In the last few weeks our Workshop team have been rushed off their feet fulfilling orders to the UK market. Robin Delaney our Production & Workshop Manager has brought some of our field engineers and technical specialists back together to help with the workload. It just so happens that these particular staff had all been mentored by Robin in their very first days at Duplo.
Over the last few days, the old team members have taken some time away from their normal duties and gone back to their roots and reunited with Robin to offer an extra hand on Duplo’s Pre-Delivery Inspections (PDI) and the refurbishment of some trade-in products.
Firstly, our Technical Specialists, Tom and Ryan.
Technical Specialist Tom Mist joined Duplo 14 years ago; “Back then I remember my training with Robin. He drummed into us the need to be meticulous when refurbishing machines, no detail was too small. I now support our Field Engineers and help resolve issues with customer machines. My specialism is in our Bookletmaker range for which I make sure the field service engineers and various distributors and dealers throughout EMER have the correct technical training to support their end-users.
My most memorable times at Duplo have always been the exhibitions and visiting customer sites both in the UK and across the rest of the EMEI Region, developing and improving machines to suit the customer's exacting needs, to keep the customers happy with their equipment.”
Photo: Tom(left) receiving certificate from Robin
Ryan’s journey with Duplo began in 2011, aged just 17, when he came to Duplo for a few weeks work experience, attracted to the job as he enjoyed the hands-on work, and dealing with so many different machines each day, but stayed because of the knowledge and collaboration from the people at Duplo.
Over 10 years later, he has come from apprentice to production engineer, production team leader, field service engineer, then in 2018 joined the technical team.
“I was with Robin for around 5 and a half years. As an apprentice he worked with me to develop my knowledge in all equipment Duplo supplies. He was always very approachable, and it was a good atmosphere to work in.”
Field engineers, Matt and Ross.
Ross Nichols also started his Duplo journey as one of our apprentices – Assembly Technician. Once completed Ross moved into the role of Field Service Engineer for the next five years.
“I left Duplo to go travelling around the world for four years but returned in the summer of 2021 and took up my old roll again. I’ve seen first-hand how different the machines and the importance both automation and software have become to the customers. I like that every day is different from the last, each customer means a new set of problems for me to find solutions for, it is engaging work.”
When asked about his time with Robin, Ross went on to say, “Robin was always so supportive and helpful, he never made me feel like I was asking too many questions, no matter how mundane. It’s always a pleasure to come back to the workshop and refresh my skills and work with him again.”
The Duplo warehouse – Left to right; Tom Mist, Ross Nichols, Robin Delaney, Matt Cuttler, and Ryan Levitt.
Matt shared, “I joined Duplo as a trainee in the workshop 8 years ago. I spent three years in that position and then my apprenticeship finished I became fully qualified and remained in the workshop for another year before graduating onto becoming a full field service engineer and have been doing that ever since.
I love how the progression from first joining Duplo to now has been. With Robin’s help I started on fixing the older stapling machines, comb binders and laminators, and now I can instal, demonstrate and repair all our Duplo machines. I also do the customer training on the PFi Blade range of digital cutters. Robin was instrumental in teaching me how to strip down and rebuild all the kit, he was helpful, diligent and I enjoyed my time with him immensely.”
People are at the very centre of Duplo International, without relationships and supporting one another Duplo would not be successful, this couldn’t be better represented in this story.
Duplo has and will always put a lot of emphasis on training and development of its employees, we want to give staff opportunities through a clear path of progression - we love to see the confidence and job satisfaction this creates, but especially love seeing our people’s talents and loyalty to one another grow.
