Name: Sezer Karaca
Activity: Production Manager
In the company since: 2015 (temporary worker); 2026 (production manager)

I do that at ZINQ Duisburg

I joined ZINQ in 2015 as a temporary worker. Before that, I had worked in steel and bridge construction (as a steel-reinforced concrete builder), but my employer went bankrupt and I looked for something new. So I ended up working mainly at ZINQ in Duisburg and for a few months at ZINQ in Essen as well.

I started as an assistant, after three or four weeks I was also at the stove. I stayed there for about 2.5 years and really mastered the art of fire-making. So much so that sometimes at night I could still see the black material in my sleep. Among the colleagues were many who had been there for a long time and I was the new guy; I worked my way up gradually. I asked a lot of questions, looked at many things and eventually I just wanted to understand everything that was happening there.

After the first few years, the then plant manager at ZINQ Duisburg came to me and offered me a second apprenticeship as a process mechanic for coating technology with a focus on flame spraying. I didn’t have to think long about it; I agreed and became an official ZINQ trainee starting September 1st, 2017.

During my apprenticeship, I went through many different areas, got to try a lot of things out, and realized how much actually goes into this profession. In June 2020, I graduated with a 1 as one of the best apprentices in NRW.

After that, I initially worked as a production worker at ZINQ before taking over the shift management in Duisburg in 2021, much faster than planned. The previous shift manager fell ill due to a stroke and I kind of jumped into the deep end. It quickly became clear: Leading means for me not giving instructions from above. You also have to get involved yourself. That’s how I still do it today; even as a production manager, you can often find me with an apprentice in the warehouse.

Since August 2026 I am now officially the Production Manager, but for me it didn’t happen overnight. I always wanted to go step by step, first by gaining experience as a shift supervisor, then taking the next step. That’s how it developed and that was exactly the right path for me.

Why the company is a good fit for me

I am someone who asks a lot of questions. This was already the case during my training and has remained the same to this day. I want to know why something is done a certain way and what lies behind it. And if I don’t understand something, I ask about it. At ZINQ, no one has ever taken it personally; I was allowed to ask questions, try things out, and get involved in many areas. In doing so, I realized that you are not held back if you want more. Equally important: my own pace in my development. I don’t like to jump from 0 to 100. When I moved into the shift management role, I had to get things started faster than planned, but I was never alone; I always had someone to help me.

Passing on experience

Today I am happy to share my experience. I am now an apprenticeship coordinator in Duisburg and teach the practical aspects of the job. I want to give our young talents as much as possible during the three years. They should take something away from every area. In the end, I want to have each of them polished into a little diamond—someone who can be used in every part of the factory.

During my apprenticeship at ZINQ, I experienced how much it takes to be entrusted with something. That gave me a lot of confidence at the time, and I want to pass that on now. Since I myself haven’t been out of apprenticeship yet for that long, I sometimes approach young colleagues differently than someone who has been with the company for 20 or 30 years.

Even as a production manager, I like to be involved in new projects myself. I still have a great passion for stamping, and it is important to me that, together with the team, we achieve the best possible result.

Trainer in production

I like to compare my current role to that of a coach. When talking to colleagues in production, I often say: „I am the coach; you are my players. I put you in the positions where I need you most, like a good five-man line-up.“

It’s about knowing each individual’s strengths and putting the team together so that we can achieve our goals together.

In addition, there are now more and more numbers and data. What is our daily goal? Where are we right now? What do we still need to accomplish? I also like this part of my work. It’s like a puzzle where all the pieces have to fit together in the end.

It is important to me that we not only look at the numbers, but also at how we achieve our goals together. After all, production only works if everyone contributes their share.