Interview

Three questions for Mitja Prelog

Today, we would like to introduce Mitja Prelog, who took on the key role of Head of Development and Mechanical Design for the Farmtech in March.

1. You joined Farmtech in 2018. Can you tell us about the most important stages in your career?

I grew up on a farm as a child and was fascinated by agricultural technology and everything related from an early age. This was the reason I decided for an education in mechanical and technical fields and later to study mechanical engineering. During high school, I did an internship at Farmtech, where I joined the Development and Mechanical Design team in 2018 as part of my internship program. This was the start of my career at Farmtech, a company I have always been familiar with as my father works for the company and is responsible for all my enthusiasm for mechanical engineering and agricultural technology. I have gained a lot of experience in development work and have always tried to maximize efficiency and quality. I believed that I could contribute to the company’s success and customer satisfaction. Over time, I was promoted to Project Manager and took on my first major project, the development of the new generation of ZDK trailers, and I also co-developed other products with the team at later stages. I also became Deputy Manager, where I was introduced to the management role.

2. What are your tasks and what is your role in the company?

In March 2023, I took over as Head of Development and Mechanical Design for the Farmtech brand. My main task is to ensure continuous improvement and the development of new products. The main objective of my work is to manage development projects in line with the company’s strategic objectives and to ensure that our products meet the needs and preferences of our customers and are tailored to our markets. I work closely with the company’s manufacturing operations to achieve this, I design and lead development projects, manage project teams, monitor technology trends and market innovations, and ensure the development of new products. I also collaborate with strategic partners and suppliers. These are all crucial for ensuring the company’s competitiveness and sustainable development for the future.

3. What are your biggest challenges and what are your goals and plans for the future?

At Farmtech, we want to achieve the best possible optimization and user experience for our existing and future products. We have a broad portfolio and want to remain a full-liner in agricultural transport technology. At the same time, we are facing the challenges and opportunities of a new generation of farmers. They are placing a strong emphasis on digitalization and automation to increase productivity and efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of farming. It is ideal if the machine is also easy and intuitive to use. We have set our sights high at Farmtech and intend to take this new direction even further in the future. We know that working closely with customers and users, preferably in the field, is key to achieving these goals. That is why we will focus even more on analysing the habits, needs and requirements of end-users under my leadership, both in improving existing products and in developing new ones. This does not apply only to me, but to my entire team. This is the only way we can understand the real needs of the market and our customers because, at the end of the day, we want to offer the best and most advanced solutions.

Collaboration of his team of development engineers will be crucial for the future of the company, both internally and in the field.