Kalmar Service Heroes: Johan Onghena and Ann Devis from Belgium

The primary terminal customer for Johan and his technicians is the Grimaldi Group's Antwerp Euro Terminal (AET). With 2.4 kilometres of quay, AET is one of the most prominent multipurpose terminals in Europe and one of the world's largest ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) terminals, handling shipments ranging from breakbulk and containers to project cargo, heavy lift transport, and cars.

Kalmar's team at AET services a wide range of equipment from light forklifts to heavy container handling machines, deck lifters and crane spreaders. The team works on Kalmar machines as well as other brands. A unique aspect of their work is that the technicians not only maintain and repair equipment at the terminal but also service various machines on board Grimaldi's ro-ro vessel that call at the port. It is essential that all machines on board are operational when the ship leaves the Port of Antwerp, as they are needed for loading and unloading activities at the next ports.

"The vessel  usually stays here for only a short time, so we often need to perform under a bit of pressure," says Johan. "But with this team, it's absolutely no problem. Sometimes a machine arrives completely out of service and we have limited time to repair it before it returns to the vessel. This is something that we're always proud of. At the same time, it's really cool to see the machines we service travel across the world, helping to keep cargo moving"

Sharing the knowledge

Over the past 15 years, Johan has grown within the company through mentoring and hands-on experience –reflecting Kalmar’s dedication to investing in its people. Now, Johan is proud to share his knowledge and actively works to develop the skills and talents of the next generation of technicians.

"I really enjoy being able to share any experience and know-how that I might have with our young technicians and trainees," he says. "I always try to inspire them in their work and to impart as much knowledge as I can about Kalmar's products."

Johan points out that alongside technical expertise, good communication skills are crucial for the job. "It's so important that we listen carefully to one another. And of course, safety is key in a terminal environment, so we always need to ensure we're visible and that our workshop has all the required safety procedures in place."

Teamwork gets it done

In his day-to-day work, Johan closely collaborates with Ann Devis, Operation Support for Kalmar’s Left Bank team in Antwerp. Ann plays a vital role in ensuring smooth operations by managing communication with ships and coordinating their maintenance needs with Johan and the rest of the team.  

"We normally get the information via e-mail before the ship comes to port," Ann says. "Hopefully, they will be clear about what they require so Johan can plan and coordinate the work to get the machines back up and running, or schedule any routine maintenance that is needed."

"Ann is a super important member of the team," adds Johan. "She is great at making sure that the direct communication with the ships and customers always goes smoothly. And we actually complement each other very well."

Greenfield operations 

After work, Ann enjoys reading, taking snowboarding lessons (a new hobby) and especially looking after “White Socks”, the horse she owns with her daughter. 

"He's at a pasture with three other horses. On the weekends we usually go there to take care of all four together," Ann says. "We take care of their feeding and grooming, and when we have some time off, our favorite thing to do is go for a walk in the countryside with the horses."

As for Johan, his hobbies include playing soccer with local football club KSK Kieldrecht, but his greatest passion is cattle breeding. "We have a farm with my brother, father and uncle, where we raise a breed of Belgian white-blue beef cattle," Johan recounts. "So most days before and after work I'll spend an hour or so taking care of the animals. Luckily, the farm is quite close to my workplace at the port, so it's not a long commute!"

"When I started at Kalmar, Johan was already working here as a technician, so it's been great to see him grow in his role from a young technician to now being a team leader," says Ann.

Together, our job is to ensure all the machines stay operational, both on the vessels and at the terminal. In doing so, we help keep other ports around the world running and doing their jobs, which is something we are truly proud of. adds Anne

A great example of teamwork that shows how collaboration helps keep operations running smoothly and supports each other’s growth.