Vossloh Cogifer Australia engineer Glenn Lorenz has recently notched up 40 years of service with the company.
Glenn told the Mail he joined the former Thompson Kelly Lewis (TKL) Rail Division fresh out of school at just 18.
“I initially worked as an estimator for a number of years and then I decided to do further education and undertake my engineering studies,” Glenn said.
His new qualifications saw him move into the engineering team. He subsequently worked his way up to Engineering Manager.
The rail division was purchased by Vossloh Cogifer in December 2007 and Glenn has continued to proudly lead the Castlemaine based engineering team for the last 18 years.
Glenn is a Certified Practicing Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia.
From 2007-2016 he was a review member on the CE2 committee for all AS1085 rail standards.
He is a current member of the Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB) Australian Standards review committee of 1085.21 turnouts, switches and crossings.
Glenn has authored and co-authored a number of technical papers for the rail industry, both nationally and internationally.
Glenn said he has seen a lot of changes over the last four decades.
“When I started out we were still using paper and t-squares for our designs. Fortunately we had calculators but there were still a few old-timers which favoured the old slide rules!” Glenn laughs.
The components designed by the engineering team were originally crafted in timber by TKL Rail’s in-house pattern makers.
“These days our team utilises state-of-the-art 3D computer modelling to design components. Sadly pattern-making is becoming a dying art. We now produce a prototype of our engineering designs with our industrial size 3D printer and these are then cast in steel at Billmans Foundry,” he said.
Glenn feels fortunate to have found a career path right here in his home town.
“I am only five minutes from home and I have been able to watch my family grow up and play an active role in the community, whilst also having the opportunity to see the world,” he said.
“Just last week I was in the Pilbara working with two of our biggest clients BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. I’ve also visited Vossloh Cogifer’s home base in France around a dozen times. We are also currently contributing to the major Inland Rail project on the east coast,” he said.
Glenn said he has been proud to be a member of a specialist team of people who are creative, hard-working, loyal and take pride in the work they do.
“The rail industry in Australia and much of the word is quite small. I have been very privileged to be able to travel extensively in my position. I have been fortunate to meet some exceptional people and develop really strong and long-lasting personal relationships within Vossloh and the greater rail industry,” Glenn said.
“I really enjoy the comradery with the VCA Group and wider business including worldwide group as well as customer interaction. Finding design solutions and seeing major projects come together from conceptual designs to watching trains traverse over our turnouts efficiently and safely, is really satisfying,” he said.
Glenn said he is proud to all be supporting the development of the next generation of local engineers and working to create safer and more efficient rail products.
Vossloh Cogifer Australia Sales Manager Thomas Wehrle said Glenn is often branded ‘the nicest guy in rail’ with connections right across the industry in Australia and further afield.
“To achieve 40 years of service is a massive achievement and we congratulate Glenn on this incredible milestone,” Mr Wehrle said.