Events

What do you love most about what you do?

Managing of new bottle development projects, which are carefully planned by the marketing and design department. There is no greater satisfaction than when a new bottle is first produced and later becomes a sales runner.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

If you don't take care of yourself, no one else will.

What is the most exciting project/memorable moment/achievement you've worked on recently and why?

It would be unfair to highlight only one project in the development of collectible bottles. Each bottle's development is a unique chapter and challenge, requiring detailed definition and planning to ensure the final product meets our vision. Managing wine bottle development projects is particularly challenging, especially since we are newcomers to this market segment. The wine and spirits segments of alcoholic beverages are more different than they initially appear.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in your industry?

Definitely, many would agree with me that it is a passion for glass, the ability to adapt quickly, be efficient, well organized, and have a visionary way of thinking.

What do you think sets our team/company apart from others in the industry?

The aspect that definitely sets us apart from the rest is our products, which are sustainable due to their reuse. By doing so, we are indirectly creating a better future for our descendants.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

During summer break, I swim or paddle boarding to the nearby islands.

What do you love most about what you do?

The ever-changing nature of my work keeps me engaged and excited. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth. I appreciate the freedom to experiment, test, and continuously improve our processes.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

Trust yourself and believe in what you do. This simple yet powerful advice has guided me through various situations. Self-confidence and conviction are essential for success.

What is the most exciting project/memorable moment/achievement you've worked on recently and why?

Every project I’ve been a part of holds a special place in my heart. However, one particular moment stands out – the culmination of tireless efforts resulting in the creation of a stunning bottle design. Holding that bottle in my hands, knowing the dedication and craftsmanship poured into its creation, fills me with a sense of pride and accomplishment. It serves as a reminder of the passion and commitment driving our team to excellence.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in your industry?

Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with colleagues is crucial. Together, we achieve more than we could individually. Adaptability: The ability to swiftly adjust to changing circumstances ensures we stay ahead. Attention to Detail: Precision matters, especially when working with delicate materials like glass.

What do you think sets our team/company apart from others in the industry?

Our team’s unique attitude toward glass sets us apart. We view it not just as a material but as an art form. Our flexibility in design and commitment to quality make us stand out. On top of that, we're not afraid to try new things, and we have a great support system that encourages creativity and professional growth.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

I always look for the positive in every situation.

What do you love most about what you do?

I’ve been working in Steklarna Hrastnik for 1.5 years. I’m part of our Global Sales Team, I’m responsible for the UK & Ireland New Business and Account management. This is one of the worlds biggest drinks producing markets. Its also one of the best industries to work in as it has so much variety from small batch Gin to the biggest Whisky brands in the world, The thing I love most about the role are the people in this industry, Our expert team at Steklarna Hrastnik are fantastic and all strive for excellence within their roles. The Customers we deal with share our passion for quality and service the relationships we grow and develop with them last a lifetime.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

If the plan doesn’t work change the plan not your goals.

What is the most exciting project/memorable moment/achievement you've worked on recently and why?

The most exciting project I've worked on recently was developing the full Range of Whisky bottles for a Company in Glasgow. The project development was based over 4 sizes of bottle. With a long term production run spanning into 2030, The target was to value engineer and develop a sustainable product for the future whilst managing the customers budgets and production timelines. This projects biggest take away was the relationship our two companies built during the process and how managing customer expectation throughout the year long project strengthened everyone’s relationships internally and externally. The final piece on the project was getting amazing feedback from the customer and all the production team commenting on how successful it had been and that we had managed to improve efficiency, weight, costs whilst providing a sustainable product.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in your industry?

Be Proactive Be A Team Player Be Resilient Be Motivational Be A Strong Communicator Be The Best Version of Yourself

What do you think sets our team/company apart from others in the industry?

1. The team culture 2. The highest quality Glass in the industry and the most important factor for me 3. The flexibility that the company has to shape and change to not just meet customers’ expectations but to go above and beyond.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

When not working, I love riding my bike and experiencing new places to ride.

What do you love most about what you do?

For me glass is a magic material. I've been working with glass for so many years, but I can still learn and discover its “secrets“. With so many  chemical and physical processes  going on in the furnace you can never be bored. And it's also a pleasure to see transfering a new bottle project from paper drawings to final glass production. Customer's joy and satisfaction, when we meet all their expectation,  brings joy also to my coleagues and me.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

I used to study psychology in my free time and my mentor once told me: »Not everyone is going to like you and that's ok. You can't please everyone. But you can live and act in your life  in a way,  you can  fall asleep peacefully every night. A clean conscience makes a soft pillow.« And this quote has been my guideline ever since.

What is the most exciting project/memorable moment/achievement you've worked on recently and why?

Currently, we are writing a new chapter in a glassmaking industry by melting glass with hydrogen. We successfully manufactured bottles for spirits using hydrogen to melt glass. It's the first commercial use of hydrogen in the glass packaging industry. This project represents an essential step towards a more sustainable future for the glass manufacturing industry.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in your industry?

Collaboration, communication, adaptability and problem-solving skills are essential in every bussines not just in glass industry.  A certain level of knowledge or expertise in all aspects of glass production is also very important and especially transferring this knowledge within the organization.

What do you think sets our team/company apart from others in the industry?

Steklarna Hrastnik is 164 years old. Our valley has been living with glass for so many years, families from one generaton to another. Dedication, passion, knowledge and love for glass of our employees can overcome many obstacles and challenges.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

I always check the quality of glasses in restaurants and shopping malls. It's a professional deformation

What do you love most about what you do?

What I love most about what I do is the dynamic interplay between conversations/negotiations with customers and the exhilarating process of launching new, visually appealing products onto the market. Engaging with customers allows me to understand their needs, desires, and pain points, which in turn fuels the innovation behind our product development.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

The best advice I've ever received is simple yet profound: "Never give up."

What is the most exciting project, memorable moment, or achievement you've worked on recently and why?

The most exciting project I've worked on recently was conducting market research to align with current market conditions and preparing a pricing strategy to maximize production capacity. This project stands out for several reasons. Firstly, it allowed me to delve deep into the ever-evolving landscape of our industry, gaining valuable insights into emerging trends, shifting consumer preferences, and competitive dynamics. Secondly, developing the pricing strategy was a thrilling challenge that required a blend of analytical rigor, strategic foresight, and creative thinking.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in our industry?

1.Confidence is crucial for navigating the dynamic and often challenging landscape of the industry. It allows individuals to assert themselves, make decisions, and take calculated risks with conviction 2.Collaboration is key in glass industry where teamwork and interdisciplinary cooperation are paramount. 3.Time management is indispensable in an industry characterized by tight deadlines, fast-paced environments, and multiple concurrent projects. 4.The ability to quickly respond to changes is critical in an industry where market trends, consumer preferences evolve rapidly.

What do you think sets our team/company apart from others in the industry?

Flexibility, listening to and fulfilling customer needs.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

When the wind is strong and everyone is hiding inside, I go out and windsurf.

What do you love most about what you do?

The fast-paced and ever-changing nature of R&I work, finding novel solutions to complex challenges, transdisciplinary and international collaboration.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

Begin each task with the end in mind.

What is the most exciting project, memorable moment, or achievement you've worked on recently and why?

The coordination of project BEAR, within which a first-of-a-kind hybrid end-fired regenerative furnace is going to be demonstrated. It is also the first project funded by the EU’s #InnovationFund in Slovenia.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in our industry?

The courage to go beyond the state of the art and challenge the status quo.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

Each day before work, I wake up at 5am to go trail running.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love every part of the design process and the result. Creativity and innovation are necessities that I have to fulfil. The search for inspiration and research is fun and curiosity needs to be satisfied. Finally, the tangible result of the aforementioned – is a product that comes to life through customers and users.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

Dream big. If the dream doesn't scare you, it's not big enough. If desires and goals are easily achievable, they do not push far enough outside the comfort zone, and the results are not excessive.

What is the most exciting project, memorable moment, or achievement you've worked on recently and why?

Many projects excite me because each one has its own story, and each bottle is a new child that we bring to life together with the entire team of the HRASTNIK1860.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in our industry?

Above all, a strong emotional attachment to glass comes from a combination of design possibilities, versatility, symbolism, historical significance, craftsmanship, technological innovation, and the functional beauty of glass products. People often find inspiration and fulfilment in working with or appreciating this unique material.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

My friend says that I can design bottles very well, but I really don't know how to make bread and pizza. :)

What do you love most about what you do?

I love that we can create something new every day and satisfy our loyal customers.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

It can be, no matter how demanding, a challenge can always be solved with the right team.

What is the most exciting project, memorable moment, or achievement you've worked on recently and why?

I was most impressed by the visit to one of our largest customers in Italy, where during the visit, we gained insight into what can be achieved in the glass industry and what innovations await us all in the near future. The company, same as HRASTNIK1860, invests significant resources in the development of glass packaging by acquiring advanced devices for automatic inspection of glass packaging.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in your industry?

Persistence and adaptability are key because production in the glass industry operates 24 hours a day.

What do you think sets our team/company apart from others in the industry?

Our employees, with their dedication and passion, can handle even the most demanding tasks. Exceptional adaptability in every situation enables us to respond quickly and satisfy even the most demanding customers.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

I always strive to transfer my positive energy to my colleagues, creating a pleasant working environment that makes it easier to overcome work challenges.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love the variety in my work. I'm never bored, and I feel that the activities I engage in contribute to creating a more pleasant working environment. Above all, with approximately 600 people at the glass factory, I have 600 opportunities every day to brighten someone's day and do something good.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

Never give up. You must never give up because anything can be achieved with willpower and determination. When faced with challenges, shift into a higher gear and surround yourself with the right people.

What is the most exciting project, memorable moment, or achievement you've worked on recently and why?

I was most impressed by receiving the GZS and AMCham award for the "Together into New Stories" project, which focused on building our employer brand. It was proof that we are on the right track. I believe that through this project and our activities, we convinced many great people to join our team.

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in your industry?

Knowing the company's processes and culture is key. Additionally, being able to multitask, improvise, display persistence, and have a knack for working with people are all important qualities.

What do you think sets our team/company apart from others in the industry?

Our team is exceptionally hardworking and passionate. Each of us puts our whole heart into achieving the best possible results. Sometimes, it feels like we can work miracles.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.

I am a positive person who enjoys putting others in a good mood. I prefer to avoid negative individuals who always see the downside of things. Those who know me well say that I approach work and play with the same level of enthusiasm. I have a passion for traveling, dancing, laughing, socializing, and spending time with my family. I always make time to chat with my colleagues. I believe that's what brings us together. With me, there's no such thing as "it's not possible." I strive to make everything I want to succeed.