Throughout its 190-year history as a global pump original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and independent service provider (ISP), Sulzer has supported people on their journeys, bringing fresh ideas to engineering.

The results of this company-wide philosophy are the numerous initiatives that Sulzer offers to people to grow their skills and confidence in engineering. More than simply promoting the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, the business is providing vital real-world experience and job opportunities.

Real-world experience in professional environments

Sulzer’s Venlo Service Center is a hub of expertise for repairing and upgrading rotating equipment specialized in turbomachinery. For years, the center has collaborated with Fontys University of Applied Sciences on several projects exploring the Taguchi Method.

Paul Thommassen, a Process Engineer at Sulzer for over 20 years, has spearheaded the projects: “After a chance meeting with a lecturer from the university following a presentation I held at our local Innovation Circle Venlo, we have conducted annual joint projects with students, giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and actively support the improvement of our processes at the service center. It’s a great chance to engage with young people and introduce them to a professional environment.”

In the latest project, students were tasked with improving the parameters of high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) M-CrAlY coatings for gas turbines using the Taguchi Method – a statistical analysis of a design or process during development to expedite testing and reduce the negative social impact of a product. Following lectures on coating technology and material science from Sulzer experts, the students attended a workshop at Sulzer’s facility in Venlo to help set up their orthogonal arrays for testing. Another session was then held for analysis and synthesis of the results, with teams presenting their findings later.

The initiative has been well received by students and Sulzer alike, providing participants with a rare chance to tackle real-world engineering challenges.