What does an Area Sales Manager do at TRUMPF?

There have been many challenging moments during my time at TRUMPF. For example, initially applying for a traineeship with a rather average to poor secondary school leaving certificate. Also taking part in a practical semester in the USA one year after starting my traineeship wasn't easy for me at the time. But looking back, I can say that I am glad I did it and that it created opportunities for me.

Additive manufacturing is a young and a very up-and-coming technology, both in the plastics and metal sectors. "3D printing" as it is known colloquially is already being used in a wide variety of areas and industries, from industrial series production through to prototypes. TruPrint focuses on industrial 3D printing applications and offers every industry an ideal system for manufacturing steel components. As a Area Sales Manager in additive manufacturing, I support the sales force (f/m/d) in our worldwide subsidiaries. I'm the point of contact for reviewing and preparing quotations, accompanying sales force colleagues on site at customer meetings in different countries, attending trade fairs and coordinating both the technical and commercial aspects of our sales activities.

First of all, the team is outstanding. We get along brilliantly, play company sports together or have a beer after work in Stuttgart. That's what makes it fun to work here. The varied nature of the work itself is also a big part of it. Every day is different and it's rare to get the same queries from customers. Also the visits to customers and trade fairs in the regions I serve bring new and exciting experiences every time.

TRUMPF products are state-of-the-art and set trends. Especially in sales it is exciting to promote and follow every single project. Many interested parties and customers have never been active in additive manufacturing before. It's therefore a wonderful challenge to get them to find out more about this technology and to show them the advantages and opportunities it offers. The coordination and interfaces between technical and commercial areas are perfectly balanced for me as well. Moreover, the team at TRUMPF is unique and it's fun working together with our colleagues.

You need to be open, flexible and curious. These are very important aspects in sales. Communication with customers worldwide also plays a major role. The willingness to travel is also an aspect that cannot be neglected in sales. In my opinion, however, this has more advantages than disadvantages, or as our late senior boss once said: "Being open to the world is a blessing".