutions team is fantastic. This is the second team in my long career that I am truly satisfied with.”

Cousin André also works at Profiltra

He even asked his cousin André from Portugal to join Profiltra as a Service Engineer. André has now been working for Profiltra for about a year and a half. Regarding the collaboration with his cousin, Hugo says: “André and I are a great team. Among other things, we install wear-resistant materials with great precision and expertise for Profiltra’s customers.”

Dutch is a difficult language

Because Profiltra considers it important for our technicians to speak a bit of Dutch, both men take Dutch lessons at the office. Hugo already speaks a little Dutch, although he finds the language “quite difficult.” But when asked “How are you?”, he politely replies: “Everything is good.”

Would you also like to be part of our dynamic team at Profiltra? Discover the possibilities and join professionals like Hugo and André, who are proud of their work and valued for their expertise. Interested in a similar job? We still have a vacancy for a Service Engineer.

Laurian Zur, Business Administration Intern

I am very enthusiastic to share my experience from the past five months in the Office Management department, as part of my Business Administration studies. It was a period full of new challenges, growth, and valuable learning moments.

Major Events & Projects

Upon my arrival, I was welcomed as a full colleague. From day one, I was directly involved in the tasks and responsibilities. I was given a real opportunity here to gain practical experience by organizing major events and various projects within the company. As described in the job vacancy, this is not only a place to perform tasks, but also to develop yourself.

Warm Welcome

What made this period particularly pleasant for me was the warm welcome and the excellent guidance I received from my colleagues. I am grateful for the support I received in deepening my business administration knowledge, without it being at the expense of challenges and the process of self-discovery. I was given the opportunity not only to support the work, but also to provide my own input. This led to me being able to contribute ideas on important decisions that shape the company, and also to present these to the board.

Making a Contribution

This internship has not only increased my practical knowledge, but also gave me the chance to make a truly valuable contribution to the company. I therefore look forward to continuing my professional development during my next research project.

Danny Linssen, Business Manager Piping Technology & Wear Solutions

The story of how Danny Linssen started at Profiltra is quite remarkable.

Interning in China: “Truly awesome!”

For his International Business Management studies at the IVA, he participated in a co-makership program at our company along with three other students. “I was then approached by Edwin Cobussen (owner of Profiltra) with the question of whether I wanted to do an internship at Profiltra’s Chinese branch in Nanjing. I didn’t have to think about that for long,” Danny says. “What an opportunity, I’d love to!” For nearly six months, he conducted market research in China for our Pipeline Technology and Sealing Engineering departments. “Over 10 million people in Nanjing, and almost no one speaks English.” Danny can laugh about it now, but for a young guy in such a metropolis, it took some getting used to. One moment you are living at home with your parents, the next you are handed the keys to your apartment in Nanjing and have to fend for yourself. It was a fantastic learning experience — and a school for life.

Varied work at a true family business

After his internship, he spent some time backpacking through Southeast Asia. Due to the positive experiences he gained at Profiltra during his studies, he subsequently decided to join our company. He has now been working as a Sales Engineer for the Pipeline Technology department for six years. “What I enjoy so much about this job is the variety. No two days are the same; I still learn something new every day,” says Danny. The corporate culture appeals to him greatly: a true family business. “Everyone here looks out for one another,” is how he characterizes Profiltra. Danny is not afraid to roll up his sleeves; in addition to sales, he occasionally installs expansion joints and wear-resistant materials. “These projects are perhaps one of the most enjoyable parts of my work,” says an enthusiastic Danny.

Doing business in Belgium

He also sells the products and projects of the Pipeline Technology department on the Belgian market and has since picked up a fair bit of Flemish. When he has spent some time in Belgium, it is clearly audible here at the office! “Doing business in Belgium is very different,” says Danny. “In Belgium, building a personal relationship is incredibly important. First, get to know each other well, and only then talk business; the ‘likability factor’ is very important.”

Plans for the future

When asked how he sees his future at Profiltra, Danny has a surprising answer. “Well, Patrick Cobussen (CEO of Profiltra) also did an internship here once, so uh… that seems like a nice prospect to me,” he says with a laugh. And then, more seriously: “I really enjoy it here, the work is interesting and varied, and I believe I can build a great career here.”

Danny’s enthusiasm and ambition are clearly visible, and we are, of course, very pleased about that!

Yoeri Kerker (Trainee MBO Logistics course)

Yoeri is halfway through his ten-week basic internship at Profiltra, as part of his vocational training (MBO) to become a Logistics Assistant. During the first three weeks, he worked in our warehouse, where he performed various tasks, including preparing products for shipment and drafting waybills and transport documents. He is currently working in our Physical Distribution department.

Yoeri: “I am learning more during this internship than at school, and I am able to gain a great deal of experience.”

His enthusiasm for his internship and the working atmosphere at Profiltra has led him to recommend our company to his school. He particularly enjoys the variety in the work, the opportunity to see multiple departments, and the feeling of truly belonging. He believes that the knowledge he has acquired will be very useful when searching for a job. After completing his education, he would also like to work at Profiltra — which, of course, we are very pleased to hear!

Coen Schothorst, Customer Service Employee

Coen Schothorst works in our Pipeline Technology department. He is a father of two young children and the company’s resident joker. He is a cheerful presence in a busy department, and following an education in Marketing and Communication, he also completed a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering.

He subsequently worked “in the nuts and bolts industry,” as he calls it himself, and at a company specializing in central heating boilers. Coen finds that roles combining commercial and technical aspects suit him best. “My heart lies in technology,” says Coen, “but I also really enjoy customer contact.”

Since last year, he has been working at Profiltra as a Customer Relations Employee. “I felt at ease at Profiltra immediately,” Coen says of his first impressions of the company. “You are accepted for who you are here, and that appeals to me,” he continues.

What he enjoys about his work is investigating all kinds of technical issues for customers. He is further expanding his knowledge of expansion joints and wear-resistant materials and aims to provide his customers with the highest level of service. “You can expect more from Profiltra than just the sale of the best products,” says Coen. “I want to know our customers’ production processes and needs inside out, so that I can provide them with sound advice and develop the best custom technical solution for their specific situation together with them.”

Finally, he would like to share one of his many jokes:

A truck driver is having lunch at a roadside restaurant when three motorcyclists walk in and take his food. He says nothing, gets up, and leaves. Another driver, sitting by the window, hears one of the motorcyclists say, “What a wimp that truck driver is. We take his food and he says nothing.” “Yes,” says the other driver, “and he can’t drive either. I just saw him run over three Harleys outside.”

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