'Hammer-IMS Internship Fellow' certificate for recent graduates sets a new tone in the Flemish job market. When Hammer-IMS settled on the Corda technology campus in Hasselt in 2016, founders Noël Deferm and Tom Redant had no idea that five years later, they would be shipping a large yellow machine to all corners of the world every month. "Our bright yellow color is our trademark," says Hammer-IMS. "In recent years, we have seen our company evolve from developing a single technical component to full-fledged machines. Large international textile and plastic groups view our products with great interest and often choose our machines over those of established German companies. Our cocktail of technological passion and staying grounded in the market is essential for entering a market and increasing our share. We want to pass this on to new young professionals."
From left to right: Tom Redant (Hammer-IMS), Ruben Kinnart (PXL University College), and Maarten De Groof (PXL University College)
As an innovative Flemish technology player with an international scope, Hammer-IMS helps creatively bridge the gap between education and the job market. "In recent years, we have collaborated extensively with various interns and student workers from different fields of study. To better meet the needs of companies, Hammer-IMS is committed to teaching technical interns hands-on marketing skills. Conversely, we also want to give marketing and administration interns the opportunity to gain experience with more technical tasks."
By pushing them out of their comfort zone, our interns acquire a multidisciplinary skill set and become more confident in excelling in the job market. Our internship program breaks through a bit of the Flemish modesty and makes interns more versatile in business environments where teamwork and communication are central. Being encouraged to look beyond their usual scope can be enriching and inspiring, and it doesn't always have to be 'about grades'.
'Hammer-IMS Internship Fellow' Certificate
In recent years, Hammer-IMS has guided numerous interns. "For several years, we have been collaborating with educational institutions such as Thomas More in Geel and PXL University College in Hasselt," says Nele Reynders, Operations Manager at Hammer-IMS, responsible for HR. "However, we wanted to set the bar even higher than what colleges typically expect from students. This year, we started awarding our so-called 'Hammer-IMS Internship Fellow' certificates. If you successfully complete your college program and make sufficient off-curriculum contributions during your Hammer-IMS internship, you will receive lifelong recognition as a Hammer-IMS Internship Fellow. The students receive a personalized 'Hammer-IMS Internship Fellow' certificate on paper, which they can reference in their curriculum vitae or on their LinkedIn profile. It's a small gesture, but an extra boost for recent graduates to give their careers strength and direction."
The app that moves 1 ton of steel
The lucky students this year, all technical students, stepped entirely out of their comfort zones to create product videos, set up trade show demos, and generate website content. Bridges were also built across educational institutions. For example, PXL University College student Ruben Kinnart created a showcase demonstrating how our heavy machinery can be operated from anyone's smartphone.
The smartphone demo was showcased last month by Hammer-IMS at the ITMA 2021 expo in Shanghai. The app has the commercial potential to allow customers to easily and quickly check the status of the machines from any location. To give the demo some extra flair, Simon Thijs from Thomas More built a finely assembled mechanical structure.
Ruben Kinnart proudly shows the app he developed during his internship as part of his studies at PXL in Hasselt. Behind Ruben, you can see a typical machine produced by Hammer-IMS.
Congratulations to PXL University College students Ruben Kinnart (Herk-de-Stad) and Maarten De Groof (Maasmechelen), and Thomas More students Simon Thijs (Rillaar) and Jarne Bosmans (Meeuwen-Gruitrode) for receiving recognition from Hammer-IMS. They received their well-deserved certificate in early July. Students interested in an internship at Hammer-IMS during the 2021-2022 school year can apply starting July 15 by sending a motivation email and CV to internships@hammer-ims.com. Spots are limited!
Hammer-IMS? Who?
Hammer-IMS from Hasselt introduced the new environmentally friendly M-Ray measurement technique a few years ago for determining the thickness or density of plastics and textiles for industrial manufacturers. The underlying technology is the result of more than 8 years of research at KU Leuven. Management at Hammer-IMS says: "It is great to see that our M-Ray-based measuring instruments are being used in production centers to replace radioactive or nuclear measuring systems. We are working hard to break through internationally, which last year resulted in the VOKA Limburg Export Prize that we were honored to receive. A few weeks ago, we participated for the first time in the ITMA ASIA expo in Shanghai, the most important textile event in China."
From left to right: Simon Thijs (Thomas More), Noël Deferm (Hammer-IMS), and Jarne Bosmans (Thomas More)
Hammer-IMS was present at the ITMA Asia fair in Shanghai last month.
