Interview with Marcel Ferenz

Hello Marcel, please introduce yourself.

Marcel Ferenz: Very gladly, Hello! My name is Marcel Ferenz, and I am your contact for the centre of Germany. I have been part of GRESSEL AG since the 1st of January 2025 and am very pleased to be part of this company. Even though my affiliation is still relatively new, I am proud of my professional career to date.

I am 30 years old, happily married and the father of a wonderful 3-year-old son. In my free time, I like to spend time with my family or devote myself to my passion, ice hockey.

You have already mentioned your professional background, could you please go into more detail?

Marcel Ferenz: Of course, nice of you to ask. My professional career began with a successful apprenticeship as a tool mechanic, during which I acquired in-depth knowledge in the areas of milling, turning and drilling. After my training, I was able to gain two years of practical experience on the machine before taking the plunge into field service in 2017 – as an application engineer for a renowned machine manufacturer.

During this time, I had the opportunity to get to know many different customers and respond to their individual requirements. These experiences had a lasting impact on my professional career. After six exciting years, I then decided to start a new chapter as a production manager. I particularly enjoyed this challenge as I was able to utilise my enjoyment of working with people and my problem-solving skills.

After 1.5 years as a production manager, I was offered the opportunity to join Gressel. The decision to switch back to field service was not difficult for me and I am very happy to have taken this step.

Why and for what reasons did you decide to return to the sales force?

Marcel Ferenz: For me, it was particularly appealing to be directly with customers again. The personal contact with a wide variety of people and the diversity that each day brings make field sales so exciting for me. I really enjoy helping customers with my knowledge and experience and developing solutions together.

Another reason for my decision was my many years of familiarity with Gressel clamping devices. I was introduced to the products at a young age by my father, who also worked in field service for many years. Over the years, I have been able to experience these clamping devices extensively in practice.

I am completely convinced of the quality and reliability of Gressel clamping devices – and it is precisely this trust that I would like to pass on to my customers.

What has particularly stuck in your mind during your short time at Gressel?

Marcel Ferenz: In addition to the projects I have already realised, the role of “Mr Spanntastic” is particularly memorable. When I received the enquiry, I didn’t hesitate for a second to accept this challenge. I really appreciate the trust the company has placed in me to take on such an exciting task after such a short time.

My aim is to fulfill this role with a great deal of commitment and passion. I not only want to give the viewers interesting insights into the world of Gressel clamping devices, but also teach them a thing or two new. And
of course, I don’t want to miss out on the fun!

I see this task as a wonderful addition to my activities and look forward to everything that lies ahead in this role.

You play ice hockey – how does this sport help you in your work in the field? Are there similarities on the ice and with customers?

Ice hockey is much more than just a sport for me – it has shaped me from an early age. I started playing at the age of 5 and learnt early on what it means to work as part of a team. Team sports teach important values such as team spirit, communication and dealing with successes and defeats – all of which also play a major role in everyday working life.

A key similarity between ice hockey and my work in the sales force is the will to win. On the ice, it’s about defending your own goal and at the same time creating opportunities to be successful. In my professional role, I want to offer my customers real added value through my experience and commitment so that they can work successfully with our clamping devices.

As defence in ice hockey, my job is to protect our goal and put our forwards in a good position with precise passes. Every now and then I have the opportunity to take a dangerous shot on goal myself – a good balance of defence and attack. That’s how I see my work: I want to equip our customers with the right tensioning technology so that they can achieve their goals easily and efficiently.

How important are long-term customer relationships to you?

Marcel Ferenz: For me, long-standing and trusting customer relationships are the foundation of successful sales. Values such as honesty, openness and mutual trust are essential. A strong network and a service that is precisely tailored to the customer’s needs are just as important.

If the quality of the product is also convincing, nothing stands in the way of a long-term and successful collaboration. After all, there is a simple but true saying: “People buy from people.”

What motivates you every day in your job?

My greatest motivation comes from working directly with customers to develop well thought-out and practical solutions that benefit both sides.

How did you find your induction, what did you remember in particular? Would you like to share with us?

Marcel Ferenz: The induction period at Gressel AG was excellently organised. I had enough time to familiarise myself intensively with the products and to deepen my knowledge. Although I had already worked with some Gressel products in the past, there were still many new and exciting aspects for me to discover.
The time in assembly was particularly exciting for me. I had the opportunity to accompany my colleagues on site and even lend a hand myself. This practical experience was not only extremely interesting, but also very helpful in being able to answer future customer questions even better.

Have you already had the chance to get to know the Swiss way of life?

Marcel Ferenz: Yes, absolutely! During my induction period, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Switzerland. In my free time, I was able to experience Swiss ice hockey, among other things – a great experience!

Ich schätze die Schweizer Kultur sehr. Die Herzlichkeit der Menschen ist beeindruckend und macht den Aufenthalt dort besonders angenehm. Zugegeben, wenn eingefleischte Schweizer im Dialekt sprechen, ist es für mich manchmal eine kleine Herausforderung – aber genau das macht den Charme der Sprache und Kultur aus. 😊

Marcel, wie würdest du die Unternehmenskultur bei Gressel beschreiben?

Marcel Ferenz: Bei GRESSEL steht ein respektvoller und wertschätzender Umgang im Mittelpunkt – sowohl im Miteinander unserer Mitarbeitenden als auch im Kontakt mit Kunden und Partnern. Unsere Unternehmenskultur basiert auf Anerkennung und der Wertschätzung von Engagement und Leistung. Wir glauben fest daran, dass ein starkes Wir-Gefühl durch gemeinsame Erlebnisse wächst. Familienfreundlichkeit und Kundenorientierung sind für uns nicht nur Werte, sondern gelebte Realität. Unsere Kultur stärkt den Zusammenhalt und stellt den Menschen in den Fokus – unabhängig davon, ob er Teil unseres Teams, Partnerunternehmen oder Kunde ist.

What motivates you every day in your job?

My greatest motivation comes from working directly with customers to develop well thought-out and practical solutions that benefit both sides.

Das war ein Interview mit Marcel Ferenz