When Marcel Grötzinger walked into a warehouse in 1984, he never imagined he would be embarking on a 40-year journey. But that is precisely what happened. Now a Customer Experience Manager for Radiometer (a Danaher business), he has experienced more during his tenure than most do in a lifetime of work.
From disco parties to diagnostics
“I started working young, I even had to go to court with my mother to get legal permission to run a company as a minor,” Marcel begins. “When I was 17, I already had my own business organizing events, fashion shows, pop festivals, beach parties—but mainly large disco parties, the biggest in the Netherlands in those days.”
By the age of 18, Marcel had saved enough to buy himself a car, and two years later, his first house. But serving in the army led to a change in personal priorities, and he left the party business behind.
“I wanted something different. I didn’t know what exactly, so I just started working, doing different jobs. One day, I started in the warehouse at a privately owned distribution company, and Radiometer was the biggest customer. That’s where it all began.”
A company that kept changing—and kept him interested
Radiometer in 1985 looked very different from what it does today. “The company I worked for was privately owned back then. Small, local, very different from the global organization we are now.”
Over the years, Marcel witnessed the company undergo multiple transitions—first becoming part of Radiometer Medical in 1989, then being acquired by Danaher in 2004, and subsequently expanding its footprint across the Benelux in 2009. In 2024, his team merged with the UK marketing team.
“I feel fortunate and appreciative to have grown alongside the company, adapting to each change and contributing wherever I could. I’ve worked under 10 different general managers, and each one brought their own style and focus. That’s part of what kept it interesting. I didn’t feel like I was working 40 years in the same place.”
“Over the past 40 years, I’ve seen Radiometer evolve in many ways — sometimes dramatically, but the strong teams and our shared values have always made it feel like home.”
Lifelong learning, lifelong relationships
Marcel didn’t just stay in the same job. He went back to school to get his degree while working, taking marketing and specialist courses that helped him grow professionally.
“I think learning while you’re working is different. You can apply what you learn straight away, and that makes it stick.”
What else kept him going? The people.
“I’ve met so many great colleagues over the years—Dutch, Danish, Belgian, French, Spanish, British, German. We always focus on hiring people who fit the team. That made a big difference.”
Staying with Radiometer for the long haul
“Over the past 40 years, I’ve seen Radiometer evolve in many ways — sometimes dramatically, but the strong teams and our shared values have always made it feel like home.”
“It was never work—it was always fun,” says Marcel. “Even my wife liked that I worked here. That still means a lot to me.”
He remembers the excitement of launching new analyzers, plus numerous new tools and services. “There was always something new coming from Radiometer. You never knew what the next year would bring.” But he also offers a word of advice: “Innovation is key. I’ve seen years where nothing happened, and suddenly something new would shake things up. I hope Radiometer keeps pushing for innovation, especially now.”
A moment in history
If there’s one moment Marcel will never forget, it’s the night the Berlin Wall fell: November 9, 1989.
“I was with colleagues from Radiometer Deutschland. We were in our office in The Hague, the Netherlands, for a few days. They were helping us with a big project. The evening of November 9th, Radiometer organized the introduction of the ABL500 series at the Hansa Hotel in Krefeld (which was West Germany at that time). We were driving back with the radio on in the car, listening to the historical news.”
“That night we had a big party—the mood was unforgettable. One of the most historic and emotional moments in modern German and European history. To be with German Radiometer colleagues at that moment was a unique experience.”
The movie that won a (sort-of) Oscar
Another highlight was a three-day Marketing Conference in Copenhagen in 2008, where the AQT90 FLEX was introduced. Teams created short films with the help of professional directors, sound engineers and camera crews from Danish television.
“We had to write the script, act in it, everything. Then we had our own Oscars ceremony at the Design Museum in Copenhagen, in full tuxedos,” Marcel laughs. “It was so inspiring that I told my son about it, and he later went to the Amsterdam Film Academy and now runs his own sound studio. Our team won two awards for Best Radiometer Film (one selected by the jury and one selected by the participants), and the trophy still sits on my shelf.”
Final thoughts
So, what makes someone stay at the same company for four decades? For Marcel, it’s simple. “It’s amazing how quickly time passes when you’re surrounded by good people and unforgettable memories.”
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