Bernardustechnicum Oudenaarde wins Wout Theuws Prize for 2nd time
OUDENAARDE - 29 June 2023 - BEMAS vzw, the Belgian technical maintenance trade association, has awarded the Wout Theuws Prize for the sixth time. The winner is Wout Noterman, Industrial Sciences student at the Bernardustechnicum in Oudenaarde who, as an integrated trial, optimised the maintenance programme for an automatic welding machine for reinforcement nets.
Maintenance technicians have been a bottleneck profession for years. The VDAB's online vacancy database had more than 10,000 vacancies for maintenance technicians open in one year. 3,500 of these are still unfilled. However, the number of schools offering targeted training in technical maintenance is limited. Together, they manage to graduate only about 600 students trained in maintenance.
The Wout Theuws Prize is a competition that aims to motivate pupils in the final year of training with a labour market finality (BSO), a mixed finality (TSO) or SE-N-SE (7th year of secondary after secondary), to create an integrated test (GIP) or internship report around maintenance or reliability. With this prize, BEMAS also wants to inspire young people in a technical training programme to start their career in maintenance, just like Wout Theuws, with the ambition of further developing themselves into a true industrial expert and leader.
Winner and finalists
As a student of the 6th year Industrial Sciences, Wout Noterman worked out an integrated test on an automatic welding machine. This machine produces reinforcement nets in Willy Naessens' concrete panel factory. Wout not only analysed the operation of the machine, he also scrutinised the manufacturer's maintenance instructions. After discussions with the operators and maintenance technicians, Wout came up with several recommendations to improve maintenance so that the machine can work even more reliably and have a longer lifespan. In addition, the jury was impressed that, as can be expected of a professional reliability engineer, Wout also went deeper into the safety of the machine both in operation and during maintenance.
His comprehensive work together with an excellent oral defence convinced the jury unanimously. As winner of the Wout Theuws Prize, Wout Noterman will receive a certificate as well as a nice cash prize of €300.
The runners-up are Caio Devreese (Bernardustechnicum Oudenaarde) and Jenthe Missinne (Richtpunt Eeklo). Caio Devreese worked on a Self-Sustainable Vehicle in his BIP. Jenthe Missinne sent in his reports on his internships as a maintenance technician at Stora Enso and Oleon. The BEMAS jury is already convinced that all three laureates can start successful careers as maintenance professionals.
3D Printer donated by Equans
As the school of the award winner, the Bernardustechnicum will also receive a 3D printer donated by EQUANS. From now on, this printer can be used in the school for all kinds of practical exercises. The 3D printer was handed over by Chris Van Kwikkelberghe, Technical Competence Advisor at EQUANS. Bart Neirynck, the teacher who supervised Wout's final project, received the device. BEMAS explicitly thanked EQUANS for donating the 3D printer, which future students can also use. EQUANS designs and provides tailor-made solutions to improve installations and technical processes. At EQUANS, expertise and proximity are the building blocks to meet the challenges of the triple transition we face: energy, industry and digital technology. From more than 56 branches in Belgium and Luxembourg, EQUANS puts competences in the fields of electricity, HVAC, refrigeration, piping & mechanical, fire protection, digital & IT and facility management at the service of optimising the energy and operational efficiency of customers' installations. EQUANS stands for multi-technical expertise and a complete service from design to installation, including maintenance and financing.
About the Wout Theuws Prize
During the proclamation in the Bernardustechnicum, BEMAS director Wim Vancauwenberghe gave a short speech and explained the idea behind the Wout Theuws prize: "For us, Wout Theuws is a wonderful role model. He followed a technical education in car mechanics and started his career as a technician in a garage company at the age of 16. His hard work and great eagerness to learn gave him more and more responsibility. He completed the 'Master in integral maintenance management' course in 1991 and nine years later was voted Maintenance Manager of the Year by BEMAS. Eventually, he climbed to Group Manufacturing Excellence Leader HSE and Maintenance at Bosal."
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