ANDREAS FALLERT

Fighting fires in mechanical engineering

"Big company, great reputation – you should definitely apply there." That was the advice Andreas received from his father in 2007, and he has never forgotten it. Fresh out of high school at 19, he was looking for the right employer, preferably one that offered a dual-study programme combining hands-on training with academic study. MEIKO turned out to be the perfect match, and he embarked on his mechanical engineering programme with us that same year. Read on to learn more about Andreas‘ career at MEIKO.

FROM DUAL-STUDY STUDENT TO INSTRUCTOR FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS

That's where Andreas's career has taken him so far. Almost two decades after joining MEIKO, this seasoned development engineer currently performs two roles: Designing and developing small and medium-sized warewashing machines, and supporting our DHBW students on their dual-study programmes in mechanical engineering. His many years of experience as the head of the Kappelrodeck youth fire brigade have proved to be particularly useful in this second role.

WHAT ARE YOUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT MEIKO?

Andreas: “After completing my degree, I continued to work in design and development. Today, my work still revolves around the kind of dishwashers you find in bars, restaurants and small hotels. You’ll usually find me in the development lab, designing new products or refining processes. I also lead innovative 3D printing projects in my department and mentor our mechanical engineering students on the DHBW dual-study programme.”

WHAT MAKES THIS COMPANY SO SPECIAL IN YOUR EYES?

Andreas: “Because MEIKO is owned by a foundation, we can pivot faster to market changes than publicly traded firms. We're also free to explore unconventional solutions – something that would be impossible at purely profit-driven corporations working under heavy shareholder pressure. For a company this size, the creative freedom we have is pretty extraordinary.”

100&NBSP;PERCENT COMMITTED TO MEIKO

Even with market competition and budget constraints, our R&D team stays focused on improving product functionality and quality. The goal is to create products that work perfectly – tailored solutions that customers are genuinely happy with.

DOES MEIKO'S PREMIUM REPUTATION AFFECT HOW YOU WORK?

Andreas: "Absolutely. Whenever we’re faced with the question of how to design and engineer a new product, we always assume that it should be designed to last a decade or more. That’s the baseline expectation, which is why product function plays such a key role in driving development. This approach works brilliantly, because we bring every area of the Offenburg site into the equation: from R&D and manufacturing to service and installation. We strive to make communication quick and easy."

WHAT'S THE MOST EXCITING PROJECT YOU'VE WORKED ON?

Andreas: "That’s an easy one! My most exciting project at MEIKO so far was the ComfortAir exhaust air heat recovery system for our premium M-iClean undercounter dishwashers. Since 2019, this innovation has helped our customers slash operating costs and minimise steam emissions. I’m still hugely proud of what we achieved."

AGED 13, HE JOINED THE YOUTH FIRE BRIGADE...

Andreas loves volunteering. He signed up for the youth fire brigade in his hometown of Kappelrodeck at the age of 13 and is still actively involved today. After leading the fire brigade for many years, he now serves as secretary, managing operational and personnel data and handling communications-related tasks.

HOW DO YOU UNWIND FROM WORK?

Andreas: "In addition to my work with the fire service, camping is another big passion of mine. I love going to Scandinavia – especially for longer holidays – and Norway and Sweden are two of my favourite countries. That’s the best place to go for a summer holiday because the temperatures mostly stay below 20 degrees Celsius, which is exactly how I like it. But wherever I end up, a mountain bike and hiking boots are an essential part of my kit – that's the result of growing up in the Black Forest!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS?

Andreas: "I don’t really have a one-size-fits-all tip. Personally, when recruiting mechanical engineering students, I place a pretty big emphasis on social engagement, whether that's participating in some kind of association or volunteering in any other way. Technical skills are obviously important to work at MEIKO, but the ability to work in a team makes you the perfect fit.”

CAREER TO DATE

2007-2009

Dual-study programme with MEIKO in mechanical engineering

Since 2009

Development engineer specialising in dishwashers

Since 2022

Trainer on the mechanical engineering dual-study programme at MEIKO

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