Where Youth Meets Experience
The Automation Department of BIPROMET S.A. (from July 1, 2026 – the Electrical and Automation Department) for years has been building its strength on combining experience with the energy of young engineers. Some still remember the beginnings of computer-aided design, while others are just starting their professional careers. They are united by one thing – the desire to create modern solutions and the willingness to share knowledge.
Wieńczysław Janicki, a senior designer in the Automation Department, has been associated with Bipromet for more than a quarter of a century. He joined the company in 2000, shortly after graduating in Automation and Robotics from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology at the Silesian University of Technology.After a short break, when he continued to carry out projects for Bipromet, he returned to the company full-time, right at the moment when, at the end of 2010 Bipromet began implementing its largest investment for KGHM – the Głogów Copper Smelter Pyrometallurgy Modernization Program. Since then, he has worked continuously in the Automation Department, applying his knowledge and experience to successive projects.
“Over all these years, the organizational structure and the way the company operated have changed, but the nature of our work has remained the same. Regardless of organizational and legal changes, we continued to carry out projects for Bipromet and work together on successive investments,” recalls our designer.
Wieńczysław Janicki's career development happened during one of the greatest technological revolutions in design. At the beginning of his professional career, drafting boards were still widely used in design offices, and a significant portion of documentation was prepared by hand. Computers were only gradually becoming the designer's primary working tool.
“At first, programs such as Logocad and AutoCAD were used, while much of the archival documentation still existed only in paper form. Many experienced designers prepared concepts and sketches on paper, and my task was to transfer them into computer software. It was a period of transition from traditional design methods to working in a CAD environment. We had the opportunity to learn new tools and observe how digitalization was transforming the way technical documentation was prepared. Today, design work is carried out entirely digitally, using modern tools tailored to clients' requirements,” adds Wieńczysław Janicki.
In the following years, the development of design software significantly improved the work of designers. Digital tools, including 3D design technologies, not only accelerated the preparation of documentation but also increased its accuracy and facilitated collaboration among specialists from different disciplines. Wieńczysław Janicki had the opportunity to witness and participate in these changes from the very beginning, gaining experience in both traditional design methods and the modern solutions that have now become the industry standard.
Among the youngest employees of the Automation Department is Jakub Tymkiewicz, who started working at Bipromet on January 7, 2026. This is his first job after graduating from the Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science at the Silesian University of Technology, where he studied Automation and Robotics.
He learned about Bipromet during a job fair organized at the university. Looking for a place where, as a young engineer, he could develop his competencies, gain practical experience, and participate in demanding industrial projects, he decided to apply to our company.
Jakub’s first months at work were a period of intensive onboarding and learning. The knowledge he acquired during his studies was quickly put to the test through everyday project work and expanded with skills related to automation systems design, preparation of technical documentation, and familiarization with the standards applied in industrial investment projects.
“University gave me a solid theoretical foundation, but it was only through working on real projects that I truly understood what the design process looks like in practice. Every new task is an opportunity to gain experience and develop my skills,” says Jakub Tymkiewicz. He adds that working alongside a team of experienced designers allows him to benefit from the knowledge of his senior colleagues and gradually gain independence in carrying out increasingly challenging tasks.
As he emphasizes, he particularly values the opportunity to participate in projects carried out for various branches of industry. Thanks to this, every day he learns about new technical solutions, technological processes, and the specifics of working as an automation designer. One of the first tasks entrusted to him was developing templates to streamline the preparation of design documentation and automate some of the repetitive tasks, which helped increase the team's efficiency.
“During my studies, the focus was mainly on programming and control systems. Here, I am primarily learning how to design automation installations, create schematics and technical documentation, and understand the technological processes for which we develop solutions. I learn a great deal from colleagues with more professional experience. They show me good design practices, help me understand the specifics of individual projects, and share knowledge that simply cannot be gained during university studies,” says Jakub Tymkiewicz.
The stories of these employees demonstrate how important generational continuity is and how valuable it is to combine experience with a fresh perspective. Mr. Wieńczysław Janicki, (możliwe wersje: Mr. Janicki,/ Mr. Wieńczysław Janicki / Wieńczysław Janicki – bez Mr.) Jeśli priorytetem jest zaznaczenie różnicy pokoleń przez odnienienie się do Pana Wieńczysława tytułem Pan, w odróżnieniu od Jakuba, który występuje w tekście jako Jakub, to wersja Mr. Janicki jest moim zdaniem najlepsza. who has worked at the company for more than 26 years, is always willing to offer advice, passing on to younger employees, such as Jakub, not only technical knowledge but also a practical approach to problem-solving and an understanding of the specifics of project execution. It is clear in everyday work that this collaboration benefits both sides—it encourages looking at many issues from different perspectives and makes it possible to combine proven solutions with new ideas. In this way, many years of experience come together with a fresh outlook and openness to modern technologies. This cooperation enables knowledge transfer, the development of competencies, and the successful delivery of increasingly demanding industrial projects. In our company, experience and youth do not compete with one another—they complement each other.
Over the decades, technologies, work tools, and the organization of the company have changed, yet the employees’ commitment and responsibility for the quality of the projects they prepare have remained constant. These values have long been the foundation of Bipromet’s success and allow us to look with optimism toward the future challenges facing our company.