The craftsman who carved a career in gas turbines

Andre Willmann’s global energy adventure is a testament to his dedication to technology and people. He explains how it “just unfolded this way”.

From a young age, Andre Willmann had a flair for meticulous craftsmanship. He loved carving and shaping wood.

However, he chose to train as a machining technician at Siemens Energy's Berlin gas turbine manufacturing plant. A career path chosen to meet his parents’ expectations.

Today, more than 30 years later, Andre is the father of 11-year-old twins and the family lives in Dubai, returning to Germany only for visits to escape the intense heat of the United Arab Emirates.

He would never have foreseen this development. “As a little boy, the Baltic Sea was the only holiday destination I knew. The leap from my tranquil home in Mühlenbecker Land on the outskirts of Berlin to the wide world was enormous,” he recalls.

This article is part of the Energy Workforce in Transition series, brought to you by Siemens Energy and Enlit's sister-publication Power Engineering International.

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The turning point came during a night shift. A supervisor found Andre studying books and materials beside the milling machine during a lull in work. The young man had decided to further his education part-time and become a state-certified technician, a specialised qualification in Germany.

Impressed by this initiative, the supervisor soon offered him a role in Iran. “This man gave me the chance to grow in international projects and adventures,” says Andre.

Life and work in a desert state

Andre’s career took him to China, the USA, and Russia, where he worked on projects to qualify repair shops for refurbishing gas turbine components. Immersed in diverse cultures and new experiences, he embraced his growing freedom.

In 2021, Andre and his family relocated to Dubai. “Now, the twins speak better English than I do,” he jokes. Life in the desert state is different: their leisure time includes desert camping instead of forest walks, shopping mall visits over city strolls, and swimming in the sea and the pool.

While they look forward to enjoying the fresh air and green nature in Germany in the summer, they are grateful for the opportunity to explore the Emirates thanks to Siemens Energy. “It’s truly a privilege,” he says.

Other future energy shapers:
Cynthia Wirth: Meet the woman who sees the energy transition in 3D
Tobias Greitemeier: How hydrogen took a trainee to the future of energy

Repairing components worth a small car

As a project qualification manager, Andre supports new gas-fired power plants in Saudi Arabia, where Siemens Energy supplies key technologies (see info box). Each new plant triggers a cycle of wear, refurbishment, and reoperation.

Hot gas turbine components are subjected to extreme stress. They channel the gas stream at over 1,200°C and must be regularly serviced. Specialist companies meticulously repair them on-site, removing thermal barrier coatings, cleaning, and soldering cracks, and refurbish the components to their original state. Andre develops detailed technical specifications and ensures suppliers adhere to them.

Local repairs with short transport routes are more sustainable, energy-efficient, and about 30% cheaper than replacing the expensive cast components. Some parts, Andre notes, are worth as much as a small car. “This is local recycling at its finest.”

Nurturing young talent and sharing knowledge

Beyond technology, Andre values fair relationships with people, contributing his expertise on an equal footing. His philosophy: “Knowledge is power, but only if we share it.”

It drives him to see and nurture young talent, just as he was seen during a night shift in Berlin: “The skills and values I’ve developed, I want to pass on – not just to my own children, but to many young people.”

This also means staying flexible on the job - so, Andre remains open to the possibility that his role in the Emirates might one day be replaced by another project in a different country.

“As a large company, Siemens Energy offers exciting opportunities. And as long as we stay together as a family, we’re open to many possibilities.”

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