Sven

Sven’s family have a long history at Glencore’s Nordenham Smelter, in northwestern Germany. The site is one of the oldest industrial companies in the region and has been producing lead and zinc for over 100 years. 

Sven’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather worked at Nordenham, and his daughter has just started her career there too.  

“I like the people, the togetherness and everything we have here,” Sven explains. “I am proud to live in Nordenham, to work in Nordenham and that I’m following in my family’s footsteps.”

Sven’s time at Nordenham began as an industrial fitter just after he graduated from school. Today he is the operations manager for Nordenham’s zinc smelter, overseeing the plant’s day to day operations, analysing production figures and working with the team to try to solve any problems that may arise. 

The site can produce over 170,000 tons of zinc each year. Zinc is often used to produce stainless steel due to its anticorrosive properties and can be used widely in the automotive industry, as well as in food supplements, cosmetics and energy storage systems. 

“It is an important element that many people use daily in many variations but don’t ever think about,” Sven reflects. “Zinc is also a valuable metal for the energy transition.”

Sven takes pride in supporting his colleagues. He thinks carefully about how to integrate new team members and welcome them to Nordenham. 

“Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, regardless of whether they are a frontline worker or a head of department. It’s these differences that encourage us to inspire and support one another,” he says.