From challenge to impact: Luuc’s journey developing electric excavators at Staad

Bringing different disciplines together

Electric excavators combine a wide range of technologies and require expertise from multiple disciplines. For Luuc, working as a Project Manager means bringing these different perspectives together and making sure they contribute to the same goal.

“The team is very versatile. We have a lot of different technologies that we have to combine. For me, this is a very challenging project. It’s really one step beyond what I thought I could do.”

Working in such a multidisciplinary environment requires more than coordinating activities and timelines. It requires understanding different perspectives, making decisions together and using the strengths within the team.

“At Staad, we always focus on listening to each other and making sure that we are using each other’s strengths to get to the right answer at the end of the day.”

Balancing time, quality and cost

Like many complex engineering projects, the development of electric excavators involves balancing different priorities. Time, cost and quality all play an important role, and decisions often have to be made with incomplete information. For Luuc, clear and transparent communication is key.

“We all know the typical triangle of choosing between money, quality and timeline. What I try to do is to be very clear and transparent in communication, and making sure that everybody has the same information before we make a decision.”

By creating clarity around the different options and their implications, Luuc helps the team make informed decisions and keep the project moving forward.

From theory to real-world results

While the development of an electric excavator involves a significant amount of technical knowledge and theory, Luuc particularly enjoys the practical side of the work at Staad.

“We have to work pragmatically. That’s what I like about Staad as well. There is a lot of theory behind the technology, but in the end it’s always the environmental testing when we have the machine complete, that proves that we have done it right.”

For him, seeing the machine come together and testing it in a real-world environment provides the ultimate validation. It is where the different technologies, disciplines and decisions come together in a tangible result.

Growing through Employeneurship

The project at Staad is challenging Luuc technically, but it is also helping him shape his future career. Personal development is an important part of TMC’s Employeneurship model, giving professionals the opportunity to determine their own direction and develop the skills needed to get there.

“Me growing into the next level role as a lead engineer, a project manager, system architect, whatever you want. You can do it.”

Through training, coaching and TMC’s international network, employeneurs can develop their expertise and explore opportunities across different fields and projects.

For Luuc, this means that his current role is not simply about managing a project. It is also a step towards discovering what comes next.