SuperSealer Anna Lena Book

December’s SuperSealer keeps Trelleborg’s purchases flowing throughout Germany and the EMEA region, taking care of everything from raw materials to office supplies with a keen eye for optimization and great teamwork. She shares her favorite aspect of working at Trelleborg, her vision for the future of purchasing and supply, and her plans for her garden next year.

Who are you?

My name is Anna Lena Book, and I work in Purchasing for the Seals & Profiles business. Since August, I’ve been given additional responsibilities for the EMEA region.

How long have you worked in this position and what are your key duties?

Not very long! I was just recently promoted to my current role, and now I’m responsible for all purchasing activities in the EMEA region. I work alongside my team, who are based at a few different sites.

Our work includes purchasing strategy for all raw materials and investments, but it also covers all other purchases that are not directly related to production – from service contracts to office supplies.

In the Purchasing Team, our mission is to have a positive impact on the company’s financial results through our long-term procurement strategy. Everyone in our team works toward this mission in the spirit of optimization and cost reduction, and all our daily tasks make a contribution – which is a great feeling.

How long have you been with Trelleborg in total, and what do you like about working here?

Almost two years now, as I started at the beginning of 2021when I moved back to my hometown in the countryside of northwest Germany. I was excited to start work at Trelleborg as Purchasing Manager for Germany, working at the Lathen production facility.

I really enjoy working in Trelleborg’s international environment and cross-functional teams. The great people all around me make our company a wonderful place to work, and I also like to be challenged by the fast pace of our business.

What are the key challenges you face in your job?

At the moment, the most significant challenge across the purchasing function is how unpredictable the future is.

The global economy was seriously affected by the pandemic over the last two years, which has led to availability problems and fluctuating prices in all industries. As a result, escalation management became part of our daily work in purchasing. We all had to get used to being the bearers of bad news! That being said, our department has often been able to make a difference and influence the situation for the better, too.

How do you think the business in your area is going to evolve in the future? How are you preparing for this?

I don’t see an easy or quick resolution to the instability in the global economy. In our globalized world, all industries will have to keep on dealing with all kind of supply chain disruptions.

The key for Trelleborg is to mitigate the potential risks through a precise sourcing strategy and our well-established partnerships with suppliers and service providers.

In terms of industry trends, I think the ‘megatrend’ of alternative, sustainable materials is here to stay. It will become increasingly important for our industry to find solutions to finite resources and avoid conflict minerals.

What do you do in your free time?

Now that I’ve moved back to the country, I’ve been trying to spend as much time outside as possible. I've discovered a new passion for gardening, and I’m planning to grow even more vegetables and herbs in my garden next spring. I love cooking and baking too, so I’m really looking forward to growing my own ingredients.

As I work in an office, I also enjoy getting some exercise in my spare time by going to the gym or joining yoga classes.