Johannes Hötzl

When and how did you join Rädlinger Primus Line? What made you decide to join the company back then – and what keeps you here to this day?

In September 2005, I came across a job advert for Rädlinger (mechanical engineering) in a regional newspaper. They were looking for an executive assistant for Werner Rädlinger and Helmut Marchl.

As someone from Lower Bavaria, in the Straubing-Bogen district, I felt I had never actually been to Cham before. That made my first visit all the more exciting. The interview with Helmut Marchl was very open and friendly right from the start. Above all, it was the variety of the role and the opportunity to work closely with the management that won me over. And so I started at Rädlinger on 16 January 2006.

Admittedly, the salary back then was anything but generous ;-). But I was young, curious and wanted to seize the opportunity to take on responsibility and develop my skills. Looking back, it was exactly the right decision. 

From 2007, Werner and Helmut transferred me from mechanical engineering to Rädlinger Primus Line. A staff departure had left a gap in the commercial and operational departments of the young company. I still remember Werner’s words clearly: “You are taking that on now.” There was not much room for discussion – but in a way, that was exactly in keeping with the times. Decisions were made quickly, responsibility was handed over, and you simply had to get on with the job.

For me, this marked the start of a new chapter – with significantly more responsibility and an even broader range of tasks.

Which moments or projects do you particularly enjoy looking back on?

There are a few projects and milestones that I particularly enjoy looking back on.

One highlight was the introduction of electronic time recording for production in mechanical engineering and at Primus Line – together with my colleague Martin Baudrexl. That was an exciting project in which we were able to modernise and make lasting improvements to many processes.

Another defining period was the construction of our new Primus Line production facility in Weiding in 2008–2009. It was impressive to witness the development of a new production site from the very beginning.

The In-Field liner development project in Malaysia, which began in 2011, was also particularly exciting. The international collaboration and the technical challenges made this project an extraordinary experience.

Last but not least, I remember the restructuring that took place following the separation from the Josef Rädlinger Group and the associated move to our new office building. This period brought many changes, but at the same time offered the opportunity to reposition Rädlinger Primus Line and lay the foundations for the company’s continued successful development.
 

In your view, what has changed the most – in technical, organisational and/or on a personal level?

Looking back over the past few years, Rädlinger Primus Line has developed enormously in almost every respect.

When I started, we were – despite being part of the Rädlinger Group – essentially a genuine start-up. Much of what we did was pragmatic and was tackled with great dedication. Delivery notes and invoices were still created in Word, many processes were manual, and every new export market meant pioneering work. Each country had its own regulations and requirements, which we had to work through step by step.

Today, Rädlinger Primus Line is an internationally established company with projects across all five continents. We carry out challenging offshore projects in the USA as a main contractor and have built up an excellent reputation worldwide. At the same time, our workforce has become significantly more international and diverse. These different perspectives and cultures enrich our day-to-day work and impressively demonstrate just how much the company has developed – professionally, organisationally and also on a human level.

Which developments in your field were real milestones for you?

The real milestones in my field were, above all, the steps that have made Rädlinger Primus Line more international, professional and digital.

A key development was the establishment of our overseas branches in Australia, the USA and Canada. This not only enabled us to expand into new markets and to take our organisation to a new level. Suddenly, it was no longer just about exporting from Germany, but about establishing our own structures, meeting local requirements and engaging in international collaboration as part of our day-to-day business.

Another major milestone was the introduction of our ERP system. This made many processes significantly more transparent, structured and efficient. For my department, this was an important step away from numerous manual, ad-hoc solutions towards professional, integrated processes.

The ongoing digitalisation of international business has also been, and continues to be, particularly influential. 

Which skills or values from your early days are still important today, and why?

Teamwork and trust, because good collaboration is the foundation for success and a positive working atmosphere.

Openness to new ideas, because change and new challenges are part of everyday working life.

Quality, because good work builds trust in the long term and contributes to shared success.

You are now an expert in your field. What does experience mean to you in your day-to-day work?

For me, experience means being able to assess challenges more effectively and find solutions more quickly. Through many years in the profession, you learn to stay calm even in difficult situations and to act confidently, drawing on both knowledge and practical experience. At the same time, experience also means passing on knowledge and supporting younger colleagues.

When you think about the future development of the company and/or the product, what are you particularly looking forward to?

New products and an expansion of production in Chammünster.

And to making processes even more efficient and working together to develop new solutions for customers.