"I have always been impressed by the interconnectedness of our world. This realization began in my childhood when I increasingly understood how everything is interconnected and fits together as a whole. I find it truly fascinating how people can develop technologies that work together seamlessly. For example, consider the chain of technology needed to ultimately generate energy. I have a deep appreciation for the inventors of such innovations."
People, equipment, water, and technology all work together
"The port, with its diverse terminals and activities, is a prime example of this interconnectedness. People, equipment, water, and technology all work together, and that inspires me. At Mourik, I have the opportunity to research and develop new technologies myself. You can imagine how exciting that is. As the manager of new product development, I receive customer questions or problem definitions, and with my team, I have the freedom to work on them."
"Take, for example, a tank that is impossible or very difficult to clean with existing methods. Yet, it needs to be cleaned as sustainably as possible. Together with my team, we develop new technologies to provide a solution. We start by brainstorming and sketching ideas to arrive at a concept design. Specialists we have in-house at Mourik collaborate with us to determine what is feasible. Once the technology has been developed and tested, we are there in the field during implementation to see how it works in practice and what users think of it."
"I consider the environment to be an important issue"
"We are also looking at future technologies because we want Mourik to stay ahead. For example, we are developing technologies that ensure no water is needed in the cleaning process. This prevents water consumption and eliminates wastewater, which is better for the environment. Personally, I find this to be a crucial issue. I realize that industry has a significant impact on the environment, but at Mourik, we do everything we can to minimize this impact."
"New technologies and developments always involve challenges. You often have to compete with existing methods that employees are accustomed to, and this can take a long time. I understand this because I sometimes catch myself thinking: we've been doing it this way for a long time and it's working fine, right? Gaining trust by showing that new technologies are actually better remains an exciting task. The key lies in getting people on board by engaging them and demonstrating that innovation is the way forward."
