He makes industry measure nanoseconds

Despite working with such short timeframes, Erik Stjernholm Hoff’s career is defined by long-term continuity. For more than 19 years, he has been part of ENRX – turning complex problems into effective solutions.

It’s when customers face technical challenges they don’t quite know how to solve that Erik comes into the picture.

“We always work based on what customers say they need, but often the assignment begins with them knowing what they want to do, but not how to do it,” he explains.

From childhood curiosity to a PhD

Erik’s path to ENRX began right after completing his PhD in control and monitoring of power and electronics at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. Even before finishing his studies, he was offered a job in research and development at ENRX. He was eager to put his knowledge into practice.

"By that time, I had been a student nearly my whole life and was ready to contribute back to society. Even then, ENRX was one of the most technologically advanced companies in Norway, so it was a very attractive workplace for me. And of course, it was a big plus that the headquarters happened to be located in my hometown of Skien,” he says with a smile.

Erik's route to becoming ENRX's systems wizard was no coincidence. Growing up, he was always fascinated by technology.

“I remember I once lied to my father and said my watch was broken,” he laughs. “Just so I could take it apart and figure out how it worked.”

Time-critical processes

Today, time is still at the centre of his work, but at a scale far smaller than what a wristwatch can display.

“My team consists of six people. We work to make systems respond as quickly and as effectively as possible,” he explains. “We're talking about improvements ranging from five nanoseconds to ten milliseconds.”

When working at this level of precision, there is no room for error. Even small deviations can have major consequences for quality, energy consumption, and safety.

Erik specializes in FPGA technology (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), highly flexible chips that can be configured and reconfigured after manufacturing.

Unlike traditional processors, FPGAs can be tailored exactly to the task at hand and adapted as system requirements evolve – making them essential for ultra-fast, highly precise control systems.

Collaboration at the core

Although much of the work happens in the lab or in front of a screen, Erik emphasizes that people are at the heart of the job.

One of the biggest advantages, he thinks, is the breadth of internal resources available within ENRX. He works closely with colleagues in both sales and production and can also draw on a global network of expertise to find the right competence close to the customer.

“I also know that if an error occurs, it will be detected early in the system. That gives a great sense of security in the work,” he says.

“In addition, I sometimes get to work directly with our customers. Once, I travelled to the laboratories of a large French industrial company with nearly one hundred thousand employees to gain first-hand understanding of their needs and to develop the best solution together with them.”

More than marketing

ENRX is widely regarded as a global leader in induction heating, but for Erik, that reputation is proven through results, not words.

“The strongest confirmation comes from our customers. When someone tells you they’ve never seen a better solution, that means more than any marketing claim in a  glossy brochure,” he says.

He believes the key lies in understanding – and exceeding – customer expectations.

“Customers come to us with a goal. Our job is not only to get them there, but to see if we can take them even further.”

A place where people want to stay

Erik has been with the same company for over 19 years – quite a long time by today’s standards. What keeps him motivated?

“The most important thing is seeing results,” he says. “When you work closely with a customer and see that the solution actually works in practice, it is very motivating – especially when we manage to deliver something even better than what they originally asked for.”

The working environment at ENRX is also an important factor.

“We have short lines of communication, combined with strong systems that ensure quality in every stage,” he explains. “It’s very informal here, and everyone knows everyone. Not just in Skien – we work very closely with colleagues around the world.”

He also highlights the quality of life the city itself offers.

“You know, here I can cycle to work in ten minutes, go skiing in the winter, and swim in the sea in the summer. That’s hard to beat,” he says with a smile.

So, at work, it’s all about nanoseconds. Outside of work, it’s about having time to live.