“The first six weeks were all about learning the fundamentals of PLC programming and working on an initial practical project,” he explains. “Together with colleagues who had also recently joined ICT Group, we started with a three-day onboarding programme. After that, our trainee group officially began the first six weeks of the traineeship. We learned the basics of PLC programming and worked on our first project, in which we programmed a bridge-and-lock combination, a physical twin. This gave us an immediate insight into how industrial automation works in practice and how ICT Group and ICT Raster approach these projects.”
As a trainee, you're treated as a full member of the team from day one.
The Real Work Begins
Toon first came into contact with ICT Raster through an external life coach. After the introduction period, he moved on to practical project work. “For the first two months, I worked on an internal project involving new universal automation software, while also carrying out I/O testing,” he says. “It was a good way to assess where I stood and identify what I still needed to learn.” Before long, Toon was contributing to real-world projects. “I’m now part of a dedicated team supporting a factory in the province of Groningen. We maintain and update the software and implement the necessary modifications. This includes optimising systems and integrating new sensors into the control logic.” Fortunately, most of the work can be carried out remotely, so trips to the far north of the Netherlands are limited.
Guidance with Freedom and Trust
One thing that stands out to Toon is the absence of a traditional mentor structure. “ICT Raster has a very flat organisational structure, which I really appreciate. As a trainee, you're treated as a full member of the team from day one. Of course, I receive guidance, but everyone works together in a very collegial way. People are approachable and always willing to discuss work-related topics or simply have a chat. It’s not just trainees who receive support—nobody is left to figure things out alone.” At the same time, Toon appreciates the freedom he is given to learn independently. “Because you’re exposed to a wide variety of assignments as a trainee, you develop quickly.”
Interest in Complex, Critical Systems
What appeals to Toon most are projects with both technical complexity and societal relevance. “ICT Raster works on various control and automation systems that genuinely excite me,” he says. He particularly enjoys working on complex, mission-critical systems.
“These aren’t just machines that need to keep running. Everything has to operate safely and with great precision. That’s what makes the work so challenging and rewarding.”
Curiosity and Perseverance
According to Toon, success as a Control Engineer starts with curiosity. “You need to keep asking questions and not settle too quickly for an answer. Many of the challenges are like puzzles that need solving. Perseverance helps a lot as well.” When asked what he is most proud of so far, he remains modest. “Completing a project successfully from start to finish is very satisfying.” Looking ahead, Toon has plenty of ambitions. “I’d like to work on many different projects and experience the entire process from beginning to end. And perhaps, when I’m ready, I’d like to work on large-scale production platforms. That would be fantastic because of the technical challenges involved.” He concludes: “Overall, I simply want to keep growing. And here, that seems to happen naturally.”
