From dreams of driving a tractor to a career in chemical engineering | Meet Pille Alder

The real world

After graduation, Pille began her career as a quality-control chemist at Wolf Group – a global manufacturer of sealants, adhesives, coatings and foams – where she checked product quality and ensured products met government standards. Next, she became a research and development (R&D) chemist at Wolf Group and helped develop “self-expanding tape” used in building products to provide solid thermal and sound insulation.

That work has proven highly relevant. Coatings, sealants and silicones for doors fall under Pille’s purview at JELD-WEN. She’s often involved in testing coatings and glue used in the production of doors.

Similar testing standards exist in both the adhesive and door industries – since both are exterior products. In both jobs, Pille was looking at air permeability, water resistance and fire safety.

Her manager, Glyn Hauser, R&D interior & exterior product group senior manager, said it was “immediately obvious how knowledgeable Pille is in her field of expertise and how structured and driven to find solutions she is. She’s a results-oriented person who is not afraid of a challenge.”

Pille’s aptitude for solving problems and accepting tough assignments – combined with how personable she is – have endeared her to colleagues. “She’s held in high regard,” Glyn said.

From Wolf Group’s R&D department, Pille joined JELD-WEN’s Regulatory compliance team, where she moved to the Quality Europe team and now belongs to the R&D Europe team. She's typically works in Saaremaa, Estonia’s biggest island.  When needed, she’ll fly to other JELD-WEN sites in Europe where she might consult with colleagues or participate in testing. 

JELD-WEN’s laboratories aren’t like chemistry labs populated by scientists in lab coats, white gloves and holding test tubes. Pille said, “In a building products laboratory, we’re testing mechanical forces instead of chemical conditions.”

Because Pille works on proprietary products and processes, she can’t publicly share much of what she does. What she can say is that her work involves ensuring that emissions are within government guidelines, that fire sealants work, that adhesives stick as they should, and that JELD-WEN’s doors meet all government health and safety standards. 

Women in engineering

Women have become more represented in chemical engineering in recent years, especially when compared to mechanical and computer engineering. Pille said she has never felt like she didn’t belong in the field.

“In my work, I have had male and female colleagues,” she said. “But now, on my R&D team, I am the only female and have seven male colleagues.” However, the dynamic doesn’t make a difference, she said. 

Glyn, her manager, agrees that gender isn’t a factor in the workplace. “I don’t see any gender bias working within manufacturing at JELD-WEN,” he said. “If you are capable, meet your goals and deliver on your promises, this is what matters.”

Pille is heartened to see more women becoming engineers. “More and more women are entering technical fields, which is good,” she said. “Everything is possible if you leave your comfort zone and start learning.”