”I know what it’s like to use our products for real.”

Jonatan Hofslagare is the new applications engineer for Gaia Biomaterials. Before studying polymer technology at university, he worked as a machine operator in a plastic packaging industry.

– I know what it’s like actually to work with the materials, and I think that will help me better understand our customers' needs.

Jonatan comes from Gällivare in the far north of Sweden. He started his work life in sales.

– It’s a perfect start to any career, Jonatan says.

– You realize everybody lives by selling something, as sales is solving the customers’ problems. 

After relocating, Jonatan found himself working as a machine operator at a company making plastic products.

– I was intrigued by the possibilities and how different materials have different characteristics. As an operator, it was interesting to learn about the process and the materials used.

Jonatan decided to study polymer engineering at Jönköping University, going deeper into the field. After graduation, he was hired to help set up the pilot lines for an R&D facility and innovation center for a major packaging company.

– It was very interesting to see everything from the inside and to understand how a change in one place affects the entire value chain and customer experience from an end-user perspective.

It was in this role that he first came in touch with Biodolomer.

–  I immediately felt that this was the future. It was a material with all the strengths of traditional fossil plastic but none of the environmental drawbacks. It was a completely compostable material that worked seamlessly in most traditional production methods, from thermoforming to film blowing and profile extrusion.

In August, Jonatan took the logical step and became the new application engineer for Gaia Biomaterials.

– I really look forward to sitting at this end of the table. I know what it is like on the production side and on the factory floor – and I can speak to the operators and technicians about issues that other engineers might not see the full impact of. I like to see myself as an interpreter between the lab results and the production personnel. I think it’s when all parties understand each other’s realities and limitations that truly great things will start to happen.