Following in his father’s footsteps, Corné started in 1985 at the Philips company school, where he completed a two-year training program as a milling operator/setter. He then began his career at the Philips machine factory in Acht. In 2013, he started looking for a new job, as working in three-shift rotations had begun to take its toll after 12 years. As a true local from Wintelre, Corné was already familiar with Wilting, and over the years he had been asked several times to join the company. Because he was comfortable in his role in Acht, he had never seriously considered the offer—until that day in 2013 on the football field, where Corné and a Wilting employee were both coaching a team. After a few visits to the factory in Wintelre, he quickly signed a contract to start as a Milling Operator at Wilting.
Corné began his career at Wilting as a setter on a 5-axis machine. After nearly three years, he moved to the vertical machining department, where the work is more labor-intensive—something he was already used to from his previous job. Since last year, Corné has been working as a Manufacturing Engineer within the ACP factory. “In addition to my work as a milling operator, I act as a troubleshooter on the shop floor and as the first point of contact for the large 5-axis machines. When there are quality or programming issues, colleagues come to me first. I assess what’s needed and who should be involved to solve the problem. That’s what makes my job enjoyable—I like helping people, and I take pride in ensuring that the production process can continue without interruption,” says Corné. As an experienced professional, he is also one of the key people responsible for onboarding and guiding new colleagues.
With the opening of the new facility in Veldhoven, the factory in Wintelre has also been modernized. Corné deliberately chose to continue working in the ACP factory. The reason lies in the family-like atmosphere in Wintelre and the enthusiasm of the management team. “That small-scale, close-knit feeling we had 10 years ago is still here, and I really appreciate that.” Corné feels right at home as a Manufacturing Engineer in the ACP factory in Wintelre. Although he once considered retraining as a paramedic, he is now able to pursue that ambition on a smaller scale within Wilting as a company emergency response officer (BHV). We hope this means he will remain part of the metalworking industry for many years to come.