Meet Kurt Henriksen

‘The experience built up over almost 150 years is irreplaceable and important’

For Kurt Henriksen, Area Sales Manager, the working day is very much about more than just sales.

It's about a number of different processes in agriculture, from handling raw materials to the finished products that end up as animal feed.

‘A large part of my job is selling equipment for grain cleaning, raw material storage and feed production,’ explains Kurt Henriksen.

But Kurt Henriksen's job actually extends beyond the agricultural sector. He also designs and sells industrial plants, where SKIOLD's products are used in completely different contexts.

‘We have machines that can transport virtually all types of bulk goods that can be stored in a silo. And then there's our disc mill, for example, which can shred a wide range of materials from grain to wood pellets and even broken glass,’ he explains.

Although the palette is broad, agriculture is the main focus.

‘Grain cleaning, grinding, adding minerals and mixing the feed is the core,’ says Kurt Henriksen, who is usually involved every step of the way in a project.

‘For me, it's exciting to be involved right from the first conversation with the customer. From there, I design and plan the system and follow it through until it runs according to plan.’

He sees this involvement from start to finish as a clear advantage.

‘I know exactly what the project includes and what has been agreed with the customer.’

No straight path

The road to almost 25 years at SKIOLD has not been straightforward. After a year and a half with a Zealand-based company that built stables and sold feed systems, Kurt Henriksen came across a job advert in December 1998.

‘SKIOLD was looking for a new salesperson, and when I had reached a point where I wanted to try something different, I applied for the job - and got it.’

In February 2008, he decided to seek new challenges and was away from SKIOLD for three years, but in May 2011 SKIOLD contacted him.

‘Apparently they couldn't do without me,’ smiles Kurt Henriksen.

Since then, he has been a permanent part of the team, and today his main areas of work are Denmark and Norway.

So what is it that has kept Kurt Henriksen at SKIOLD for so many years?

‘SKIOLD is a solid, old company with good products that are known for high quality. It's a good starting point as a salesperson, otherwise it can quickly become difficult,’ says Kurt Henriksen, who emphasises that although SKIOLD is not the cheapest on the market, the products are top class.

In addition to high-quality products, he appreciates the collegial environment with a good and relaxed atmosphere.

‘And I've always had a lot of freedom to decide and organise my own workday.’

His interest in agriculture has also played a role in his career choice. Although he wasn't born on a farm, his neighbours and his parents' friends were farmers.

‘As a young boy, I worked for a neighbour who was a farmer,’ says Kurt Henriksen.

He later trained as a farmer and has looked after pigs and cows himself.

‘I knew I wasn't going to continue as a farmer myself, but the fact that I've had my hands in the industry has been a good ballast for me in my current job. I know what it's like to work in a stable and what pigs and cows are like. I understand and can talk to farmers about the challenges they face.’

When Kurt Henriksen puts SKIOLD's strengths into words, it sounds like this:

‘We have some strong and super durable products. And we have all the products ourselves. We can put together a complete system with our own machines that are designed to fit together perfectly.’

SKIOLD's long history is also a decisive factor when it comes to strengths.

‘The experience built up over almost 150 years is irreplaceable and important. It proves to customers that SKIOLD is not a ‘flash in the pan’.’

Facts about Kurt Henriksen

• 53 years old
• Trained agricultural technician
• Lives in a farmstead near Randers
• Is married and has two adult children aged 21 and 23
• Hobbies: Sports, training and volunteering at a local autonomous sports centre.