What our employees say
ZUR PERSON
After completing her dual studies, Jana Boeddicker was part of the Marketing team of SIMONA AMERICA Industries for a year. Since her return to Germany, she has focused on product marketing of semi-finished parts and also supports our internal communication initiatives as editor-in-chief of our global staff magazine, SIMONAinside.
She is the youngest member of the SIMONA Talent Promotion Circle and, with the support of SIMONA, is completing a Master’s at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management in addition to performing her role. In her spare time, Jana likes keeping fit, so is often seen doing laps at the swimming pool or jogging.
How would you describe SIMONA in a nutshell?
"Authentic."
What makes working for SIMONA interesting and fulfilling?
"In my work, the main focus is on communication with the market. I aim to show as clearly as possible how our products can solve the challenges faced by our customers. The breadth of our product portfolio makes this job particularly fascinating. Different sales channels and customers in very different markets demand creativity and flexibility in the design of our marketing campaigns. So my work at SIMONA is one thing above all else – extremely varied."
What makes SIMONA “a company like a friend”?
"Without a doubt, the partnership mentality, which is definitely one of the key components of the SIMONA DNA. And not just on paper. “A company like a friend” is not an advertising slogan – it is an attitude. It means going out for ice cream together after work or sending a Happy Birthday email to a business partner."
What made you choose SIMONA as your employer?
"At SIMONA, international reach, a strong market position, flat hierarchies and a family atmosphere all come together."
What does the SIMONA brand stand for?
"Trusted quality, superior know-how and first-class service, before and after sales, in the world of thermoplastics."
What do you hope for from SIMONA in the future?
"A willingness to keep testing and pushing our own boundaries, so we can take the next big step forwards."
Compared to competitors in the German plastics market – what could SIMONA do better?
"Because plastics are high-performance and long-lasting products, we have the potential to tap into more and more application areas. Making new markets more aware of the huge potential of plastic as a material and the benefits of our products over conventional materials like wood or steel is something we can do better in the future."
JANA BOEDDICKER
Marketing Consultant Semi-Finished Parts, SIMONA AG, Kirn
PERSONAL PROFILE
Philip Hilß began his Process Mechanic training at SIMONA in Ringsheim in 2001 in the Fittings department and completed it in three years. He then attended Meisterschule and, after graduating with his advanced qualification, worked as Deputy Shift Manager and in Production Planning.
Since September 2018, he has been Deputy Head of Injection Moulding. He likes cycling, jogging and cooking. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
What do you value about SIMONA?
"I feel at home at SIMONA and I am given opportunities to advance new projects over and over again. I find it fascinating how much the technology used in new moulds and machinery keeps developing. In my everyday work at SIMONA, I am faced with new challenges on a daily basis, which makes the job so varied."
How would you describe SIMONA in a nutshell?
"Fair."
What does the SIMONA brand stand for?
"In my opinion, the SIMONA product portfolio and the brand stand for quality and reliability across the entire process."
What makes SIMONA “a company like a friend”?
"The way employees treat each other is very much like the way a family operates. Everyone is treated fairly – within each department and also between the different locations."
What made you choose SIMONA as your employer?
"SIMONA offers me a secure job with interesting tasks. I have lots of friends and acquaintances at SIMONA and plastic is a dynamic product with a good future."
What do you hope for from SIMONA in the future?
"I hope that SIMONA will continue to develop and secure its position as one of the leading manufacturers of semi-finished plastics. I also hope that my colleagues will continue to enjoy working at SIMONA. For the Ringsheim site, I hope that it can make an even stronger contribution to the company’s revenue in the future."
Compared to competitors in the German plastics market – what could SIMONA do better?
"Be bold and open to new investments and new ideas, even if it means being the first in the market to make a move."
What motivates you?
"Every project has potential for further improvement and further progress to be made. That is what keeps motivating me every day."
Was there one moment in your working life when you knew you had chosen exactly the right career?
"At the start of my career, I often wondered whether I had made the right career choice. When, in 2018, I was appointed successor to Mr. Bohn, who was then Head of Injection Moulding, I realised how much I enjoy my work and how much the constant professional development opportunities, like Masters training, really do pay off."
PHILIP HILß
Deputy Head of Injection Moulding, SIMONA AG, Ringsheim
PERSONAL PROFILE
Gary Borgia has been working at SIMONA for 35 years and a little longer than that in plastics.
He was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania and he is a proud father of three grown children. Outside of work, you’ll find him at the gym, golfing, at spin class, playing hand ball or spending time with his family and friends.
What do you value about SIMONA?
"We truly are committed to building customer relationships with first class service."
How would you describe SIMONA in a nutshell?
"Committed."
Why did you choose SIMONA as your employer and what has kept you working in this industry for all these years?
"I was grandfathered in through the acquisition of Laminations but I have stayed because I love the challenge of creating new markets for my customers using our materials."
What makes working for SIMONA interesting and fulfilling?
"I love the people in this industry and forging relationships with new folks just getting into this business. As part of the SIMONA global brand, we have a huge opportunity to grow in this changing world."
What would you like SIMONA to have in the future?
"I would love to see us enhance our product offering and bring something new to the market to blow our competitors away."
Compared to competitors in the US plastics market – what could SIMONA do better?
"Communication will play an ever-increasing role in our networked wold, internally and externally. Small problems in communication can often lead to big misunderstandings. That can be avoided through optimal communication in all areas and in our dealings with customers."
Define the moment in your career when you realized you were good at sales.
"At the very beginning of my career, I was working as an estimator at a company called Santana. One day I was talking to their general manager and he said to me, “You know what, you talk well, you ever think of doing sales,” and the rest is history."
What motivates you?
"I am motivated in my career because I have seen so much growth in plastics over the years and continue to find it exciting to discover all the new possibilities and make them a reality for our customers. I also wouldn’t be where I am today without a solid network of professionals that I have grown up with and developed professionally with the past 35 years of my career."
GARY BORGIA
Segment Manager, SIMONA AMERICA Industries LLC, Archbald, USA
PERSONAL PROFILE
Angel Nikolov has been our Production Manager in Litvínov, Czech Republic, for 2 years. Prior to his time at SIMONA he worked for an automotive supplier in the quality management department. While working on one project, he made the acquaintance of Jan Rothe, the CEO of SIMONA Plast-Technik in the Czech Republic.
However, Angel Nikolov spent the majority of his working life – more than 20 years – as a professional ice hockey player in the top Czech and European leagues. Now he passes on his knowledge to the next generation by coaching children in his spare time.
What do you value about SIMONA?
"At SIMONA there is no problem not worth solving. There is an equal focus on all employees and they all support each other in every respect – just like any family."
How would you describe SIMONA in a nutshell?
"Opportunities."
What makes working for SIMONA interesting and fulfilling?
"No two days are the same. Every day brings new challenges. In my position as Production Manager, I am driven to rethink things every day and adapt our processes accordingly."
What does the SIMONA brand stand for?
"History and experience, but also quality and certainty – that is what makes SIMONA so strong in the international marketplace."
What made you choose SIMONA as your employer?
"Once I met Jan Rothe and got to know SIMONA better, it became clear to me that it is a very solid company with an impressive history. I was given the opportunity to do something new and interesting at SIMONA."
What do you hope for from SIMONA in the future?
"Naturally I hope SIMONA Plast-Technik will grow and continue to be an important part of the SIMONA Group. In addition, I like cross-locational questions and projects where we have to work together as a company to find the right solutions."
Compared to competitors in the Czech plastics market, what could SIMONA do better?
"Despite the fact that SIMONA is one of the biggest companies in the Czech market, we will have to keep improving the effectiveness and quality of our products in order to remain competitive."
What motivates you?
"I don’t like losing."
ANGEL NIKOLOV
Production Manager of SIMONA Plast-Technik s.r.o. in Litvínov, Czech Republic
PERSONAL PROFILE
Jacky Jiang as Senior Sales Manager in the SIMONA office in Shanghai, is responsible for looking after our customers in China. He has been a member of the SIMONA family since 2015 and took part in an audit of young potential for the SIMONA Talent Promotion Cirlce, before being accepted as one of its members, along with eleven other high potentials from five different countries.
The two-year programme prepares future leaders of the company to take on management and leadership roles.
What do you value about SIMONA?
"Customers and quality are the top priorities. To me, that’s what the SIMONA brand stands for."
How would you describe SIMONA in a nutshell?
"As a best friend."
What makes working for SIMONA interesting and fulfilling?
"Making life easier for people by developing innovative plastics solutions is a very interesting job. Our products create long-lasting solutions in many areas of daily life, such as city water supply. With their lightweight properties, new plastics can reduce the emissions generated by such things as cars and planes."
What makes SIMONA “a company like a friend”?
"Trust and respect are the hallmarks of SIMONA employees all over the world. We live these values and that makes it easier for us to work together. I know that I can rely on my colleagues and on management too."
What made you choose SIMONA as your employer?
"SIMONA is a leading company in the plastics processing industry. I can identify fully with its corporate culture and values. I soon realised that SIMONA offers me many opportunities to learn and progress professionally, for instance as a member of the internationally configured Future Leaders group. This scheme offers me opportunities for personal and professional development. In addition, I am part of a personal network with colleagues from all over the world."
What do you hope for from SIMONA in the future?
"We began our journey into Asia a few years ago and still have many opportunities for future growth there. To do this, we need to expand our research and development and position ourselves with premium products in markets like the semiconductor sector, chemical processing industry and environmental technology sector."
What motivates you?
"That’s quite simple: working with my team to achieve more sales."
JACKY JIANG
Sales Manager, SIMONA ENGINEERING PLASTICS TRADING (SHANGHAI) Co. LTD., Shanghai
