Technical expert with depth: A visit to Malte in sonar production

Malte's career path is an example of the perfect synergy between practice and theory. After training as an industrial mechanic, he completed a degree in mechanical engineering. This combination enables him to master the technical challenges of his job and at the same time use his knowledge from both worlds to constantly optimize the processes in sonar production.

These crucial and innovative technologies are developed and constantly improved at the ATLAS ELEKTRONIK sonar center. After all, sonar solutions are the heart of the company, as without them the efficient location, identification, classification and display of underwater objects would not be possible.

Deep-sea technology meets team spirit: Working in sonar production

Although Malte works with pioneering technologies, his day starts with greeting his colleagues. Sharing ideas with his colleagues is particularly important to Malte, and not just because of the various topics relating to general issues. "I have found that bringing together different skills and encouraging and challenging employees is a very exciting and fulfilling task for me," says Malte. "The special thing about it is seeing and working out skills in people that they would have hardly or not at all noticed themselves."

After the initial exchange, things become more complex. The work in production is very technical, which has always appealed to Malte. "My working day usually starts with a tour of my departments and the recording of acute malfunctions," he explains. "This is often followed by meetings regarding the order and deadline situation, but organizational and strategic issues are also discussed and determined."

"I was particularly impressed by the high level of vertical integration at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK and the enormous potential of the products," says Malte, explaining his decision to join the company.

However, this also means that a lot of work awaits Malte and his team. "We are currently working around 60,000 hours per year, and the number is increasing all the time," says Malte. This can also be seen from the size of the department. There are currently over 50 employees, including two managers, working in sonar production. And the team continues to grow.

Product diversity in sonar production

The quality requirements for the sonar devices are enormous; after all, they have to function reliably even under extreme conditions. "It's difficult to quantify exactly how many quality checks we carry out," explains Malte. "But one thing is certain: every detail is checked before a device leaves our halls." The number of process steps and employees per product is just as difficult to quantify across the board. "Our portfolio is as diverse as the areas of application," says Malte. "Some devices are manufactured by a single person, others require the expertise of the entire team."

Even though there is a wide range of different products in sonar engineering, there are always special projects. Malte and his team are currently working on one of these: the production of a 50-meter-long item is being bundled in one location. "A logistical challenge," says Malte. "But it also shows how flexibly and innovatively we work in production." After all, such dimensions also pose major challenges for Malte and his team. The product that ultimately leaves this workshop is over 50 meters long in its subsections and therefore needs a very special environment, for example long and wide rooms.

Another important task for Malte is to make work in sonar production as safe as possible. "It's not about my work itself posing a safety risk," he explains. "Rather, I am responsible for ensuring that the production processes run safely and that the employees are protected in the best possible way." To this end, he works closely with the Occupational Safety & Health Department. "Together, we draw up risk assessments, analyze potential risks and develop appropriate protective measures," says Malte. The aim is to continuously make workplaces and workshops safer.

What will tomorrow's sonar production look like?

Like many other professional fields, sonar production must constantly optimize its processes and workflows and adapt to the times. "The future of sonar production is closely linked to advancing automation and the use of artificial intelligence," Malte is certain. "I see great potential in the optimization of work processes in particular." Nevertheless, Malte is convinced that the human factor will remain crucial in the future. "Direct employee management, motivating and promoting talent – none of this can be replaced by algorithms."

However, in order to remain competitive in the future, modern working time models are also required that enable a better work-life balance. "This is the only way we will be able to attract highly qualified employees for the challenging tasks in sonar production in the long term," says Malte.

Shaping the future of sonar production

Even though every day is a new challenge for Malte and the number of projects and products is constantly growing, this is also what Malte particularly enjoys.

Although the work is very technical, that's not all that qualifies you to work in sonar production. "The ability to put yourself in the shoes of the employees and to perceive what is not said is just as important as sound specialist knowledge," Malte sums it up. He therefore advises young people interested in a career in his field: "Show that you're interested in technology, ask questions and lend a hand!" After all, it's not just the finished product that counts in sonar production, but also the team spirit that enables the various projects to be completed successfully.