"Experience can't be taught"—Meet Commissioning Engineer Christian Thorup -

Christian Thorup: Experience can't be taught in a classroom

When Christian Thorup picks up the phone and hears a familiar voice from Plant Supervision on the other end, he knows full well what’s coming.

“When they call, asking for help with a new project, I simply can’t say no”.

Ending up in the right place

After almost 40 years in the technical industry, Christian has seen his fair share of sites, factories, and commissioning challenges.
His career began at Aalborg Portland in the 1980s, later moving to FLSmidth, where he spent over a decade before taking an unexpected turn: becoming a boat builder. But in 2014, when Christian realized that boat building wasn’t really for him, he joined Plant Supervision and rejoined his initial line of work.

“I’ve always liked seeing new places and starting up new installations from scratch. Every factory is different, every challenge unique. You can’t learn that from a book. Only from experience. That’s what makes us veteran specialists so attractive.”

Today, Christian works as a Commissioning Engineer, recently part of a four-man team covering 24/7 shifts at a lime kiln project in Portugal. The work rhythm is structured and fair: eight days on, two days off—far from the exhausting 12-hour shifts that once defined the industry, he recalls.

Appreciation as fuel

But for Christian, it’s not just about the work. It’s about how Plant Supervision treats its people.
“Plant Supervision takes care of us. When I was in Portugal, they even arranged for my wife to join me, at their expense. That’s something you don’t forget. You feel valued.”

As an experienced supervisor, he also appreciates the freedom that comes with the job.
“The great thing about working on contract is that you can say no. You get to choose your destinations, project scopes, and duration, and Plant Supervision respects that. But truth be told, I rarely turn them down,” he laughs.

Discover more employee experiences here.

The travel bug

Between projects, Christian enjoys his time at home in Denmark, until the next call comes in. Then it’s back to the airports, back to the field, back to the kind of work he still loves after all these years.
After all, staying in touch has never been easier. In between visits, he and his wife talk on the phone several times a week. He recalls when fax was the only method of communication and the distance seemed much bigger.

Yet despite his age, Christian’s enthusiasm hasn’t faded. At 70, he says his motivation is no longer financial. When asked what motivates him, he mentions that he finds experiencing new countries and starting up new machinery truly exciting, with the paycheck coming second. Having said that, working past retirement age has become increasingly advantageous since the Danish government has introduced a reform that keeps your wages from reducing your state pension like they used to.

Read more about working at Plant Supervision past retirement age here.

A taste for this kind of life

Christian recalls one time standing in a paint shop, buying supplies to paint his house, when suddenly the phone rings. Calling was his wife with a message from Christian’s boss. “You’re going to Thailand tonight.” So naturally, Christian had to put down the paint brushes and instead locate his passport. Another time, Christian was sent on a three-week assignment in Italy, which ended up lasting 11 months.

These anecdotes show just how flexible and unpredictable life as an interim commissioning engineer can be; an unpredictability that, according to Christian, makes the job all the more fun. He especially enjoys kicking off a new project, when he can make the biggest difference.

He adds that he has always navigated through life by planning five years ahead at a time. After that, he starts to get bored and long for change.

Feeling safe with Plant Supervision on the sideline

Although the technical and professional aspects of his job have to do with the client, Plant Supervision takes care of everything else: from contracts, visas and site access to travel, accommodation, and practical arrangements. That peace of mind makes Christian feel well looked after and appreciated when he’s away from home.

Project Manager Thomas Kristensen has worked with Christian for several years and values his contribution and kind demeanor:

“Christian was actually retired when we persuaded him to join us. He travels for us whenever it fits with his family life, and that flexibility works perfectly for both sides. He brings specialist knowledge that’s hard to find, and he’s a great colleague, well-liked by both among co-workers and clients.”

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