From fitter to production manager

Thomas Ristesund has climbed the career ladder in Brimer , from fitter to production manager at Kvamsøy. With over a decade in the company, he has a unique insight into Brimer's development and importance to the industry and the region.

– I started as a fitter 7-8 years ago, moved on to production coordinator for 2-3 years, and now I am production manager, says Thomas. For Thomas, who lives on Kvamsøy, this means Brimer all for the local community.

Varied working days

Thomas enjoys his work and his colleagues. He describes his working days as varied and challenging:

– Every day is different. It is challenging to work with so many different people, but it is also positive. We have to get the flow going from department to department, deliver on time, collaborate with different parts of production. No day is the same, and it is nice that things happen. It would be boring if everything was the same every day.

We have a great working environment. Nice colleagues, good tone. We can joke with people, but also talk seriously when needed. We don't have to be so serious all the time.

Thomas values the trust shown to his employees: “We can trust that people do what they are told. People are conscientious. We don't have to go around looking after people all the time or control everything. That's a great strength,” he says.

More legs to stand on

Brimer has undergone significant changes in Thomas' time, which he views positively:

– We have more legs to stand on. We now supply to the fishing industry, Landbased Aquaculture and more to various parts of the VA industry. It makes us more robust as a company.

Brimer is a cornerstone company for Kvamsøy. It really means everything. Without Brimer there would be no people here, no jobs. It is incredibly important for the island. But it is also important for the whole of Sunnmøre. We add something extra to the maritime and marine industry. The fact that we know polymer composites means that we can offer more and different things than others.

– We create maintenance-free systems that are efficient. This is becoming increasingly important, especially when it comes to clean drinking water. Fiberglass is truly a material of the future, he says.

Open to everyone

Thomas says that Brimer is a good place to work for those of you who can use your hands and who want a job or an apprenticeship, without necessarily having completed an education.

You don't need a high education. You need a willingness to work. We don't expect them to know anything beforehand, but that they show up, show interest and are willing to learn.

– As a leader, I spend a lot of time getting to know the people, both their strengths and weaknesses. I try to put together teams with different personalities and characteristics. It’s exciting to be part of shaping the future of Brimer and Kvamsøy. We deliver quality products at the right time, and that is something I am incredibly proud to be a part of, he concludes proudly.