Steffen was born in Köngen, is a handball player through and through, married and father of two. After completing his training as an industrial mechanic at Heller and almost 20 years at Matec, where he started in fluid design and later on became the Technical Director, he turned the page in 2023 and started a new chapter: joining Zimmermann.
After almost two decades at Matec, Steffen knew one thing for sure: That he wanted to remain faithful to his passion for mechanical engineering. Zimmermann offered exactly what he was looking for: modern facilities, a contemporary workplace and machines built exclusively with high-end premium components. „That’s not the standard everywhere and it reflects the durability and precision of the machines. That’s exactly what makes technology fun,“ he notes.
At Zimmermann, he has taken on a new role: Project Manager in Service with a focus on retrofits. He oversees head replacements, control system updates, and retrofit projects such as adding probing systems. He supports these projects from start to finish, including continuous customer communication, initial offers all the way to final acceptance.
“This has been an entirely new world for me, but I’m learning something new every day.” His first major project was a challenging start: a retrofit at Kia in Slovakia, just two weeks after he started. The biggest challenge? English. “It takes some effort at times, but I’m facing it head-on and improving every day. The technology isn’t an issue – I’ve been doing that for years.”
He particularly appreciates that working in Service allows him to stay close to the technology and to see the results immediately: “When a machine has been modified and everything works perfectly afterward, it fills you with pride.” There’s also a strong sense of teamwork: “The colleagues are great, the environment is a good fit and I have a lot of freedom.” He already knows some of the team members from his past. “The industry is small – people know each other, and it’s nice to meet some familiar faces again who are now my colleagues.”
In his private life, Steffen finds balance through sports. The former handball player volunteers by managing the TSV Köngen, he also cycles, skis, or spends time on the water. His passion for the water comes from his father, who prefers spending his free time on a motorboat. “Even as children, we were always at the sea — in Croatia or Spain.” This summer, he earned his sailing license and is planning his first sailing trip in Croatia with his family. “When sailing, you have to be able to rely on your team — especially in rough seas. It’s just like at work: strong teamwork is the key to success.”