Meet Philip – our globe-trotting commissioning engineer and service technician. He travels the world to help our customers install, start up, and service their machines. In a short interview, Philip shares insights about his work, his passion for the job, and what it’s like to be part of the UMV team.

Hi Philip! What do you do at UMV – and what does a typical day look like?

I work as a service and commissioning engineer – or service technician, you could say. A big part of the job is traveling – I’m out installing different types of machines that surface treats paper on and off-line, I’m also involved in the commissioning and startup process.

A typical day? We might have a customer visiting the pilot plant, running their product and testing coating on paper. If it all goes well and they decide to buy, I’ll be there on-site to install and help with the startup. I also do on-site training – showing how to operate the machine, making adjustments, replacing parts, lubrication, you name it. There’s a lot of travel involved, mostly around Europe but sometimes in Asia too. How intense it gets depends on how many machines we’re selling – each project takes quite a bit of prep work.

How did you find your way to UMV?

I studied electrical and automation engineering in high school in Åmål. After graduating, I worked in a few different jobs. But I realized I wanted to do something more hands-on, get out and travel, and learn new things. I got a tip from someone that UMV was looking for people and was open to educate someone from scratch – so I gave it a go! I’ve been here a little over two years now.

What’s the most exciting part about working in a startup-like environment?

The variety, for sure. It’s not just about paper machines – there’s also all the systems around them: piping, web tension, coating processes and so on. You’re constantly learning something new. Even though we sell a lot of similar types of machines, no two are exactly the same – everything is customized for each customer. That means you’re always facing new challenges. And on top of that, you get insight into how the industry works in different parts of the world, which is really interesting.

You sometimes work in the pilot plant too – what does that involve?

That’s right. When customers come here to test their products, I sometimes operate the pilot machine. It’s a lot of fun – you learn a ton, and it’s pretty unique that we have our own pilot plant. The best part is meeting all the customers. Most are really happy with how fast and professional the team is, which feels great. Plus, I get to speak English and meet people from all over the world.

Do customer needs vary depending on where they come from?

Yes, quite a lot actually. In some parts of the world – like the US, for example – they’re a bit behind in terms of material choices, and there’s still a lot of plastic being used. They tend to stick with what they know – if it works, it’s good enough. Meanwhile, other markets are way ahead. Right now, the economic downturn is affecting many companies, so fewer are investing in new development.

How would you describe UMV as a company?

The best thing about UMV is the knowledge that exists here – and how it’s shared. In many companies, people stick to their own areas of expertise, but here we’re more collaborative across roles. We’re a smaller company, which makes us more flexible than a lot of our bigger competitors.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In the summer I play football, go to the gym and play some golf. In the winter it’s hockey, working out, and hanging out with friends.