Combines his work with HTS studies.

Christiaan Hilgers
Electrical & Instrumentation engineer (E&I engineer)
Education: MTS (Secondary Technical School) Energy Technology, now studying
at HTS (Institute of Technology)
Age: 25

What does your job entail as an E&I engineer at Iv-Water?
I design control systems. A lot of the work that I do is for other Iv-Groep companies like Iv-Consult or Iv-Infra. I make calculations for installations, buildings or structures and am regularly out of the office to consult with external parties or to inspect sites. This gives me a good picture of whether the things that I design at my desk are compatible with the real-life situation.

Can you work and study at the same time? 
It's tough, but I'm managing. I first completed my intermediate vocational course in instrumentation but I wanted to continue studying. The people at Iv-Groep responded enthusiastically to my plans to study at an Institute of technology and I got plenty of support. All my study costs are being reimbursed and I also get time off to study.

What has been your best project at Iv-Groep?
Definitely the renovation of the Haringvliet and Volkerak locks. It was a very big and high-profile project. The dimensions of the lock chambers for commercial ships are 320 x 24 (l x w) metres and the entire control technology had to be replaced. It was certainly a challenge, because in terms of passing freight – 240 million tons per year – the Haringvliet and Volkerak locks are the largest inland navigation locks in the world. Moreover, shipping traffic must be inconvenienced as little as possible by the renovation.

What is your role in that project?
My role as an engineer is to make the calculations for the control systems. I've been involved in this project right from the start until the final phase that we have now reached. You're building something new right from scratch. I work closely with the project leader of Iv-Groep. It's fascinating to look over the shoulder of somebody with so much experience. I also coordinate the drawing work. That's definitely a challenge in its own right, because managing other people is something entirely different

Has been employed by Iv-Groep since her internship.

Marieke Benschop
Technologist
Education: Delft University of Technology, Civil Engineering
Age: 26

What is your task as a technologist?
As a technologist I operate at the interface between engineering and biology. I focus on the process aspect of water purification plants. How do you ensure that organic substances are converted by bacteria to enable their separation from water and what are the best technical installations to use for that purpose? These are examples of technical issues I deal with daily. In addition to designing new purification plants, I work on the renovation of existing ones.

Do you prefer designing a new installation or renovating an existing one?
It's always interesting to work on the design of a new plant. You have more freedom in your choices and there are fewer limitations. Yet renovating existing installations is certainly just as challenging. One of my favourite projects was the renovation of a water purification plant. The challenge was to keep the plant operational during the renovation because the supply of water could obviously not be interrupted. Something else that made this project so interesting for me was that I was able to follow every single phase of the project up close: from the conceptual design through to the final design and construction.

Were you so happy with your traineeship that you wanted to stay at Iv-Groep?
Yes. Right from the start I felt very much at home. You truly get the opportunity to learn. People are keen to share their knowledge with you. But you're also allowed to discover things for yourself and – within reason – to make mistakes. That's important, because there's nothing you learn more from than your own mistakes. You don't make the same mistake again!

How would you describe the atmosphere at Iv-Groep?
Friendly, informal, easily accessible and not hierarchical. People take you seriously, even if you're still young and are just starting out.

“One of my most favourite projects thus far has been the renovation of the Haringvliet and Volkerak locks. An immense challenge!”