Trinseo has plenty of challenges for engineers over the coming decades Engineering sustainability

For chemical engineers and other technical specialists, Trinseo offers a very varied work environment and excellent career opportunities. Trinseo produces semi-finished plastics, latex and rubber products and is active in 27 countries. It is an evergrowing, future-focused multinational. And a great company to work for, say Sjarco van den Bergen and Dimitrij Teodorovic.

Trinseo originated when four divisions of Dow Chemical were divested. The company has been growing steadily since 2010 in terms of both the size of its workforce and its market value. Trinseo develops countless new high-quality end products and semi-finished products in line with customers’ ever-increasing demands. As a chemical company, Trinseo is seeking various engineers.

Sustainability

Sjarco van den Bergen (29) studied chemical engineering (molecular systems and materials chemistry) in Eindhoven. He stayed on after doing his internship in Trinseo’s R&D department and started in the role of process automation engineer in April 2018. He soon progressed to become project leader and subsequently process automation leader – his current role – in which he is not only responsible for the projects, but also for the employees working within them. “I now have a team of nine people, spread throughout Europe, who report to me, so besides still working a lot with tech I’m also involved in the human aspect. I really like that about my job.”

Sjarco has been at Trinseo for almost five years now, so he has got to know the company well. “Trinseo isn’t overly big. You know everyone you need to know and those who you work with, and you have daily contact with a lot of them. But at the same time it’s an international company, so you work with people from all over the world. Besides that, Trinseo is a company that’s going full steam ahead. We have a strong focus on sustainability and we invest in other companies that can help us on our sustainability journey. Plus I still regard it as a really good company to work for. You soon feel at home here.”

Opportunities

“Personally, I can look back on quite a steep development curve over the past few years. I’m happy that Trinseo offers me so many opportunities, and the same goes for all the other young engineers that join the company – they receive lots of opportunities too. Because it’s a slightly smaller company, you’re more visible. For example, I have good contact with my direct boss and with the members of the management team, who will stop to chat with you whenever your paths cross.”

“Your personal development is important here. ‘I’ve learnt a huge amount from colleagues, some of whom have been in the business for over 30 years. Additionally, HR offers a wide range of training courses that can support your development.”

So can Trinseo offer enough challenges to keep Sjarco happy for the coming years?

“Definitely! We’re working in polymer chemistry and we’re doing a lot in terms of sustainability solutions and product circularity. These are key topics in all areas of industry right now, and I only expect Trinseo to become even more dynamic in the future. Thanks to our international environment, made up of multiple different cultures, you receive interesting new insights as an employee. Meanwhile, the size of the company helps you to settle in quickly, so I can recommend Trinseo to everyone.”

Good feeling

Dimitrij Teodorovic (35) grew up in Michigan, USA. After finishing high school, Dimitrij studied chemical engineering at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. In 2013 he was offered an opportunity to do a PDEng in Process & Product Design at TU Eindhoven. Dimitrij heard about Trinseo from the TU/e job fair and other colleagues working there. “I had a good feeling about the company when I applied for a job. It felt much better than interviews I’d had before. At Trinseo it was more a conversation, an open dialogue, on an equal footing and with relaxed, friendly people.

That’s why I continued to pursue the opportunity at Trinseo.”

Fast-paced

Dimitrij has now been working in Terneuzen for four years as a Production Engineer. What impression has he gained of Trinseo during these years? “Trinseo is a fast-paced company, with multiple businesses. A new operating system has come into the production plants, new platforms have been installed for services; our customers’ requirements are constantly changing, and we offer solutions for so many different needs. It’s also a global company. For example, the Latex Binders business alone has nine factories around the world and we have four or five such business units. We work for the automotive industry, for the medical sector, for car batteries, etc., and we offer many sustainable solutions.”

“The work itself is also fast-paced. There are constantly new challenges, we are open to new ideas, and they are quickly picked up and used. It’s a dynamic company, with multidisciplinary teams and a global position. There was a six-month onboarding programme, which I appreciated very much. Conditions are more than fair, and the housing situation here is far better than in Eindhoven currently. Trinseo is a place you can work for many years.”

Trinseo is a manufacturer of semifinished plastics, latex and rubber products. It has 26 manufacturing sites globally and 11 research laboratories. Trinseo employs around 460 people at its site in Terneuzen. In June 2010, Dow Chemical divested four divisions worldwide which then continued as an independent company called Styron. The company went public in June 2014 and changed its name to Trinseo in February 2015.

Trinseo Netherlands B.V.

Innovatieweg 14

4542 NH Hoek (Terneuzen)

For details of all the opportunities, contact our Recruitment department: Sherief Tawfik

+31 (0)115 – 238 000 stawfik@trinseo.com

Made up of more than 100 different companies, family-owned company VDL Groep offers career opportunities in almost every technological direction. Engineers can carve out their own path, not only within each individual VDL company but also by moving between the various companies in the group, such as in high-tech at VDL ETG or in (e)mobility solutions at VDL ETS.