What were your first impressions of Canon Production Printing?

My first experience was as an intern, and I had no idea what to expect from Canon. What I discovered is that it’s a really collaborative company. People help each other rather than compete with each other. And this impression stayed the same when I started working here.

What achievement makes you proud?

I am now team leader for water-based latex inkjet ink development, but in a previous role, as leader of a small development team, we laid the foundations for the primer – this is a pretreatment liquid – which is now being used in new projects. We are still reaping the benefits of the knowledge gained and the recipes that were designed during the work. That makes me really proud.

What do you love about the way of working at Canon Production Printing?

Everyone is encouraged to take ownership of a problem. Every individual has the freedom to work out their own ways to tackle it. That always leads to better options than telling people exactly how to proceed. You can simply go to someone’s desk and ask what you need to know. For example, if I want to know how an ink is performing in a printer, I can just go to the printer and look at our results. That way, you get the informal answers, which are often just as good!

What’s good about working as a chemist at Canon Production Printing?

Normally if you work as a chemist in the lab, you’re analyzing on the nanoscale. But when you work with ink, you can actually see with your own eyes what you’re making. You can print it and see it in full color.

What advice would you give to someone joining Canon Production Printing?

This is a company where you can get a lot of energy. There is a lot to learn. Also, make sure you talk to plenty of colleagues. That will help you make your way. If you want to find a creative answer, it’s valuable to think with someone else rather than just thinking on your own. The results are at least twice as good!