Virtually everyone in our company knows him. And everyone knows that Tomasz Budnik, our technologist, is a very decent and helpful person, but at the same time a professional who willingly shares his knowledge. We decided to talk to our colleague to tell us briefly how his role at Bertrand has changed, what he appreciates our products and... how he likes to spend his free time. We cordially invite you.
Do you remember your first day at work?
I remember. A lot of time has passed since then, but I remember it perfectly. When I started working, still in production, I quickly thought that... it wasn't for me. On the one hand, I was happy to have a job, because those were the times when people were looking for work, not workers' factories. Back then, it was much harder to find a job than it is now. After a few weeks, however, I decided that this was not the job I wanted to pursue in my professional future.
But why?
Because I was used to a different job. I had previously dealt with completely different topics and, to put it bluntly, "it wasn't my thing." Work was much harder then.
Did this experience at such an early stage of your professional life strengthen you in any way? Mentally?
Not necessarily. I think I am a person who can grit my teeth and adapt to the difficulties that come my way. My reasons for staying were varied. Later I got used to it, and then the work cycles changed.
It was 2001 or 2002. Relatively shortly after the beginning of the year, because it was at the beginning of January. I was glad that I managed to get into the company, because not only was it winter, but unemployment in Poland was higher than today.
How has your role in the company changed?
I evolved, in fact. However, my first years were directly related to working on the production line. I developed my skills in this area. I started working on a saw. After four years, as part of its development, the company established a second production line, introducing a two-shift system. And so I gradually reached the position I am currently working in.
What are you most proud of when it comes to your work?
I have established a lot of relationships with various people throughout the country with whom I communicate on a daily basis as part of my duties. Whether in terms of technical issues, including the technicians we cooperate with. As a result, we have developed friendships that we cherish. We treat each other in a truly friendly way. I acquired a lot of technical and practical knowledge. The knowledge I have is my enormous capital. However, it is also centralized knowledge in terms of the construction of PVC windows.
What are your personal successes related to this work?
I think that I have established myself as an employee who can be entrusted with various tasks and positions, which is why I am now a technologist.
Why are Bertrand products different from others?
From the experience of some assembly teams who also served us in terms of installation, I learned from them that our windows are heavy. They said that there are companies that make similar windows, but they do not weigh this much and asked "what do we do with these windows that make them weigh so much"? This confirmed my belief, which has been strongly adhered to in this work from the very beginning, namely, not to cheat on steel reinforcements, and to ensure that the appropriate thickness and length of steel are inserted into the profiles each time. This confirmed that there were companies on the market that, wanting to reduce the production costs of their products, used thinner steel for the profiles, which - inevitably - had to translate into the weight of the windows themselves. I won't explain in detail what significance this has for the window, but I assure you that it does. The reliability in maintaining appropriate openings for windows in the technology that has been implemented and monitored for many years shows that it was worth it. The windows that were sent to my friends are still so appreciated that these people repeat their orders, saying that we make really good windows. This may not necessarily be due to the fact that, to put it colloquially, they "burned themselves" on other products. This opinion is more due to the fact that nothing happens to our products that could cause them to be made in an inappropriate manner. Appropriate steel thickness, hooks, optical attachment of certain elements - all this affects the quality of our products. Moreover, I know how we produce these windows and I also know that we will make sure that everything is as it should be.
Stepping away from work completely. What do you like doing in your spare time?
My free time ? In winter, it is undoubtedly winter swimming. I am a member of the Wejherowo Walrus Association. In summer, however, it is a bicycle. I love spending the day cycling. My family and I organize trips of several or sometimes several dozen kilometers each. What else? There's a sauna all year round - I try to go there at least once a week.
