Meet Thanos – People Not Products

Here we have our colleague, Thanos Gkountas, in our series of People Not Products team interviews. He joined our team at Aspen Solutions in January 2025 when he saw our job advertisement about a field engineer position. Thanos chats about expanding his knowledge and experience on the Canon photocopiers.

Can you tell us a bit about your career journey and what led you to Aspen Solutions?
I moved to Scotland five years ago. After a couple of jobs that helped me to understand the local business culture, I joined Xerox as Photocopier Engineer at the remanufacturing centre. During my years there I learnt so much about photocopiers and how interesting they could be as machines.
I moved to Aspen Solutions when I saw a job advertisement about a field engineer. It was a great opportunity for me to expand my knowledge and experience on the Canon photocopiers. Back in Greece, I used to work as a sales consultant in electrical and technology retail, and as an electronic engineer tutor in a college.

What does a typical day in your role look like, and what do you enjoy most about it?
This is the kind of job which no second day is the same, literally. You can be all day on the road, or all day at the office, or you can do both. This is a part that I really enjoy; it keeps you busy all the time. But what I enjoy the most are the challenges that I have to face on photocopiers. Every ticket or call can be totally different with the last one.

What’s been your most memorable moment or achievement at Aspen Solutions so far?
I would say the moment that I finished my training on Image Press photocopiers, a new service that Aspen Solutions provide and try to lead the market. Aspen Solutions was so supportive during my training sessions.

What skills or qualities do you think are essential for success in your role?
I would say that the thirst for knowledge is coming first. No matter what your background is. This role involves engineering, networking, colour theory and more. As long as you want to learn, you can make it. Last, a good eye on details is essential, because you must see every single fault on the final results, the copies.

How would you describe the culture at Aspen Solutions, and what makes it a great place to work?
There is a great attitude at the company. I feel like I am in a big family where everyone tries their best to improve themselves and do the best for the group, that makes you follow them. Everyone will be next to you, to give a hand, to explain anything, to share the knowledge and the experiences.

What advice would you give to someone looking to build a career in your field?
As I said, no matter your background, if you wish to work as a photocopier engineer, try it! Probably, you will have to learn or study a lot, but you will really enjoy it!

When you’re not at work, how do you like to unwind and relax?
I usually recharge my batteries and relax early in the morning when I enjoy my first cup of coffee, or at night watching movies and sitcoms, or listening to music. I love to spend time with my dog, a mix-breed pug; he does not like to walk a lot, so we spend our time at home. Also, I love to watch football and basketball; I am very passionate about my Greek club, so it keeps me busy most of my free time. Last but not least, I enjoy traveling so much to discover new places and try local specialties.

Our thanks to Thanos for this interview. If you’re not already, you can follow us on LinkedIn or subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest info about the industry and our team!