"Every day brings new challenges": An interview with R. Bozdoc, Thermal Plant Leader, Holzindustrie Schweighofer Reci
26-year old Răzvan Bozdoc has been working in the Holzindustrie Schweighofer Reci sawmill since 2014, while it was still being built. He has a degree from the Systems Engineering and Renewable Energies Faculty, “Transilvania” University in Brasov, and was hired engineer for the co-generation plant straight after graduation. Now, after more than three years, he is Thermal Plant Leader.
You came here as a fresh graduate. What did you find at your first workplace?
There’s a huge difference between theory and practice. Here I need a lot more Physics than I studied at the University. When it comes to the technology, though, the faculty where I studied was up to date – at least on the electrical side of things.
When I came to the Holzindustrie Schweighofer sawmill in Rădăuți, for the induction training, it all seemed overwhelming. But the colleagues there were very kind and helped a lot. An entire week I read only the boiler manuals, in order to get used to the terminology and to understand how it operates. On the thermal side, the technology in our mills is much more advanced compared to what I had previously seen.
After the Rădăuți experience I took part in building up the Reci boiler, in close cooperation with the producers. We overcame many issues until it was started up, so it was a wonderful learning experience. When we first powered it up, we used to measure things every minute in order to achieve optimal functioning.
Can you give us more details about your daily work?
Firstly, it is my task to monitor the amount of materials entering the bunkers [Editor’s note: special storage for biomass, ensuring the necessary temperature and humidity conditions for optimal burning.] I always do the efficiency analysis of the previous day. I must monitor how much energy is generated from the materials we feed the boiler yesterday, how many megawatts. The consumption varies quite a lot. For instance, during the winter we go „harder”, the needs are bigger.
How was your career with Holzindustrie Schweighofer so far?
I came in the company in the summer of 2014, when the Reci sawmill hadn’t been finalized, almost nothing was ready. First I stayed in Rădăuți for two months, preparing as well as I could – but today I would say that preparations for operating our boilers takes at least one year and a half.
After I returned to Reci, in November was the first power-up of the small boiler. I helped building it and also took several more trainings, in order to learn more and more. In December 2014, the team was formed, seven people strong, and we started working shifts. Of course I was fortunate enough to spend the New Year’s here! [He laughs.]
New tests followed, then we looked for various technical solutions, acquiring spare parts, and by the end of August 2015 the big boiler started up again. After a while I took over the biomass inventory as well. Now I am the Thermal Plant Leader, I supervise the work of all my colleagues. Sometimes I cannot tell that three years have already passed. I’ve learned a lot on the fly, one must learn quickly in this job. Every day brings new challenges.
How do you feel working at Holzindustrie Schweighofer? Was it worth it, taking a job here?
I am the only one of my class who managed to get a job in the renewable energies field, straight after graduation. For that I feel very lucky. During my University years I may not have been the brightest, but I had an opportunity and I came here.
I earn a very good pay and I’m doing something I’ve really prepared for. Compared to other thermal plants I’ve seen, the working conditions are excellent. We have pretty much everything here. I am quite happy.
How is your workplace perceived? What do friends and family say?
I don’t really follow on all media reports, but I know some of the things that were said about our company. But this is how I see it: beyond the jobs created in areas like Reci, Holzindustrie Schweighofer is very involved in the community. The amount of support is obvious and palpable, in the schools, the hospitals, the trees that were planted and will be planted again this year. Also, I am a renewable energies specialist, and I am glad to work in a company that generates and uses green energy, that uses practically 100% of its raw materials. These are the things that really matter.
