Katharina | Senior Product Manager Design Elements
NMC SA, Belgium
Years at NMC: 13 years
Favourite NMC product: It’s hard to choose just one, but I’m especially excited about our wall panels and the new Black Oak acoustic panel
When I joined NMC over 13 years ago, I was immediately struck by the atmosphere. There was a real openness and sense of togetherness – people welcomed each other, supported one another and worked closely as a team. One moment I still remember very clearly was being personally welcomed by Yves Noël. For me, that said a lot about the company: even as NMC has grown, the human connection has always remained important. What I have experienced ever since is that ideas do not simply stay ideas — when we believe in something, we work together to make it happen.
As Senior Product Manager for Design Elements, I help shape our product portfolio, especially for our main brands Noël & Marquet and decoflair. What I enjoy most about my role is the mix of strategy, creativity and hands-on implementation. Together with my team, I work on new developments, analyse market needs and support customer requests. The most rewarding part is clearly product development — taking an idea from the first concept all the way to market launch. Seeing our products used in projects around the world makes me proud, because it shows that what we create here in Eynatten can have an impact far beyond our local market.
Over the years, I have been able to grow continuously — not only in project management and product development, but also in communication, decision-making and dealing with complex or stressful situations. NMC has given me the opportunity to take on responsibility and broaden my perspective along the way.
The magical thing about our foams:
For me, the magic of our foams lies in their simplicity and practicality. They are lightweight, easy to transport and easy to work with — clear advantages compared to many other materials. I remember a colleague from Italy once sent me a wall panel made by a plaster manufacturer that had been copied from one of ours. When the package arrived, there was almost nothing left but dust. That moment stayed with me, because it showed in a very simple way what makes our materials so valuable: they combine design freedom with lightness, practicality and reliability.
NMC is an exceptional place to work because:
It combines stability with the chance to keep moving forward. NMC offers exciting challenges, space to develop and the opportunity to work on international projects while staying close to home. It has allowed me to progress in an international environment without losing the connection to where I come from.
My magical foam moment at NMC:
For me, the most meaningful moments are when an idea becomes a real product solution. It takes expertise, teamwork, creativity and a lot of persistence. When all that comes together and we see the final result on the market, that is where I feel the real magic of NMC.
