After leaving university nearly five years ago, Field Service Group team lead Natan Kramer joined Strohm as a mechanical test technician in 2019. Since then he has honed and developed his professional skills across the globe and quickly established himself as a key member of the team. With a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering, Natan brought a fresh outlook to Strohm from the outset, applying his academic background of automotive development to support our thermoplastic composite pipeline (TCP) technology.
“During my time at university I found myself increasingly interested in the development of composite materials and technologies that offer a better alternative to the other, more traditional materials used. These composites can be applied across multiple different industries, including the energy and aerospace sectors. That’s what brought me to Strohm.
“In my original job application, I went for the post of test engineer but ended up joining the company as mechanical test technician, where I supported the team with more hands-on support, testing short samples of pipeline to determine its capabilities. After developing and finding my feet in this role, the company as a whole was faced by a new challenge when the pandemic hit. During this time mental health was a real focus for the business and social distancing and hygiene were also taken extremely seriously to protect our team.”
It was also during this time that Natan took another step within the company, taking on the part time role of a field service engineer, as an additional responsibility to his day-to-day activities. In this role, he was part of the team responsible for onsite end fitting terminations and witnessing of the installation of the TCP. One year later, he moved from the testing department to become a composite engineer, where he started working on the design of TCP for multiple projects. One of these projects later required field service support, and Natan was part of the team that completed the first ever onsite termination of CF/PA12 high pressure TCP.
Upon completion of this project, Strohm launched its Field Service Group (FSG) and Natan was asked, not only to join on a full-time basis, but to be the team leader of the department. This has subsequently provided a host of further opportunities to visit different sites across the globe and support differing customers to deploy Strohm’s TCP technology. It also brought exposure to in-depth planning, accounting, mobilisation and personnel management needed for such a senior role.
“I’ve always had a passion for travelling to new places and experiencing different things. In my free time I’ve been lucky to get the chance to travel with my friends and family, including motorcycle trips across Europe, with highlights including the beautiful mountains of Germany.
“As part of the FSG, travel is also something that I am lucky to experience on a professional level, with myself and the team mobilising to project locations across the globe. Being a part of the group is a demanding job, but it’s really worthwhile to have that hands-on experience and help projects on the ground, alongside other FSG team members and colleagues from the client side.”
Strohm’s FSG is complemented by differing members from across the business, providing the opportunity for the team, at any level, to understand how Strohm’s pipeline technologies work in-field, and develop essential practical knowledge of TCP. Given the team is spread across the departments, it also encourages a unified feeling amongst the Strohm team, as Natan explains.
“By working alongside people you wouldn’t typically interact with on a daily basis, the FSG has really strengthened our sense of collaboration across the business. Working together to solve problems and help install pipelines over multiple weeks enables us to build and develop our bonds as a team. Once projects come to an end, this inevitably translates back to our normal roles. It’s one of the best team building exercises you can do!”
Now supporting the group as team lead of the FSG, Natan has made some valuable memories by visiting multiple different locations across the world.
“Some of my favourite memories during my time with Strohm so far have been related to field service, from my first trip offshore Angola, to the project in Guyana where I saw the project through from the initial calculations on design and manufacturing to installing the pipe, and to our recent projects that now are part of the FSG in India and Guyana.
“I have also had experience supporting our Jumper on Demand model, which enables us to provide bespoke lengths of pipe to our clients, as well as installing end fittings and witnessing installations. This is something we provide across offshore oil and gas and renewables projects.”
Strohm’s spotlight on sustainability is key for Natan, as he explains: “Working on projects that are focused on supporting renewable energy generation is a real ambition of mine and seeing Strohm embrace projects across this sector, including emerging industries like carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), is really appealing as a young person starting to build their career.
“It’s activities like this, along with the support that Strohm has provided to broaden my professional experiences, that have led me to stay with the company and build up my knowledge since graduating. I’m excited to see what my next steps are with the company, bringing our innovative and sustainable pipeline solution to the offshore energy sector around the world.”