A strong training policy
We have invested heavily in training in recent years. It helps our employees to become operational more quickly, to do the work better, to move with the changes on the shop floor, and this a whole career long. For newcomers, a plan is drawn up at the start together with the team manager. The plan sets out objectives for the first eight weeks before a first evaluation takes place. Call it a competence matrix, that clearly shows where someone is at, and what the next step is.

“Our training policy focuses on enabling everyone to grow at his or her own level and pace”, explains Marianne Fiers, General Director. “We believe that it is important for employees to realise that further training is a good thing for them, and that they then take the initiative themselves. The training package also includes a management or language course, even if the focus for us as a machine builder and service company is mainly on technical courses.”

Great service thanks to PLC training
Technology and software in the packaging sector are constantly evolving. So there’s plenty to do for our maintenance technicians, programmers and engineers. The programme regularly includes training on safety, maintenance engineering and industrial automation. This is recorded in the competence matrix.

“In our industry, packaging machines are controlled by PLCs with touchscreen and display”, continues John van Limpt, team manager electrics & programming. “A PLC is a programmable logic controller or electrical appliance with a microprocessor that controls equipment based on the information on its various inputs and outputs. An engineering platform belongs with this, the so-called TIA Portal for configuration. The system allows us to log on to the packaging machines operating worldwide at our customers from our head office and resolve any problems remotely. The better we understand the software and the faster we identify a potential any fault, the better things are for the customer.”

That is why our programmers and technicians follow PLC training. They do this at Limtec, a technological training centre for the metal sector. The courses are specially put together depending on the level and the needs of our people. They then receive further training in mechanics, electrics and in the field of programming. Some examples:

• PLC basis
• PLC maintenance and fault-finding
• Limtec S7-1500 PLC and comfort panel with TIA Portal
• Limtec Ethernet and Profinet with IO-Link
• Electrical switches: everything about switching technology and troubleshooting

But that’s not really where it all ends. Training continues on a day-to-day basis with the trainee technician being coached by a fully skilled and experienced technician.

Development and training must be ingrained at the organisation and are permanent components of the annual programme.

Do you have any questions? Contact us.