When Franziska “Franzi” Kyak talks about her day-to-day work, it quickly becomes clear that she loves what she does. Yet a few years ago, she never would have imagined that she’d end up working as a machine and equipment operator in BEWITAL’s production department.
Before retraining, the 45-year-old worked in the textile retail industry. Afterward, she decided to start over from scratch. “Starting something new at 39 was a big step at first,” she says. She began by completing an internship in painting and finishing. “But when I was standing on a ladder against a house wall one day, I realized: heights and I aren’t going to be friends anymore.” A teacher at the vocational school eventually gave her a new idea: a job involving machines and technology.
After completing her retraining five years ago, her path led her straight to BEWITAL—and it was a perfect fit for her right away. Today, Franzi works as a machine and plant operator in pet food production. There, she and her team manufacture high-quality products and ensure that recipes, processes, and quality standards are met. “Basically, it’s like cooking on a large scale,” she says with a laugh. “We work according to fixed recipe specifications—which types of meat, which vegetables, what quantities. You have to keep track of everything.”
Her daily work includes, for example, assembling the machines at the start of each shift—typically at the beginning of the week—preparing for production, and monitoring the processes. Modern equipment handles the physically demanding tasks. “For us, it’s all about technical understanding, organization, and teamwork,” she explains. Collaboration with the electricians, machinists, and the entire production team is also particularly important. “When everyone knows what to do and every step is executed perfectly, everything runs smoothly. And that’s exactly our goal.”
Franzi is unfazed by the fact that she works as a woman in a predominantly male-dominated industry. “Of course, sometimes you have to be able to stand your ground. But in the end, what matters to us is that you do your job well.”
For years, BEWITAL has been consistently investing in modern technology and in the professional development of its employees. With the construction of the new Plant 6, a state-of-the-art production facility is currently being built at the Südlohn-Oeding site—creating many new opportunities for skilled workers. Among other positions, the company is seeking additional machine and plant operators.
For Franzi, it’s clear why she chose BEWITAL back then: “The team, the camaraderie, and the opportunities for growth—it’s just a perfect fit. Even as the company grows, people still care about one another. I would recommend BEWITAL as an employer any day.”