Jacques Cijntje

“A close-knit team or rather a family”

An interview with Jacques Cijntje, Electrician at Intercel

68 and retired, but still working 3 days. Tell us how that is.

“I just enjoy my job immensely and love seeing my colleagues almost every day. I do many projects completely independently and at my own pace. I do work with deadlines but manage my time within them myself. A luxury position and I really enjoy working for my Intercel family.”

Something about your background, I heard underwater?

“I was born in Curaçao and moved with the whole family to the Netherlands at a young age. I immediately started a technical study there which I continued in all my life. We went to live in Den Helder where my family had strong ties to the Navy. I soon became a weapons technician on a submarine. I then enjoyed working in the Navy for 31 years and saw the whole world. On the water but certainly also underwater. In the Navy I developed broadly: electrical engineering, fine mechanics and hydraulics.”

What did you learn on a submarine that you still apply today at Intercel?

“Especially to be able to work completely independently and complete projects. You always have to be able to get the job done there on your own too, assisted of course with your team of specialists. I also see that in my work for Intercel. A close team or rather a family that tackles and completes challenges together. Also the broad knowledge in other areas than electrical engineering are useful in my work at Intercel. My colleagues sometimes say that I can do everything. Of course that is not true, but I love my work with different types of challenges.”

How did you ever get started at Intercel?

“15 years ago, a job offer from Intercel fell in the mail and I quickly applied for it then. The start was incredibly fun and I remember well how welcome I was received. The work changed quickly. After working in the warehouse for a week I moved to technical services.”

Your knowledge of UPS systems is vast. How did you build it up?

“I grew into it naturally at Intercel. Customer questions arose and I started working on them. That’s how we grew to increasingly large projects. Eventually very large ones. Every project is really different, never the same.

A UPS is an emergency power supply. They are huge systems used mostly in data centers. They help keep IT systems always available when there are power outages. A recent UPS system consisted of a high-tech BAE with a UPS with a total size of 4 m3. Attached to that is then a string of 40 batteries.”

What was your most challenging project?

“Without a doubt that in Frankfurt for a data center. There we were able to make technically sophisticated and very nice cabinets for a BAE and a UPS. That was a project on which I, along with another colleague, worked for two months. This project resulted in other data centers and banks immediately wanting a similar solution.”

To what extent does sustainability play a role in your work and personal life?

“We have to! We have to work together for a better world. I myself try to do that at work and privately. I have three grandchildren and that gives an extra dimension because of that. They must have a good future and we are actively working on that with Intercel.”

15 years of Intercel, what has stuck with you the most?

“There have been countless outings. One that really stood out was skiing. Not only with colleagues but also our partners were allowed to come along. It was my first time on the long skis and I enjoyed it immensely. The atmosphere was great and it became a big event. That first time skiing will always stay with me.”

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