Daniel, battery development expert in Vilsbiburg, Germany, has been working at DRÄXLMAIER since 2012
The musical all-rounder
How do new battery projects begin at DRÄXLMAIER? When it comes to the development of battery systems, Daniel is responsible for all acquisition projects. During the acquisition phase, he’s the central contact person on the development side.
“When customers ask for new products, I work with the relevant departments to create a concept that all departments can use as the basis for calculating costs. Once a quotation has been submitted, we present our battery concept to the customer," explains Daniel. If DRÄXLMAIER receives the order, Daniel hands the project over to the development project team for further implementation – which consists of design, simulation, process development, prototyping, testing and other development areas.
Continuous learning is part of the job, according to Daniel: "Since it’s my responsibility to oversee all acquisitions in the battery systems segment and to keep an overview of current projects, I’m also always on the lookout for optimization potential so I can implement it in future acquisitions.”
From cooking to logistics to electrical engineering
Logistics experience came unexpectedly to Daniel: “The first interview I had with my supervisor at the time went very well. Our background is similar – an apprenticeship in gastronomy followed by technical studies,” says the trained chef. “Even though I had no experience in supply chain management, she trusted me – and she was right!”
Cooking has remained one of Daniel’s favorite activities. He sometimes cooks a 30-course menu with a chef friend for his restaurant’s anniversary. “I've turned my job into a hobby,” he says with a smile. He learned a great deal as a chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Munich: “I can definitely handle stress and prioritize tasks. That's essential when the dishes have to be served table by table and on time. But in the end, I decided to study electrical engineering – and that enabled me to pursue my current career in electromobility!”
A fascination with e-mobility
“DRÄXLMAIER has been involved in e-mobility from the very beginning and is ensuring the growth and increased success of the battery segment. This holds great opportunities for the future, and I’m looking forward to help shape them.” Daniel appreciates the young, dynamic feel of the battery segment and finds it motivates him to personally contribute his own ideas. DRÄXLMAIER combines the advantages of an established company with the innovative power of a start-up.
For Daniel, direct customer contact and working on new concepts are the highlights of his job: “The field of electromobility is still relatively new, even for manufacturers, and it’s fun to exchange ideas about it – especially in the development phase of battery systems. We’re our customers’ partners!"
Daniel truly enjoys having such a broad network within the company. He knows all the processes and how the different functions work together – and the experience he gained in his previous role as logistics project manager at DRÄXLMAIER also serves him: "When you travel to plants all over the world, you see how projects are implemented in practice, from logistics to production, and you get a holistic picture.”
Finding balance through music
Daniel has found an important way to balance the pressures of his professional challenge: a wide range of music: “I’m also a member of the ‘Businenbläser,’ a musical group of the Landshuter Hochzeit."
But it’s not only medieval music that Daniel loves – he’s also a member of a ska and punk rock band and plays the trumpet and trombone on stage several times a year. “Being part of that is everything to me. It’s so much fun to inspire the audience and perform as a team. One special experience was playing at a festival during summer, where people kept on partying despite the pouring rain, and more and more people joined in. That’s why I make music!”
