Didar joined Polytec UK earlier this year as a Technical Sales Engineer. With nearly a decade of sales experience and a background working with R&D teams, he helps customers across various industries understand how Polytec's non-contact measurement technology can solve their vibration measurement challenges. His combination of commercial knowledge and technical understanding helps him bridge the gap between complex engineering requirements and practical business solutions.
From family business to engineering solutions
Didar's path to engineering began early, influenced by his father, who worked as an engineer before running his own business. "I've always had something to do with engineering," Didar explains. "My father brought me up with a mixture of engineering and sales, which clearly shows where I'm at now."
His career started at Wolseley, a major merchant company, where he initially worked in sales before moving to a technical projects team. This transition proved pivotal. "It wasn't just about shifting boxes. It was about reading drawings, understanding requirements, and finding solutions. That's what got my teeth hooked into problem-solving."
After working for a German plastics manufacturer and then joining a hydrogen fuel cell startup specialising in oil-free compressors, Didar developed his ability to work effectively with R&D teams and engineers. This experience proved invaluable in understanding how to bridge the gap between technical complexity and commercial reality.
Why Polytec?
For Didar, Polytec represents the perfect combination of factors. "It's the best of both worlds," he says. "You have that personal small business touch, but with the support of a corporation behind you. When you work in a corporation, you get stuck in too many internal meetings. In a small business, you're fixing everyone's problems. This is the perfect dynamic."
The German manufacturing heritage and Polytec's position as industry pioneers particularly appealed to him. "Having such a weight of brand behind me only excels my abilities. Everything you say has more weight when you're backed by that reputation."
Daily life as a Technical Sales Engineer
No two days are the same for Didar, who aims to conduct two customer demonstrations per week whilst balancing admin, training, and business development. His mornings typically start with tea-making duties for the office ("I wish I could have a gas stove and make Indian tea, but I think that's a health and safety nightmare!"). Before diving into a diverse range of customer applications, then he begins his day.
"You're going from National Grid measuring porcelain bushes for structural issues, to insects, to vinyl records," he says. "The weeks go so fast because the applications are never the same. It makes our lives a lot more interesting."
What particularly excites Didar is how customers help him see Polytec's technology in new ways. He mentions the National Gallery's use of vibrometry to create "fingerprints" for paintings: "They excite the image and create a fingerprint. You're like, wow, that's a really different way of looking at our device."
Building relationships through understanding
Didar's background in both commercial sales and R&D gives him a unique perspective when working with customers. "I understand how their projects work and how their minds work," he explains. His approach focuses on quick, effective communication that addresses customers' real concerns.
"Research and development engineers are often worried about worst-case scenarios. You can explain to them that our kit provides quicker results, which in turn gives you a better chance to identify worst-case scenarios and prevent failures from happening. It's about saying the right words to the right people."
He emphasises the importance of maintaining Polytec's values of honesty and customer focus. "I never want a customer to buy a device just for the sake of buying it. We want you to buy a device that you're going to use, because if you use it, it helps us pioneer in this industry."
Life beyond laser vibrometry
Outside of work, Didar enjoys playing golf, a sport he picked up from his father at a young age. He also follows various sports, including football, boxing, and MMA. Travel and food feature prominently in his personal life, as he and his wife enjoy exploring new places and their culinary offerings.
"We like to learn the history of a town and eat the food there," he says. "It's the happy mixture of both." This balance between work and personal life is important to him: "Having the right balance enables you to be better in both worlds."
Despite his professional demeanour, Didar maintains a playful outlook. "Deep down, I'm just a big child," he admits. "Life's too short not to do things because only children are supposed to do them. It's better to laugh than be serious all the time."
Looking ahead
With nearly a decade of sales experience under his belt, Didar sees Polytec as the ideal partner for his long-term career goals. "I'm always a forward thinker. I'm not making decisions for the next three or four years; I think with a five-to-ten-year mentality."
His enthusiasm for the role and the company is evident: "The leap of faith has become a no-brainer. Polytec walks the walk; they don't just talk the talk."