Moving to a new country with unrecognized credentials is a daunting challenge. That’s exactly what happened to Zlata Kaljaca in 1998 when she landed in Canada. This mother of two did not speak French and had to find a way to reinvent herself because her degree in food processing was not recognized in Canada.
From food processing to rubber chemistry: an atypical journey
After spending a few months learning French, Zlata met with an academic advising service provider to explore options that suited her skillsets and interests. She chose to complete an undergraduate degree in chemistry at Université de Sherbrooke.
Zlata worked hard to complete her studies, and her teachers quickly took note of her thoroughness and perseverance. Every day, she demonstrated great analytical and problem-solving skills.
Just like during her studies at the University of Sarajevo, she was required to work in a laboratory setting where she put her knowledge into practice. Her two degrees have allowed her to deepen her understanding of chemical processes while managing product quality and ensuring methods are aligned with current standards.
One of her teachers noticed her talent and asked her to work by their side on an R&D project focusing on cancer medication. It was an enriching experience that confirmed her passion for applied chemistry and fuelled her desire for innovation.
With her new degree in hand, Zlata took on the role of an R&D lab technician at AirBOSS. It only took a few months for her supervisor to recognize her potential and recommend she undertake internal training that would allow her to become a chemist. She accepted this proposal and broadened her competencies.
Some time later, Zlata learned of an opening at Soucy Techno. She applied and thus began a beautiful adventure with our team.
A typical day for Zlata at Soucy Techno.
A key role in the development of rubber materials
Zlata joined our team in 2011 as a chemist in the R&D lab. At the time, her role was to test various formulas provided by her supervisors before reproducing them on a large scale.
With no prior experience working with rubber, she learned on the job. Today, she has become an expert renowned in the field who works in an environment at the crossroads of chemistry, engineering, and industrial production.
She is responsible for adapting lab-tested recipes to the production mixers. She also coordinates teams to optimize the compounds produced and guarantee high-performance materials that comply with industrial standards, notably with regards to the thermal dissipation of our track systems.
Even though she does not directly create the formulas, her role is still essential to their large-scale implementation. By taking into account myriad technical parameters – mixing speed, fill, automation – she helps optimize their reproducibility. In fact, Zlata acts as the bridge between R&D and the production processes. In other words, she facilitates collaboration between teams to ensure a high-quality final product.
The challenges of working with rubber
Rubber is a surprisingly “living” material and reacts to variations in temperature and production conditions. One of the main challenges is developing stable, high-performance compounds and guaranteeing the quality and properties of the rubber throughout the production process until its final use by the client. To achieve this goal, Zlata must optimize the formula and production process by meeting the highest performance standards. She also needs to make sure that the material requires no futher adjustments once it is delivered.
Thanks to her expertise and meticulous work methods, Zlata plays a key role in the development of rubber materials. In other words, she has a direct hand in the success of our pioneering projects and the quality of products produced by Soucy Techno.
A work environment focused on professional development
At Soucy, we believe progressional growth and mutual help are what helps teams overcome the technical challenges they face every day. In fact, the company actively promotes professional development and offers a plethora of training activities: internal workshops, online meetings, conferences featuring international experts.
One such experience that marked Zlata was a business trip to Missouri in May 2024. This trip allowed her to better understand how the company’s 3rd mixing line – a major technological step forward for Soucy Techno – will function.
Stimulating work in a collaborative setting
Zlata is involved in myriad facets of our rubber compound production. She has a global overview of projects and plays a pivotal part in continually improving our work methods. She relies on her natural curiosity and proactive approach – essential qualities for a chemist – to adapt processes in real time and continuously expand her knowledge.
Working at Soucy Techno as a process specialist is a professional adventure where new projects, professional development, and mutual help allow the team to remain at the forefront of the rubber compound industry.
Coordinating teams is an important part of Zlata’s everyday tasks, one she greatly enjoys. She works in an environment where teamwork and communication are the levers for success. And the dynamic nature of her job makes it both stimulating and motivating.
Zlata more than 10 years after her arrival at Soucy Techno.
Getting ready for a third mixing line!
With the upcoming integration of a third mixing line, Zlata’s work will take on a whole new dimension. Just like with any other new piece of equipment, she will be starting from scratch (... or nearly!).
The first tests will begin with basic polymers. The parameters will then be gradually refined until the desired results are achieved.
What sets the third mixing line apart from the other two? The technological progress it represents. This new line will be much more efficient, integrating both the new automatons against the one already in place on the current mixers: increased automation which will also modify the management of the parameters!
When Zlata begins using the new equipment in 2026, she will take on a new challenge: overseeing three mixers, each one more sophisticated than the other! An ambitious goal that highlights her expertise and ability to adapt!
As a leader in the production of custom rubber compounds, Soucy Techno stands out thanks to its unmatched expertise and creative solutions. As Zlata’s story illustrates, joining our team means working in an environment that values your autonomy, developing your abilities, and being recognized for your skills!