Last Updated on May 15, 2025 by PALFINGER
At PALFINGER, we believe in more than just providing exceptional products and services. We believe in the individuals who shape and contribute to our success. Faces of PALFINGER MARINE is a blog series highlighting the diverse talents and perspectives of our colleagues across roles and locations. For our latest edition, we caught up with Simon Brändle, one of our dedicated service technicians specializing in marine and wind cranes. Based in Germany, Simon travels across Europe for service assignments on offshore wind farms, sharing valuable insights from his hands-on work in the field.
PALFINGER MARINE THROUGH AND THROUGH
If you’ve recently come across a cool pic on one of our social media channels, it is more than likely that the shot was taken by Simon. He joined PALFINGER as part of a product technician apprenticeship in Lengau, Austria, as a 16-year-old in 2014. After completing civilian service in Austria, he returned to the fold as a member of the Austrian quality assurance team. “After a couple of years, I realized that I wanted to see the world and learn more about our products in action,” Simon recalls. “I was especially fascinated by offshore wind turbines, so I started asking around about opportunities in that field. And here I am at PALFINGER MARINE in Germany, working as a service technician for marine and wind cranes since 2021,” he smiles.
“I handle commissioning, service, repair, and troubleshooting tasks for all PALFINGER MARINE wind and marine cranes. To work offshore, I completed the mandatory one-week offshore training required by the Global Wind Organization. Depending on the country I’m operating in, I’m required to refresh this training every two years,” he explains. Simon boasts an impressive track record, having contributed to several prominent offshore wind farms, including Baltic 2, Gode Wind 1 & 2, Borkum Riffgrund 1 & 2, Wikinger, Gemini, Bligh Bank, Rentel, and Belwind, across Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
When asked about interesting current assignments, he mentions a recent trip to Spain. “We commissioned PF160 cranes that are already mounted on a transition piece for a new offshore wind farm. I took some really cool photos there,” he reveals.
THE ANATOMY OF A TYPICAL SERVICE JOB
So, what does a typical offshore service assignment involve?”. “Typically, an assignment team consists of two PALFINGER MARINE technicians and one technician from the wind park operator,” Simon explains. “An annual inspection rotation can take up to 14 days, while repair or troubleshooting jobs usually last three to four days.
The duration of an assignment depends heavily on the weather conditions on site.
Offshore workdays are known to be tough, and Simon’s job is no different in that respect. “When we’re working offshore, we work 12 hours a day every day of the week. That can be particularly challenging when you need to contact the back office for support or a missing spare part at the weekend,” he smiles and adds: “Waiting in horizontal rain is a real test of character.”
Simon’s typical offshore workday begins with the transfer to the respective wind turbine, either via a crew transport vessel or via the gangway of a service operation vessel. After a short meeting to discuss everyone’s assignments, the so-called ‘toolbox talk’, Simon and his colleagues start servicing the PALFINGER MARINE cranes on location. Once the task is completed, Simon radios in to coordinate his return, whether back to the shore or to another turbine. “It’s a good thing that I don’t get seasick easily,” Simon laughs.
LOOKING AHEAD
Simon values the fact that PALFINGER MARINE is a global player with hubs all around the world. “One of the most fulfilling aspects of my job is that there’s always an opportunity for a career change or a promotion within the company. I’m the living proof of that,” he says. “Despite all the traveling, you never feel like an anonymous cog in a large system. Every PALFINGER MARINE location has welcomed me with open arms. Sometimes I even get to combine a work assignment with a private holiday.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone who describes himself as determined is currently training for a middle-distance triathlon. We wish you the best of luck with the triathlon and hope you enjoy travelling the world with PALFINGER. Don’t forget to collect plenty of cool pics along the way!
Eager to find out more about the career path of other PALFINGER MARINE employees? Keep an eye open for the next edition of Faces of PALFINGER MARINE right here.