A Year of Learning, Machines and International Experiences at Sal-Tech Easy Packaging
A Year of Learning, Machines and International Experiences at Sal-Tech Easy Packaging
From entering a completely new industry to visiting suppliers and colleagues across Asia, Lisa reflects on a year filled with learning, responsibility and unexpected opportunities at Sal-Tech Easy Packaging.
A completely new industry – and a year full of opportunities
When I joined Sal-Tech Easy Packaging, I stepped into an industry I knew almost nothing about. My role was Customer Support and Warehouse Expedite, and I joined the company during my gap year before starting university because I wanted to try something new and gain experience from a real business environment.
Walking through the doors on my first day was both exciting and overwhelming. Packaging machines, technical terms, customers, suppliers, logistics and business processes were all completely new to me. I had never worked this closely with a company or been involved in so many different parts of a business before.
Looking back, that was one of the things that made the experience so valuable. I was given the opportunity to learn from the beginning and gradually understand how all the different pieces of the company connect.
One of the things that stood out to me from the start was the company culture. Compared to other workplaces I have experienced, Sal-Tech feels much more personal. Even though we work across different locations and countries, I get to communicate with my colleagues every day, share ideas, solve problems together and, of course, have a laugh along the way.
No two days are the same
A typical day at Sal-Tech starts with checking emails, following up on ongoing cases and getting an overview of what needs attention. From there, the day can take many different directions.
My tasks have included customer communication, coordinating with forwarders, handling orders, supporting warehouse expedites, updating Danish content on websites and products, and coordinating tasks with my team.
One thing I quickly learned is that working in Customer Support is about much more than simply answering questions. It is about understanding the customer’s needs, finding solutions and making sure they feel supported throughout the process.
The most rewarding part of my job has been seeing a customer’s wishes being fulfilled and knowing that my work contributed to making their experience better.
During my time at Sal-Tech, I was also given responsibilities I never expected when I started. I became involved in areas such as recruitment processes, management-related tasks and discussions around business strategies. These experiences gave me a much broader understanding of how a company operates behind the scenes.
The biggest challenge has been developing the skills needed to work within a B2B business structure. Understanding customer expectations, supplier relationships, technical requirements and business processes takes time, but it has also been one of the most valuable learning experiences.
From knowing nothing about packaging machines to understanding the industry
Before joining Sal-Tech, I knew absolutely nothing about packaging machines. If someone had asked me about pallet wrapping machines, film stretch or automation solutions before my first day, I would not have known where to start.
The biggest “aha moment” came when I saw the machines actually working for the first time. Suddenly, everything started to make sense. I could see how the technical solutions, customer needs and business decisions connected.
The machine I have become especially attached to is the E3 Wrap 2100, Sal-Tech’s Danish-built semi-automatic pallet wrapping machine. Seeing how much thought goes into designing a machine that is simple for customers to use, while still meeting different requirements, gave me a completely different appreciation for the products.
One thing people outside the industry probably do not realize is how complex selecting the right packaging machine actually is. It is never just about choosing a machine from a catalogue. Many different factors have to be considered: product type, pallet sizes, customer workflow, capacity, environment and future needs. Before joining Sal-Tech, I never imagined there were so many considerations behind what seems like a simple packaging process.
Meeting the people behind the products – my trip to China, Hong Kong and the Philippines
One of the biggest highlights of my year was the opportunity to travel to China, Hong Kong and the Philippines to visit suppliers and colleagues.
Before the trip, I had never travelled to Asia, and honestly, I did not really know what to expect.
My first impression when arriving in China was simply: “Wow, it is big.” The cities were enormous, the buildings were incredibly tall, and it felt completely different from anything I had experienced before.
What surprised me most during the supplier visits was how structured and organized many of the factories were. Seeing the production environments, processes and people behind the products gave me a completely new perspective on how much work goes into creating the solutions we deliver to customers.
A typical supplier visit included being picked up by the supplier, discussing their business and cooperation with Sal-Tech, visiting the factories, seeing machines and production areas, and sharing a meal together. The suppliers were very welcoming and took great care of us during our visits.
What customers normally never see is everything happening behind the scenes: the people developing the products, the production processes, the planning and the many decisions required before a product reaches the customer.
The trip also included a short visit to Hong Kong, where we had the opportunity to explore the city outside of the normal work schedule.
Visiting our Philippines team was another special experience. It is a very unique feeling to meet people you have only ever spoken with online. Putting faces to names and finally meeting colleagues in person made the teamwork feel even more connected.
The trip made me realize just how international Sal-Tech really is. Running a business requires many different processes, people and locations working together, and I was able to experience that first-hand.
Seeing a machine come to life before delivery
Another memorable experience was seeing a finished customer machine after production: the STEP LM-LY3 Full Automatic Tag Threader Machine, which was being prepared for delivery to a customer in the Czech Republic.
I had the opportunity to see the machine after the build was completed and participate in the FAT (Factory Acceptance Test).
There was something special about seeing a finished product that would soon be delivered to a customer. Testing the machine before shipment made it possible to ensure that everything worked as expected and that the customer would receive a product ready for operation.
It was a great reminder that even though my daily work is not directly building machines, I am still part of the process that brings these solutions to customers.
The people make the difference
Working with colleagues from different countries has been a unique experience. Virtual teamwork naturally has its challenges, but overall, I have really enjoyed collaborating with colleagues from different backgrounds.
The thing I will remember most about the team is how welcoming and helpful everyone has been. Starting somewhere new can feel overwhelming, especially when entering a completely unfamiliar industry, but having colleagues willing to answer questions and share their knowledge makes a huge difference.
Looking back on a year of growth
If I had to describe my year at Sal-Tech in one sentence, I would say:
A year filled with learning opportunities, personal growth and experiences I never expected.
During my time here, I have gained knowledge and insight into many different areas: customer support, supplier and dealer communication, websites, technical understanding of machines, forwarding, expediting, logistics rules, B2B structures and much more.
Professionally, this experience has given me a much better understanding of how different layers of an organization work together. I feel better prepared for my future career because I have experienced how many different roles and processes are required to make a company succeed.
To anyone starting at Sal-Tech, my advice would be:
Do not be overwhelmed by everything new. There is a lot to learn, but it takes time – and it is worth it.
The thing I will miss most is probably the constant challenge of experiencing something new every day. No two days have been the same, and that has made this year both exciting and rewarding.
(Although… I might also miss the lunches 😉)