Kicking off a new career in special production: Michael Hong-Gonzales
A career path with twists and turns
After earning his advanced technical diploma, Hong-Gonzales kick-started his career on the soccer field rather than at a desk or a workbench. He played for FC Cologne in the U19 Bundesliga before receiving an enticing offer to move to Hungary’s second division. “I was determined to become a professional soccer player and was ready to make sacrifices to make it happen. While my friends were out partying on the weekends, I went to bed early to be in top shape for games and training,” recalls the 31-year-old.
But careers don’t always go as planned—especially when external factors play just as big a role as discipline and passion. In 2014, he returned to Germany from Hungary and was ready for a fresh start. A staffing agency helped him secure a temporary position at Coroplast Tape. “Coroplast is a household name in Wuppertal, so I already knew it had a strong reputation for being a great place to work,” he explains. Getting a foot in the door here as a career changer felt like a major opportunity—and he was eager to make the most of it.
From machine operator to specialist
Michael Hong-Gonzales began his Coroplast Tape journey as a machine operator and has remained true to this path ever since. “Right from the start, I had the opportunity to work in different departments within this field while gradually taking on more and more responsibility,” he enthuses. He also notes, “Our department handles specialized orders, so understanding the various production processes was — and still is — essential.” His hard work paid off in 2016 when he was offered a permanent position at Coroplast Tape. Since then, he has not only excelled as a machine operator but has also established himself as a highly sought-after specialist in his field.
What he enjoys most about his job is the wide range of tasks: “One day, I’m creating high-precision adhesive bonds, and the next, our team is developing innovative new production processes for bespoke customer requests.” It’s this variety that keeps the job exciting for him.
An eye for the extraordinary
“What all these tasks have in common is the manual craftsmanship involved,” explains Michael Hong-Gonzales. Combining different materials into custom end products also requires precision and teamwork: “One machine produces the intermediate product and the next one processes it further, so everything has to be perfectly coordinated.” Looking to the future, he’s confident that his work will remain in demand. Highly customized processes and meticulous fine-tuning are so essential that automation is unlikely to offer a viable alternative.
I firmly believe that our combination of manual craftsmanship and bespoke production processes is not something robots or AI will be able to take over any time soon.
From Wuppertal out into the world
Another exciting topic for Michael Hong-Gonzales is Coroplast Group’s global presence. “I can definitely see myself working at another location for a while—ideally in the U.S. or Asia,” he says, his eyes lighting up at the thought. His wanderlust has already taken him to many far-flung destinations in his personal life, including several weeks island-hopping in Thailand, along with trips to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the U.S. The next place on his bucket list is Brazil.
Beyond his passion for travel, Michael Hong-Gonzales has always maintained his passion for soccer — these days as a player for VfB Schwelm in the district league. “My shift pattern makes it easy to work around my training and games,” he says, grateful for the flexibility his job provides.
Actively shaping the future
After nine years at Coroplast — seven of them in a permanent role — Michael Hong-Gonzales is excited about what lies ahead. Since January, he has been training as an assistant shift supervisor, marking a major step in his career progression. He is also taking full advantage of Coroplast’s internal training programs, including English courses, to further his professional skills and personal development. The support from the company has given him a real boost in this regard: “At Coroplast, I know I can always count on flexibility, fair working conditions, and great perks like company health insurance. But most importantly, I feel like more than just a number here.”
Coroplast Group in one word
It’s an easy answer for Michael Hong-Gonzales: “Supportive. You’re really valued as a person here and encouraged to grow — that’s what makes the difference for me.” Just like in soccer, success comes from a mix of teamwork and individual development. “I’ve definitely found my new team here at Coroplast,” he reflects, “and there’s no doubt that we’re in the premier league.”
