30.06.2026
Strong at getting stuck in and improvising
Simon Kirchmair values his varied role and the freedom it gives him.
My education and career so far
After secondary school, I completed an apprenticeship as a machine fitter and worked for a while in the automotive sector. Since 2016, I’ve been working as a maintenance fitter at Pfeifer in Imst. I feel very much at home in this role, and I keep developing my skills further – for example, through the apprentice instructor qualification and welding courses.
How I came to Pfeifer
I first heard about the company at a careers fair. I was going through a career change at the time and wanted to get away from purely screen-based work, so I plucked up the courage and applied to Pfeifer. I’ve never regretted moving into maintenance, even though I obviously had to put in a lot of effort at the start to get to grips with this new field.
My day-to-day tasks
No two days are ever the same. My job covers the complete maintenance and servicing of the equipment at the glued-laminated-timber plant. Turning, drilling and welding, optimising equipment and finding new solutions, sourcing and fitting spare parts – all of this makes my working day extremely varied.
“Working with metal is exactly my thing.”
Simon Kirchmair
Maintenance Fitter, Imst
My biggest challenge, then and now
My job is a challenge every single day, because a new problem on the equipment can crop up at any time and I have to respond immediately. I was especially tested at the start of my time at Pfeifer, and again during the rebuild of the glued-laminated-timber plant in 2020/2021. And of course it remains to be seen what surprises the new equipment will bring to our day-to-day work.
Qualities you need to succeed in my field
Teamwork, technical understanding and genuine interest in the work. Taking personal responsibility is really important, too. On each shift, one fitter and one electrician are responsible for keeping everything running, so everyone has to make quick decisions and take ownership. The job is also physically demanding – through the work alone, I’ve put on 15 kg of muscle over the past few years.
What motivates me in my daily tasks
The combination of a good working atmosphere, a motivated young team and the work itself. When I manage to fix a problem on the equipment myself in a short amount of time, it obviously feels great. That’s what makes the effort worthwhile.
What makes Pfeifer stand out as an employer
The maintenance team enjoys a lot of freedom. As long as everything runs smoothly, nobody interferes. Pfeifer puts a lot of effort into keeping employees happy – for example, with Christmas gifts or by providing work clothing. The pay is absolutely fair, too.
