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In this blog post, we feature an insightful interview with Natalie Motler, Operations Manager at Special Piping Materials’ Manchester office.
With a wealth of experience and a keen eye for detail, Natalie offers her expertise on the evolving landscape of the piping industry. Join us as we discuss her career, the company’s innovative strategies, and the future of piping solutions in an ever-changing market.
Natalie has been an integral member of the team for more than 20 years and her skills as an account manager and industry expert are highly valued by everyone at SPM. There’s not a lot that goes on at SPM that Natalie doesn’t know about!
Read on to find out more about Natalie’s role in the Special Piping Materials team.
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Can you give us an overview of your career so far?
Following a few years of various office jobs, I joined SPM. I started working in the Expediting office getting the day-to-day jobs out and managing stock movement. I then moved on to sales, project sales, project expediting and document control. And I’m now back in the Expediting office!
Working in the various departments here has been a great way to get to know all part of the industry and it means that I have strong knowledge of how the business operates and therefore how best to service our clients.
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What’s your favourite (and least favourite) day-to-day task?
My favourite task has to be when we get our jobs out of the door on schedule – something which happens every day thanks to our well-oiled processes and hardworking teams!
My least favourite job has to be dealing with documentation. As important as it is, it can take a long while to go through it precisely!
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What made you want to work for SPM?
At the time, I had been doing temp work & wanted something more permanent. It’s been 21 years since I joined SPM now, so I obviously made the right decision!
The great thing about working at SPM is that the collaborative environment here fosters growth and continuous learning, which is incredibly important to me. Joining this company has allowed me to contribute meaningfully to exciting projects and be part of an organisation that is shaping the future of the piping industry.
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What are the big piping trends at the moment in Europe
Currently, the piping industry in Europe is witnessing several significant trends. Firstly, there is a strong push towards sustainability, with companies increasingly adopting eco-friendly materials and practices. This includes the use of recycled materials and the development of more efficient production processes to reduce carbon footprints.
Additionally, there is a growing demand for advanced piping systems that can handle higher pressures and temperatures, driven by the needs of various high-tech industries, such as energy and pharmaceuticals. Smart piping solutions incorporating IoT technology are also gaining traction, enabling real-time monitoring and maintenance to improve system reliability and efficiency.
Furthermore, the European market is seeing an increased focus on compliance and safety standards. Stricter regulations are being enforced to ensure the highest levels of safety and environmental protection, prompting companies to innovate and upgrade their systems accordingly.
Overall, these trends reflect a broader move towards more sustainable, efficient, and high-performance piping solutions across the continent.
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What are the priorities for the UK sales team at the moment
Right now, the UK sales team is focused on several key priorities. Firstly, we’re committed to enhancing customer satisfaction by ensuring timely delivery and maintaining the high quality of our products. We’re also prioritising the expansion of our product range to meet the diverse needs of our clients across different sectors.
One critical area we’re emphasising is the importance of bolts in piping systems. Bolts are essential for ensuring the integrity and safety of these systems. They play a vital role in maintaining the strength and stability of connections, which is crucial in high-pressure and high-temperature environments. Ensuring that we provide the best quality bolts is fundamental to our goal of delivering reliable and durable piping solutions.
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What does a typical ‘day in the expediting team’ look like?
It is quite a busy office, and we have lots of ‘coming and going’ from the warehouse. We like to start the day with coffee & a quick catch-up with the rest of the team to see what the day has in store. After that everyone is engaged in their tasks to ensure that our clients experience as smooth a service with us as possible.
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What do you think the future holds for the piping world?
The future of the piping world looks promising, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and technological innovation. We can expect to see more eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient processes becoming standard. Hopefully this means many more busy years for SPM
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What keeps you motivated at work each day?
The people & coffee, of course!
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How do you relax after a hard day’s work in the office?
I like to spend time with my daughter but as she’s 18 that’s not always an option – or relaxing!
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If you had to choose another office around the world to work in, which would it be and why?
I am half Scottish so should really say Aberdeen but given the chance I would probably pick somewhere a little warmer – working in Perth or Singapore would be a great experience!