Arno Otten
Meet the team
TRANSPRESS
International Product Manager for Coral, Arno Otten, talks to us about his role and how he spends his free time.
Can you tell me about your role within the Transport Team at Forbo?
Specifically with regards to the Transport team, I am Product Manager for Coral FR, Coral Move FR (Rail) and Coral Marine FR. I work with the team on the updating of collections as well as supporting the development of new products and services. A key responsibility is to ensure that both the Transport team and their customers are happy not just with the products we supply but also with regards to the various services supplied from the Krommenie site, such as the bespoke labelling, cut to shape services, as well as the options with regards to the innovative installation solutions, such as Pro-Fit, Mag-Fit and Stick-Fit.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy bringing this passion of inventing into the product management role, for example, looking at new products that will meet the changing requirements of customers going forwards.
What does a typical day/week look like for you?
No two days are the same within this role, I always have a variety of different tasks to complete. This could be sending samples out, conducting market research for a new sustainable product, creating product documentation, working on a new collection/ range updates or giving a factory tour to our customers to name a few.
Where do you get your motivation for your work from?
My motivation for my work comes from the diversity and continuous learning opportunities it offers me. Each day brings a fresh set of challenges and experiences that allow me to expand my knowledge and skills. Furthermore, the relatively small but hard-working team within Krommenie is a big contribution to my motivation.
How do you judge a successful project?
To me, the measure of a successful project goes beyond the normal metrics of meeting the schedules and staying within budget. While those factors are certainly important, what truly defines success for me is the overall positive impact the project leaves behind for all concerned, most importantly the customers.
If we supply a quality product and or service, to an agreed schedule and the customer is really happy with the end result then that’s good for me. My role is also to see what we can do better going forwards, in order to keep improving our offering.
What do you like the most about working at Forbo Flooring?
I am continually inspired by the opportunity to contribute to the development of high-quality solutions that meet the evolving needs of our transport customers. I really appreciate the help and positive energy I receive from my co-workers and teams that work across different geographies/segments. This supportive and collaborative environment allows us to benefit from different knowledge, viewpoints and skill sets, which helps us to keep developing products that meet the changing needs of our customers. The people make the company. I work with a small group of great people and that's important to me.
What hobbies do you have outside of work?
One of my passions is playing golf, which allows me to relax and enjoy the outdoors while challenging myself on the course. Additionally, I enjoy creative hobbies such as photography and linoleum gouging and printing. My colleague, Raymond Koomen and I took up lino printing during the pandemic and it is now an activity I really enjoy.
I also love to travel, this year I am excited to plan another trip to Australia with my family. It is a fantastic country and as we have family who live in Perth. We always spend some time catching up with family members before going on to explore another part of the country.