'Goodbye' intern and 'hello' new colleague! We are delighted to welcome Ruben Veltkamp, a work placement student who has already joined our ranks on two previous occasions. This is the third time we are welcoming Ruben to VB-Airsuspension, but now he is joining us as a colleague! After thinking it over for some time, he made the 'unusual' choice to do his graduation internship with the same company as his previous work placement. His previous internship led to a very interesting project that is already producing some great results for us today.
Several 'recommendations' came out of his previous work placement at VBA as a result of his research into the validation of a specific type of shock absorber. During his graduation placement, he was able to further develop and test these on test equipment, VBA's own test track and at the ATP test circuit (Automotive Testing Papenburg) in Germany.
Ruben was lucky to have the – undoubtedly challenging – opportunity of giving his graduation presentation at the ATP test circuit, in the presence of Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Fontys Automotive, VB-Airsuspension and family members. On this occasion, he gave everyone who attended his presentation a unique insight into what happens at the test circuit as well as his particular project. The time he spent at the ATP test circuit produced new insights, in order to take the project and VB-Airsuspension to 'the next level in vehicle dynamics'.
Read on for Ruben's impressions of his graduation placement in his own words:
"It's all down to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. During my internship and graduation placement, I was able to use this vehicle to validate developments made on a specific type of shock absorber.
After thinking long and hard about where to do my graduation placement, I took the unusual decision of returning to the same company at which I did my previous internship: VB-Airsuspension. During my graduation placement, I was able to work on the recommendations that came out of my previous internship and take them forwards. This development work took place following an in-depth theoretical study of oil flows in a shock absorber, the characteristics of a specific type of shock absorber and how it responds to internal adjustments, all aimed at achieving better results.
For these developments to be implemented in the shock absorber, it was necessary to produce 2D and 3D drawings. These components were installed in the shock absorber and underwent extensive testing with appropriate test equipment. Ultimately, a choice had to be made between two concepts. Tests were done with one of these concepts on the test track at VB-Airsuspension and on the public highway in Varsseveld. I have now passed my final graduation placement, and came out with an 8! I was lucky to have the opportunity to give my graduation presentation at ATP Papenburg (test circuit), with representatives of Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Fontys Automotive, VB-Airsuspension and my parents present. This gave my university supervisor and my parents a unique insight into what happens at a test circuit.
These test days with Jurgen Verstoep, Wouter Slendebroek and Gerald Molenveld at ATP provided a lot of new insights to take the project and VB-Airsuspension to 'the next level in vehicle dynamics'. Both sides were very enthusiastic, which is why we decided that – when I joined VB-Airsuspension on 7 February – I should continue working on this exciting project!"
In other words, it was a win-win for both sides: Ruben is enthusiastic, and so are we! Welcome Ruben! May we wish you every success.
Read his report on LinkedIn here.
In case you missed it, here is the article again that outlines his earlier internship project.
