Asha Himmat

When I started at Aerofilm in 2008, I was the only woman in production. Years have passed since then, but it still feels like the atmosphere hasn’t changed. That says everything.

I mainly work on the smaller Air casters. I glue the plates, stitch the cotton and vulcanize the cushions. I think vulcanizing is actually my favorite part. Time flies when I do it. I occasionally help out with the larger B-cushions, but I leave the heavy tasks like assembly or pressing to the men.

What I appreciate most is the lack of stress. I feel like my own boss: I simply ask what the next task is and then I get started. Since Dennis joined, some things have changed. Like the materials we use. We used to work with Tiptop, which involved a lot of manual work. Now we use Mak for vulcanizing. It took some getting used to, especially the airflow, but a proper ventilation system has since been installed.

“If you enjoy going to work, everything feels better. And that’s still the case here.”

What makes working at Aerofilm so enjoyable are my colleagues. We treat each other well, help each other out, and make the workday fun. When you enjoy going to work, everything just feels better.

I still remember when I was hired by Radboud. Not everyone appreciated his critical style, but I’m grateful he gave me the opportunity.