Dec 23, 2011Jan Veenstra, first European Adhesive Specialist in the Netherlands

Jan Veenstra, first European Adhesive Specialist in the Netherlands

On 29 April 2011, our colleague Jan Veenstra obtained the imposing title of European Adhesive Specialist. Together with four other Dutch people, Jan Veenstra is one of the first European Adhesive Specialists in the Netherlands. But what is a European Adhesive Specialist and what does he do exactly? We have asked the specialist Jan Veenstra to explain it to us.

European Adhesive Specialist

A European Adhesive Specialist provides leadership or guidance in a responsible way to a production unit or other groups of employees linked to a DIN 6701-certified business or training institute. “For this, you need the basic knowledge, technical specifications and background information about many types of materials and adhesive types, in both the technical and the engineering areas. This means that you must be able to calculate strengths, draft working procedures and the courses linked to them, provide advisory reports and you have to be able to implement the designs that a European Adhesive Engineer (a level higher) has approved in manufacturing and production processes.”

Current position
“This title provides more background information as my current job title. For example, why an adhesive application has certain characteristics, information about pre-treatments and what consequences these have. It gives you more awareness of the advice that you give.” Jan originally has a production background and before this he worked at a bus manufacturer for 23 years. For 17 of those years, he bore final responsibility for the production line. Through the experience that Jan has built up, he is able to look through a production line, rapidly assess the emotions of the people on the production floor, and from this information, Jan can quite quickly see where Bostik can provide added value.

Course
Jan is one of the first five Dutch people who carry this title. This is because the course was initially only taught in Germany. Then you had to go to Germany for three weeks, and furthermore, the course was presented in German. “My preference was not to go to Germany for three weeks and take the course in German. My German is quite good, but with the difficult technical terms it becomes too tough.” It was intended to teach the course in the Netherlands several times, but it was always postponed. “I found the course quite difficult. It lasted for four months in total and was very intensive. Given that I left school 28 years ago, it takes some time to get back into it. But I did proceed while I intended to pass, no matter what.”

Proud
Jan passed the exam with 8.7 out of 10 and is of course very proud of himself. And also, his colleagues are proud of him. “I’ve had very warm reactions from colleagues, customers etc. Thank you once again for these positive reactions.”

We wish Jan every success in the future with his unique title of European Adhesive Specialist!

Tell A Friend