9. May 2025 | Staff
Retirement Meets Tech Passion: A Day in the Life of a PLC Expert at DiTEC
Everyday life of a PLC (SPS) expert at DiTEC: between technology, travel, and true success moments.
1. Introduction
Technology is not just a profession, it’s a mindset, and for some, a lifelong calling. In a world where digital processes and automation are more in demand than ever, PLC programmers are at the heart of technical progress. But what happens when an experienced expert retires and still doesn’t want to stop? At DiTEC, personalities like Hans-Peter Baitsch show that a passion for technology knows no age limit.
a. Why Passion for Technology Knows No Age
Technology isn’t just a career field; it’s a way of thinking. Curiosity, a spirit of invention, and the drive to solve complex challenges don’t stop with retirement.
Experienced professionals, in particular, have a deep understanding of processes and systems that no textbook can teach. The joy of learning something new and improving what already exists remains — even well beyond age 60.
2. The Special Appeal of PLC Programming
PLC programming is not a routine job. It’s highly dynamic, challenging, and demands systems thinking. Those who work in this field are part of projects that bring technology to life — from controlling a packaging machine to automating complex production lines.
a. Between Machines and Code: The Fascination of PLC
The interplay between hardware and software is fascinating. PLC experts operate between digital command chains and physical reality. They write code that controls valves, reads sensors, and sets entire production lines in motion. This direct impact on the real world is exciting — even after decades in the profession.
b. What PLC Programmers Really Do – Beyond the Theory
They analyze processes, create circuit diagrams, develop control concepts, and adapt programs on-site to customer requirements. Often under time pressure, in noisy workshops or on international construction sites — PLC work is far from a desk job.
c. Why Every Commissioning is Unique
No project is ever the same. Every system, every customer, every installation has its own specifics. That’s the appeal: constantly discovering new things, staying flexible, being able to improvise, and finding solutions where standard approaches fail.
3. The Heart of DiTEC: Our PLC Department
Here, experience, innovation, and team spirit come together. Whether young talents or seasoned PLC veterans — at DiTEC, technical excellence is lived as a team. The department stands for quality, commitment, and the drive to always get the best results.
a. Diversity of Projects: From Concept to Commissioning
Our PLC experts oversee projects from planning and development through to global commissioning. Sometimes it’s about retrofitting existing systems, other times about brand-new installations. Every project is a new adventure.
b. Working with International Clients and System Builders
Global collaboration is part of everyday life. Clients from Europe, Asia, or the Americas rely on our expertise. The work demands intercultural competence, precision, and the ability to meet individual requirements.
c. Team Spirit and Support in Everyday Project Work
Keiner steht allein. Bei DiTEC ist der Zusammenhalt stark – ob im Homeoffice oder auf Baustellen in Spanien. Kollegialität, gegenseitige Hilfe und flache Hierarchien sorgen für ein Arbeitsklima, in dem sich auch Senior Experts wie Hans-Peter Baitsch wohlfühlen.
4. A Love for Technology After Retirement – How It All Began
Hans-Peter Baitsch could have retired after more than 25 years at DiTEC. Instead, he chose to continue. Why? Because for him, technology is not just a job, but a passion. He loves facing new challenges every day. And he knows his knowledge is still needed.
a. When Retirement Isn't an Option
Retirement sounds tempting to some — but to others like Hans-Peter, it's just a theoretical concept. The idea of trading the workbench for a TV chair simply doesn’t fit. Why stop when you can still make a difference?
b. What Motivates Someone to Stay Active Beyond Retirement Age
The opportunity to contribute. Projects that get your pulse racing. Young colleagues who benefit from experience. And of course: the pride of being needed. Technology remains exciting — at any stage of life.
c. The Desire to Share Knowledge
Senior experts aren’t lone warriors. They are knowledge sharers, mentors, and idea generators. They carry the responsibility to ensure that their experience isn’t lost, but multiplied.
5. Mentoring and Knowledge Transfer Through Experience
Hans-Peter supports young colleagues with advice and action. He explains relationships, thinks beyond mistakes, and encourages process-based thinking. This grows a new team with resilience — practical experience for real-world application.
a. Why Experience is Worth Gold
In difficult situations, people often don’t reach for books — they turn to those with experience. These individuals spot problems faster, act more calmly, and make decisions with foresight. That’s exactly what makes them invaluable in project work.
b. How Young Colleagues Benefit from Know-How
Newcomers learn not just technology, but mindset. Taking responsibility, paying attention, being patient — all are part of learning. And anyone who has Hans-Peter at their side learns twice as fast.
c. Success Stories from Cross-Generational Exchange
It’s the little but meaningful moments: when a young colleague masters a tricky task — thanks to a tip from a seasoned PLC programmer. Or when a project wraps up faster because a veteran spotted the pitfalls early on.
6. Staying Active: Physically, Mentally, and Professionally
Anyone who thinks technical work is only a mental activity is mistaken. Commissioning systems means traveling, being on-site at construction sites, checking control cabinets — and it requires intense mental focus. It keeps you fit — on all levels.
a. Work Keeps You Fit – Mentally and Emotionally
Routine gives security, projects provide structure. Those who keep working, stay in motion — emotionally as well. Especially for those passionate about technology, continuing to work after retirement often adds life satisfaction.
b. Staying Up to Date with Technology
Standing still is not an option. Senior experts also keep learning — through training, industry events, or direct project work. Experience meets innovation.
c. How Continuing Education Looks After Retirement
Hans-Peter regularly attends workshops. New standards, current software versions, or changing customer requirements — he keeps up to date. Learning never stops.
7. Traveling in Retirement: PLC on the Move
Travel is part of the job — and doesn’t stop in retirement. Hans-Peter was most recently in southern Germany, previously in Spain. New places, new systems, new people — that’s what keeps work exciting.
From Northern Germany to Southern Europe: Assignments in Retirement
Sometimes it’s a production plant in Portugal, other times a retrofit in Lower Saxony. The assignments are diverse — just like the tasks.
b. Technology in Tow – Challenges Away from the Office
Staying in hotels, starting machines on Monday, night shifts on Tuesday — it’s part of the job. For Hans-Peter, it’s not a problem, but lived reality. With technology, tools, and experience in his suitcase.
c. What Travel Means for Motivation
New places bring new energy. Those who travel a lot remain open and adaptable. For many, traveling is a driving force — even in advanced age.
8. The Joy of Challenge
It’s not the easy tasks that remain — it’s the complex commissions, the demanding systems, the tricky special cases. These exact challenges are what turn a job into a calling.
a. Why Solving Problems Still Excites After Decades
Every malfunction is a puzzle. Every fix is a success story. The joy of bringing a system back to life — it never fades. Even after 40 years in the job.
b. The Little Moments of Joy in Everyday PLC Work
When, after many hours of hard work, the system runs flawlessly. When the customer smiles in satisfaction. Or when your own program runs without errors — these are the quiet highlights.
c. The Feeling: “I Nailed It”
You stand in front of the system, the machine is running — and you know: that was my achievement. That feeling is priceless. It motivates. It stays.
9. Appreciation and Culture at DiTEC
DiTEC recognizes what truly matters: commitment, experience, and passion. Those who contribute receive appreciation — not just through words, but through genuine recognition in everyday work.
a. An Employer That Recognizes Commitment
Hans-Peter isn’t seen as a retiree at DiTEC — he’s an expert. And that’s how he’s treated. His work is valued, and his knowledge is in active demand. A mindset that builds trust.
b. Flexible Models for Senior Experts
Part-time roles, project-based assignments, individual working hours — DiTEC creates flexibility. This makes the job compatible with life. And motivated professionals remain with the company.
10. Working in Old Age — Trend or Exception?
More and more professionals want to keep working after retirement. Not out of financial need, but from conviction. For many, retirement isn’t a break — it’s a new beginning, in their own way.
a. A Social View of Active Retirement
What once seemed unusual is now becoming an option: active retirees who build bridges between generations with their knowledge. A valuable development in an aging society.
b. Why Tech Enthusiasts Often Stay Longer
Because technology excites. Because projects inspire. Because the brain wants to keep working. Tech lovers like Hans-Peter Baitsch don’t need retirement — they need challenges.
11. A Future with Experience: The Role of Older Professionals
In times of skilled labor shortages, experienced employees are indispensable. They bring stability, knowledge, and foresight. Companies that recognize this gain a competitive edge.
a. Actively Addressing the Skilled Labor Shortage
Senior Experts sind keine Notlösung – sie sind Teil der Antwort. Indem sie Projekte voranbringen und junge Talente ausbilden, leisten sie einen wertvollen Beitrag zur Zukunftsfähigkeit des Unternehmens.
b. Senior Experts as Anchors of Stability
When things get tight, deadlines shift, and solutions are needed — they are there. With calm, perspective, and experience. Unshaken. Efficient. Reliable.
c. How Companies Benefit from the Knowledge of the 60+ Generation
It’s not just know-how that senior experts bring — it’s also their mindset. A sense of responsibility, pragmatism, and teamwork. Values that carry projects forward.
12. Conclusion
a. A Love for Technology Doesn’t End with Retirement
It keeps growing. It deepens with experience. And it stays — when the environment is right. Personalities like Hans-Peter Baitsch show: those who live for technology don’t need an age limit.
b. Retirement Can Be the Start of a New Career Chapter
It’s not the end that matters — but what you make of it. And sometimes, retirement is exactly the right moment to start fresh.
Interested in technology, travel, and challenges?
Become part of our PLC team at DiTEC! Discover current job openings on our careers page:: https://ditec-gmbh.com/karriere