The Engineer Behind the Solution

Erik Stjernholm Hoff has been working at ENRX for the past 19 years. He was offered the position as R&D Engineer just before finishing his PhD in Control and Monitoring in Power and Electronics at university in Trondheim. 
 

"By the time I was finished studying, I had been a student nearly my whole life and was ready to contribute back to society. ENRX is one of the most technically advanced companies in Norway, and it was just a bonus that its headquarters happened to be in my hometown of Skien, Norway." 
 
In his position as R&D Engineer, Erik specialises in FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) — a type of computer chip that can be configured and reconfigured after manufacturing, making it far more flexible than a standard processor. 

 

“In my group we are a team of six. We work to make systems respond as quickly and as effectively as possible. We're talking the about making improvements from five nanoseconds to ten milliseconds,” he explains. 
 

Erik's route to becoming ENRX's systems wizard was no coincidence. Growing up, he was always interested in technology and recalls telling a small lie to his dad about his watch being broken just so he could take the timepiece apart to find out how it worked. 
 

Arendals Fossekompani sat down with Erik to learn more about his approach to customer collaboration and what it means to work for a company known for being a world-leader in the induction heating industry. 

 
So Erik, what does a typical workday look like for you?  

It's extremely varied. My work is driven by customer needs. When a request comes in, we assess the opportunity and move quickly to determine whether a prototype or more detailed solution is needed. From there it's back to the lab or into development, with the complexity of the challenge dictating the pace and process. 
 

When customers request new solutions, what go-to methods do you use to tackle the challenges that come up?  

One of my greatest advantages is the range of internal resources available to me. I can collaborate with colleagues in sales and production, and when needed, tap into our global network of locations to find the right expertise. I also know that if I make a mistake, it will be detected, and that is comforting. 

In addition to the internal resources, I also get to work directly alongside customers to solve problems. One time I travelled to the laboratories of a French company with over 100,000 employees to understand their needs firsthand and develop the best solution together. 
 

ENRX carries a reputation for being world-leading within induction heating. How do you see that reflected as a reality rather than just a marketing claim? 

The clearest confirmation comes from customers themselves. When someone says they've never seen a better solution, that proves our reputation is more than a marketing claim. 

In practice, customers often come to us knowing what they want to achieve but unsure of how to get there. Being able to work directly with them to find the right solution, and identify additional opportunities to improve their operations, is where I feel the reputation is earned, not just stated. 
 

If someone told you they were applying to work at ENRX, what would you tell them about the benefits of working here? 

The first thing I'd mention is the culture. Everyone knows everyone, and there are short communication channels and informal relationships. I value this as much as I value the need for solid processes and systems. 

From a professional standpoint, working close to production and sales is a great advantage. You can follow a project from prototype to delivery, get direct customer feedback, and see the results of your work in real time. 

And on a personal note, I get to bike to work in ten minutes, ski in the winter, and swim in the sea in the summer. The quality of life here is hard to beat. 
 

19 years in the same position is an impressive tenure. How do you stay motivated?  

As an engineer, it's important to see the result. It's motivating to work directly with a customer to solve a real challenge and see the result land well. Especially when we can offer solutions that go beyond what they originally asked for. 
 

About ENRX: Leveraging decades of experience, ENRX is a global leader in industrial induction heating systems, serving industries including automotive, tube and pipe, renewable energy, electrotechnical appliances and HVAC. The company operates at the intersection of electrification, advanced manufacturing and sustainability. Three defining megatrends shaping global industry.  
 
To date, ENRX has delivered more than 30,000 installations in over 80 countries, assisting in reducing carbon emissions, improving product quality and lowering operational costs compared to traditional fossil-fuel-based heating.