Control that creates delivery power

When a mission starts at Mongstad, when maintenance work is underway at Kårstø, or when the team mobilizes to Hammerfest, a lot has already been done. 

The equipment has been checked. The packing lists have been reviewed. Everything is tested and ready. 

Behind that work stands the workshop. 

Thomas Jacobsen has been with Thermotech for 13 years. He started as an operator and worked in the field for 11 years before taking on the role of workshop manager. 

“I know what it's like to be out at work and depend on everything to work. I bring that experience with me into the workshop every day,” he says. 

 

From operator to workshop manager 

The role is varied and close to both people and disciplines. 

Thomas is responsible for ensuring that equipment comes in and out, is available and in good working order. He follows up on apprentices and assists project managers with technical insight, including choosing the right equipment for different jobs. 

The workdays range from meetings and planning to practical maintenance. A lot is about logistics, but even more about overview and structure. 

 

Check before each mission 

Before a new mission starts, the previous one must be completed correctly. 

When equipment is returned, it is sorted, inspected and maintained. Wear parts are checked, functions are tested and documentation is reviewed. It is then re-prepared after ordering, packing lists are made and the equipment is sent out again. 

Sometimes it is a smaller standard package. Other times it is a larger mobilization with extensive equipment lists. Regardless of the size, the principle is the same: Operators should arrive prepared, with equipment that has been reviewed and ready to use. 

– They shouldn't have to spend time wondering if something works. That responsibility lies with us. 

Capacity and development 

Thermotech is known for responding quickly when there is an emergency. This flexibility is also evident in the workshop. 

– We mobilize personnel and equipment on the day, and are often faster than many others. When we are done with our work, we help others. It is in our culture. 

At the same time, capacity is also about developing services further. In 2025, Thermotech invested in a new, large milling machine, an important boost in machining and repair jobs. 

It is used for foundation work and precision tasks where tolerances are small. 

– We use laser alignment to level it. We're talking precision down to hundredths of a millimeter. The people who operate it have courses in laser surveying, so we know it's done correctly. 

For customers, it means more precise deliveries. For operators, it means equipment they can rely on. 

 

Quality is security 

For Thomas, quality is about responsibility. 

– Maintenance must be thorough. It is boring for the operator if something does not work, but in some cases it can also be dangerous. For example, in heat treatment. Then everything must be controlled and documented. 

He has regular dialogue with the operators in the field, including about the transport of equipment, vehicles, clothing and protective equipment. Communication often goes through the project manager, but the framework is set in the workshop. 

When operators travel abroad, whether for assignments in the north, south, east or west of the country, they should be able to focus on their work. 

Then everything else must already be done correctly. 

And it starts in the workshop.