To celebrate the 44th anniversary of Knauf Insulation Novi Marof, we are thrilled to share an interview with one of our most dedicated employees, Marijan Kišak. Marijan has been a valuable member of our team for almost 39 years, witnessing the evolution and expansion of our company over nearly 4 decades. Throughout his time here, his hard work, knowledge, and unwavering commitment have made Marijan an invaluable part of our history and a true inspiration to us all. In this interview, he will share his memories, insights, and reflections on the past, the challenges we face today, and our future endeavors.

Marijan, 39 years as an employee of Knauf Insulation do you remember your beginnings? What did your path look like?
Time flies and in a few days, I will be 39 years in Knauf. When I first started working, I worked as a material accountant. I was helped by my now-deceased colleague, Nedjeljka Bagadur. Everything was done manually, on cards, and everything was sent to Ljubljana. We had an annual production of around 16,000 tons of stone mineral wool and we managed to do it manually, but as production increased, after about 8 years, we got the first computer system that helped us a lot. Today, when our annual production is over 50,000 tons, manual entry would be impossible.
After material accounting, I moved on to preparing invoices for export because we were more oriented towards export than domestic distribution. I also did this for about 7-8 years. When the company structure changed, with the arrival of director Mr. Zagorec, I accepted the position of warehouse manager. This was a challenging job because the warehouse is very large with a lot of goods and new products. I worked in that position for 14 years, and then there was another change. For the past five years, I have been working as a shipping coordinator.

Really impressive career! What motivated you to stay at Knauf Insulation for so long?
I am a very organized person, so I am fulfilled by a job where I can see what I have done on a daily basis - how many trucks are shipped, how much goods entered the warehouse, and how much went out. We constantly need to count and compare states and the like, every day we have between 40 and 50 truck shipments and we work in 2 shifts. It's a challenging job, but I've never thought about looking for another job. Besides being close to home, it fulfills me, and there is also good pay and a whole range of additional benefits that this company offers.

Which moments would you highlight as turning points in your career at Knauf? For example, you mentioned continuous technological development, changes in company ownership, and the like.

There is a big difference from 39 years ago to now because we have also developed together with technology. As I said, in the beginning, we produced 16,000-17,000 tons per year, and as production grew, more was invested in technology to make our jobs easier.
Now for several years, we have been producing according to Ecose technology, so our products are natural and we are ahead of the competition, which is a big plus for us. We export a lot of products, so we have adapted our insulation solutions to foreign customers. Still, domestic customers are also an important part of us, to meet the ever-increasing demand for insulation in our homes, businesses, and industrial facilities. In addition, a major milestone is the construction of a production line that will reduce emissions by 80% with new technology, which will further position our company as a leader in the market.

If you look back and try to remember all those years at Knauf, can you highlight some interesting facts and anecdotes that are particularly etched in your memory? 

There were so many interesting situations during these 39 years. It would be unfair to highlight just one because each of them had its own special impact on my life. Every year brought something new and unique, all of which together created a rich experience.

Knauf Insulation is a company known for its continuous investment in business and employees. How satisfied are you with the company's support in professional development?
That's right, the company always invests in additional training and employment of new workers. In my workplaces, shipping, and warehouse, the most room for advancement was in technology and employee education, where Knauf Insulation invested in line with new trends and needs.

What are, in your opinion, the essential qualities of every employee to succeed in this industry? What does every employee have to be to be successful and have a good and long career like yours?

Every employee should accept the fact that work is not easy and needs to adapt to the organization of work. You need to be open to developing and improving your experience but also contribute with that experience to the entire company.

How do you see the future of Knauf Insulation, for example in the next 10 years?
I think the future of the company will be good, especially now with the new, technologically advanced and sustainable production line. For example, when I first started working, there were 22 employees and we shipped 20,000 tons per year, while today we have 10 employees in that place and we ship almost 60,000 tons. With the improvement of technology, production has been accelerated and optimized. The new line will greatly simplify and accelerate processes and work, which certainly gives a view of the bright future of Knauf Insulation.

What advice would you give to young colleagues so that they too can achieve an impressive career like yours?
I would advise them not to give up on the first obstacle because they will sometimes encounter them. You need to 'push' them because after the challenges it will be much easier and simpler. Of course, as with any job, there are harder and easier times.

And finally, how many years do you have left until retirement and do you even want to retire? 

I have two more years left until retirement, and if my health serves me, I would like to work longer because I love my job and I have a good time - the atmosphere is pleasant, my colleagues are my constant support, and the benefits are excellent. I recommend everyone to come to Knauf Insulation!