1006_WT_#SolderJoint_Zeitschrift_USletter_48p_2025-02-07_prev - Flipbook - Page 40
#WOMEN@WELLER
The female perspective
„The driving force behind ZeroSmog Shield & Guard:“
Ann-Kathrin Görl, Design Engineer R&D at Weller Tools
supports and manages R&D projects in soldering and
fume extraction – from scribble to production.
in R&D
How long are you here and how
would you describe your
personal growth at Weller Tools?
“I have only been working at Weller since July
2023, so I‘m still very new. When I came to
Weller, my colleagues made it easy for me to
settle in here. I could count on their support
from day one, for which I am very grateful. I have
now settled in and feel very comfortable. I have
grown with my tasks and am allowed to take
more and more responsibility. I want to continue
to gain as much experience as possible to be
an expert.”
Why did you decide to work at
Weller Tools?
A main part of Ann-Kathrin
Görl‘s R&D work are
3D simulations and
optimizations down to the
smallest detail.
“At the Besigheim location, everyone knows each
other, which makes working together as a team
easy. Here colleagues with many years of
experience as well as young colleagues are working
together in various exciting projects. There is a
good working atmosphere in which people treat
each other with respect and laughing together
is also part of the process, which is important for
me personally. Self-determined working hours
and the option of mobile working also make it
easy to combine work and private life.”
What makes your work as a
woman in R&D so special?
“Probably because there aren‘t many women in
R&D. In general, women simply have a different
perspective and therefore different ideas. But
what you shouldn‘t forget is that there are only
a few women in technical fields. Unfortunately,
that also means that as a woman you often
have to prove yourself before you are taken
seriously. I underestimated this hurdle before
entering the world of work.”
What does a typical working
day look like for you?
“My working day usually goes from 7 am to 3:30
pm. After I arrive at Weller I start my computer.
After that I get a coffee and check my emails.
The emails usually lead to the first tasks.
During the morning, I exchange ideas with
my colleagues. The tasks are always different
– sometimes it‘s designing and creating
drawings, sometimes it‘s organization or
prototype construction. In between there are
internal meetings, meetings with suppliers
or with our production plant in Mexico. Every
day is a little different and that‘s exactly what
makes it special.”
Which are the most fascinating
aspects in the soldering sector
for you?
“The fascinating thing about technology in
general is that a lot of things seem simple at
first until you look at the details. It‘s the same
in the soldering area. Hand soldering requires
fine motor skills and precise hand movements.
The ability to precisely place and solder small
components is an art itself. Hand soldering
is also more than just connecting electronic
components in a conductive way.
For woodburning, for example, the same
technology is used with different tips.
The production of a soldering iron is also more
than impressive. Many steps here are delicate
handwork. During development, many topics
always come together, such as thermals,
miniaturization, costs, electrical engineering,
software, production-friendly design, design for
repair and much more. All this together makes
the soldering area very exciting for me”.
Which was your R&D project
highlight so far
“The development of new soldering fume
extraction devices. This was my first project at
Weller, which I accompanied from the sketch to
the product. Here I was able to take more
and more responsibility, so that today I am
responsible for the entire mechanical design.
For a designer, the finished product is always
a highlight.”
