Patrick Witte is an independent network partner at PCV Group in Enschede – he works on behalf of the engineering company for Wavin, a global specialist in plastic pipe systems. His role it to implement product innovations in production processes. It has been a model for success, as the interim assignment, originally limited to just four months and has since been extended several times. And there’s no end in sight yet…
From product revolution, through research and development, to a change in company philosophy: PCV Group and Georg Fischer Waga NV have been working closely together for 34 years, almost always symbiotically. What is the secret behind this successful relationship? Engineer Dries Nijsen, founder of PCV’s predecessor First Design, and Michel Hulsebos, of Georg Fischer Waga NV, shed some light on the factors contributing to the success of this extraordinary alliance.
PCV Group is a product development service provider based in Enschede, in the Netherlands, and has excellent access to young professionals with a technical background. In the technology-focused city of Enschede, with the University of Twente (UT) and Saxion University of Applied Sciences, and their various different study courses, there are a number of sources of talented young people in the field of developing high-tech solutions. Mieke van den Belt, Senior Engineer and responsible for contact with students at PCV, and Fred van Dijk, one of the founders of PCV, emphasise the importance of cooperation with universities for the company in this interview
Today we received the sad message that our team member Leo Giesen has passed away on the 25th of March 2021. We knew for some time that Leo had a severe illness but his passing has shocked us deeply. We wish his family much strength in the coming time and share their sadness.
Vandaag hebben we het droeve bericht gekregen dat ons teamlid Leo Giesen op 25 maart 2021 is overleden. We wisten al geruime tijd dat Leo ernstig ziek was maar zijn overlijden heeft ons toch nog diep geschokt. Wij wensen zijn gezin en familie heel veel sterkte in de komende tijd en we leven intens met hun mee.
In the fight against environmental destruction and climate change, the responsible use of resources and avoiding waste have a crucial role to play. These goals can be achieved through a consistent circular economy. But what does that mean for manufacturers of consumer goods? What do engineers need to be aware of when creating designs? “The circular economy requires both industry and consumers to completely rethink things”, says engineer Luc Vinkenvleugel, Senior Project Manager & Consultant at PCV Group in Enschede. “One aspect of this is that customers no longer purchase a product, but rather rent it. This means that manufacturers need to produce devices that last longer and restructure their business models to focus on services such as renting, maintenance and financing. The result is that less equipment is produced, which in turn saves resources and significantly reduces the amount of waste”, the engineer explains. This is a development that fits perfectly with the PCV Group philosophy.
Ten years ago, PCV group received a challenge from one of our customers: design a small, inexpensive but reliable gearbox with a 500:1 gear ratio. The gearbox was meant to be part of a handheld beauty device, so it would be mass-produced and used by a consumer which means no regular maintenance or lubrication. This kind of challenge was well suited for Dries Nijsen, a creative mechanical engineer and co-founder of PCV Group.