Meet Yonatan Shani, who has been with Palbam for 64 years and is still “in love” with the work, the facility, the daily grind, and the constant innovation. Yonatan is an extraordinary example of someone who stays updated and relevant at any age.
You might not believe it, but Yonatan is 87 years old – yes, you read that right! And he’s still working full steam ahead. He is a Senior Technologist and a member of Kibbutz Ein Harod Ihud, who started at Palbam after his military service in the Armored Corps and simply… stayed.
Over the last 64 years, he has passed through almost every possible station in the company: from R&D and design, through production, to marketing and management. We caught up with him for a short chat about technology, organizational memory, and what keeps him young and hungry for manufacturing.
Yonatan, what is the biggest change you’ve seen since 1962?
“You can’t pick just one. When I started, everything was manual – from the drafting boards to the machining and welding. Everything relied on the expertise and golden hands of the ‘meisters’ of the past. Today, computer software manages it all. For better and for worse.”
Is there one project you are especially proud of?
“There were many groundbreaking projects. A standout is the ‘Dolphin Head’ for the David’s Sling system. It required us to manufacture using titanium, integrate complex technologies, and find out-of-the-box solutions to succeed against all odds.”
What’s the secret? Waking up for work at 87 is not to be taken for granted.
“It’s probably a mix of genetics, an insatiable curiosity, and a crazy amount of caring. I get insomnia when something goes wrong! I am constantly learning, even at my age. You have to understand that academia gives you formulas that tend to be forgotten, but what truly helps in life is perseverance, curiosity, and the audacity to ask, try, and even fail.”
A quick tip for the next generation of engineers?
“I’m no prophet; I just hope artificial intelligence won’t eventually overpower our natural intelligence. Technology changes, but human capital and curiosity are the foundation of everything.”
Yonatan is a rare individual and a core part of Palbam’s DNA. He is living proof that a strong organization doesn’t just buy new technology; it preserves knowledge, nurtures it, and builds even the most advanced technologies upon it.
