At Krones Hungary Ltd., supporting young talent is of key importance. The OTDK provides an excellent opportunity for the company to meet and connect with the next generation of forward-thinking professionals and encourage them to think, ask questions, and create. We spoke with Dr. Zoltán Kocsis, Managing Director of Krones Hungary Ltd.
Why does OTDK matter to Krones?
Krones is a market leader, and our manufacturing technologies reflect that leadership. The key to our success lies in continuous innovation, creativity, a solution-oriented mindset, and a strong commitment to sustainability—even in the smallest workflows. To achieve this, we strive to employ professionals with the highest level of expertise. This is closely linked to the quality of local higher education, which I can only speak of with the utmost respect. Krones Hungary has been actively supporting engineering training at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Debrecen for years—not only by participating in educational programs but also by offering practical training opportunities for students.
The OTDK is important to us because we believe that the qualities we value most in our top-performing colleagues—such as curiosity, precision, and commitment—often appear already during their studies. This event is a great platform for meeting those students who may become the most outstanding professionals of the future.
As an experienced company leader, what advice would you give students to succeed in the competition?
Don’t let what you don’t know discourage you! Instead, view the situation as a chance to grow. Students can learn far more from a competition like this than expected. Each challenge helps develop skills that they will later benefit from in their daily work. I encourage them to explore which areas are their greatest strengths—whether it’s mapping out complex problems, exceptional data analysis, or persuasive presentation skills. Leveraging these strengths can help them perform more confidently in the competition and later in their professional lives.
What value does participation in the OTDK bring from an employer’s perspective?
This kind of competition is full of opportunities—it’s not just a contest but also a unique chance to present oneself before entering the job market. It also develops a wide range of competencies that are essential in a professional setting: research and problem-solving abilities, independent thinking, presentation and communication skills, and last but not least, innovation. It’s also worth mentioning that participants can build valuable relationships during the event. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations during the breaks and, if possible, attend each other’s presentations.
How is Krones engaging with students during the OTDK—and why should they connect?
As the main sponsor of the 37th OTDK Technical Section, we aim to contribute to the event’s high standard at several locations. On the 1st floor, we’re creating a calm, welcoming community space where participants can relax, recharge, and engage in meaningful conversations. We’ll provide the jury members a VIP room in the ground-floor library, where they can retreat before or after their duties.
In the main hall, interested visitors can meet us at our career booth, where Krones colleagues will be available to answer questions about the company, internship opportunities, and open positions. On Thursday, April 24 at 2:00 PM on the 4th floor, we will host a presentation titled Krones: An Introduction to the World of Food Industry Machinery, offering an inside look into our company’s practical operations.
