Many people worked on a finished window in the house: Mathias Schulz, master carpenter and production manager at Hans Timm Fensterbau, talks to his colleagues in the glazing workshop.
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-tmn
Berlin (dpa/tmn). An apartment without her: unimaginable. Windows are often referred to as the eyes of a home. And they can look very different, just think of roof windows, balcony doors or floor-to-ceiling window fronts.
Fine surfaces or unusual sizes: In order to meet customer requests, master carpenter Mathias Schulz at Hans Timm Fensterbau in Berlin is also increasingly overseeing special productions.
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-tmn
However, the following always applies: windows must withstand driving rain and wind and meet static and energy requirements. A challenge for window builders like Mathias Schulz, especially with the large-format window designs that are currently in particularly high demand.
In addition to wood, aluminum and steel are also used in window construction: master carpenter Mathias Schulz enjoys the broad spectrum.
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-tmn
Mathias Schulz is a master carpenter and is responsible for the production of window frames at the Berlin company Hans Timm Fensterbau. In the job log, the 29-year-old reports on his everyday work – and explains why teamwork is becoming increasingly important in his job.
My path to the profession:
The Hans Timm Fensterbau company also has a metal construction workshop where metal workers or designers are trained.
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-tmn
Through a school internship I came into a carpentry business for the first time, a very small family business. From day one I was fascinated by working with wood. The smell of wood, the flexibility of the material and the daily tasks simply make every working day exciting and varied.
As production manager in window construction, master carpenter Mathias Schulz ensures that all products meet the company’s quality standards.
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-tmn
After graduating from secondary school, I immediately got an apprenticeship in a small carpentry shop specializing in window construction. I actually wanted to train as a carpenter without any specialization. But I jumped straight into window construction – and in the end I really liked it.
Finished windows have to be packed and brought to the construction site: Before that, master carpenter Mathias Schulz checks the work as production manager.
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-tmn
When it comes to training, specialization is not that important at first, as all the main aspects of the job description are taught to you at vocational school and in the company.
Mathias Schulz, master carpenter and production manager, specialized in window construction during his training.
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-tmn
I have now been working in the industry for 13 years, including ten years at Hans Timm Fensterbau.
Why I decided to do a master’s degree:
I decided to do further training to become a master carpenter because I realized that I wanted to actively shape the window production process and strengthen the team structure in the company. In addition, as a master, I can better contribute my own experiences.
I completed a part-time course at the master school every Friday afternoon and Saturday for three years – and was at the top of my class there.
Of course you can also take this course full-time. The positive aspect of a part-time course is the combination of theory and practice. Many things can be applied directly in the company. This makes it easier to understand the complex processes in the company. A stressful but also educational time that I didn’t want to miss.
This is what my everyday work looks like:
As production manager, I no longer build my own windows in the traditional sense, but rather coordinate, give advice and ensure that we produce high-quality windows as a team.
I go through production in the morning and check whether an optimal production process is guaranteed for the day. I check whether all workstations are sufficiently stocked with materials and whether the necessary products are prepared for delivery. I then check whether materials need to be ordered and look at the technical documentation for our construction projects. I also ensure that the machines are maintained and running.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. I see that the windows that have now been completed are packed and loaded onto the trucks so that they can be delivered to the construction site on time. I usually finish work in the early afternoon.
In addition, I have been a freelance lecturer on the subject of expansion and building elements at the master school in Berlin since 2019. I teach four courses there every year. The participants learn everything about windows from me. The topics of the courses range from the influence of different frame materials to the installation of products to thermal building physics.
What I like about my job:
It’s always a nice feeling when an object is in its final stages. You see the photos or the object in reality – and often it is simply more beautiful than in the architectural office’s sketches. It’s a wow factor when you know how much work went into it, how many employees were involved, how many ideas we had to bring in to be able to produce it like this.
The broad spectrum is also fun. The fact that there are around 70 systems in window construction and that each system has its advantages and disadvantages makes the job incredibly interesting. In addition to wood and plastic frame material in the carpentry industry, there is also aluminum and steel for metal workers. That’s why we have a large metal construction workshop where we also train metal workers or designers in close collaboration with the carpenters.
The challenges:
The job itself has become significantly more complex than it was 30 or 40 years ago. Customer demands are becoming increasingly higher. Finer surfaces, unusual sizes, narrower frame widths and an increasing change in the climate – also in Germany – are just a small excerpt of today’s challenges. This forces us as an entire team to think further: every single employee, from planning to assembly, plays an important role.
What you should bring with you for the job:
There is no training for window fitters. All of our trainees learn either the profession of carpenter or metalworker, depending on which material they would prefer to work with later in life.
A good technical understanding, three-dimensional thinking and good computer skills are important for the training, as many machines now work with computer support. Every window we produce naturally involves a high degree of handwork. Craftsmanship and skills are therefore still of great importance.
Earning opportunities:
The Federal Employment Agency states in Pay Atlas an average monthly gross income of 3001 euros for carpenters. For master carpenters, the average gross monthly income is 3,744 euros.
The median is the value that lies exactly in the middle of a data distribution. It therefore indicates the value at which half earn more and the other half earn less.
Federal Employment Agency Pay Atlas
Federal Employment Agency: Career profile as a carpenter
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240126-99-761472/4
2024-01-29 03:18:11
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