What's the link between changing the world and working at Alfa Laval? Let's find out!

Today we meet our Development Engineer Benjamin Kabil, who works with designing solutions that will enable clean energy.

Tell us about your passions and how you have ended up at Alfa Laval?

From a young age, I have had a fascination with technology and its ability to shape our world. This interest led me to pursue a career in engineering, where I am currently working to develop innovative products and solutions within the heat exchangers field. Besides my interest in technology, I am also very interested in sports and take great pleasure in watching football games with my friends.

What is your role at Alfa Laval?

As a trainee in Alfa Laval's R&D department, my primary role is a development engineer designing plates for heat exchangers. However, I also have the opportunity to rotate between various sub-departments, including existing product development (EPD), new product development (NPD), and mechanical technology. These rotations make it possible for me to gain valuable exposure and experience in different areas of Alfa Laval's R&D operations, broadening my knowledge and skills.

Can you tell us about your educational background? 

Considering my early interest in technology and transportation vehicles, the choice of higher education was simple. Upon graduating from high school, I chose to read mechanical engineering at Lund University (LTH). During my time there, I discovered an interest in calculations and simulations, which lead me to specialize in Computational Mechanics.

What is it like to work at Alfa Laval?

Every day at Alfa Laval is different from the last. As an employee, you are constantly faced with new challenges that often require cross-departmental teamwork to overcome. The drive to conquer these challenges is fuelled by the company's overarching purpose: to ensure a more sustainable future.

What does your team look like?

Since I am a trainee in the R&D department, I rotate between various teams within the department. Generally, the teams I work with are frame designers, plate designers, and specialists in different fields.

What's the biggest challenge for your team?

The products that we work with are extremely complex, so making informed decisions about them requires a deep understanding across various fields. Therefore, one of the major challenges that our team encounters is acquiring the vast amount of knowledge necessary to solve the problems that we face. We always strive to develop ourselves in our work, and we believe that there is always more to learn. We never consider ourselves fully learned.

We always strive to develop ourselves in our work, and we believe that there is always more to learn. We never consider ourselves fully learned.

Can you give us an example of the kind of problems you solve in your work?

The work that I do varies from day to day. I am confronted with a wide range of problems that require different types of solutions. Some example would be: finding new ways to improve our existing product range, developing entirely new products, and refining our calculation methods.

Why did you choose to join Alfa Laval?

My journey with Alfa Laval started when I was a student in the student talent program. This gave me the opportunity to work on real projects and expand my knowledge about the company. Throughout this period, I discovered a striking similarity between my personal values and those of Alfa Laval, particularly in the areas of sustainability, innovation, and teamwork.

One of the things that I appreciate most about Alfa Laval, is the team-oriented culture and the helpful colleagues that I have had the pleasure of working with. Everyone is dedicated to helping each other succeed, always willing to lend a hand, and ready to offer advice when needed. The work environment is both challenging and supportive, which is an ideal combination for both personal and professional growth.

Overall, I chose to join Alfa Laval because I believe that it is a company that shares my values, offers a challenging and supportive work environment, and provides ample opportunities for growth and development.