“It might be fun to join our technicians for a day.”
That’s what I suggested a while ago, and the response was immediately positive. As a marketing communication specialist at CREON, I ensure our visibility—both online and offline—for companies with control and dispatch rooms. I know the philosophy behind our control room furniture solutions, but I wanted to truly feel what they stand for. Our technicians not only master the technical ins and outs of our products—they visit our customers daily and engage directly with the end users.
Preparation is half the battle
My “hands-on day” begins with a work meeting a few days in advance. At SNB (Sludge Processing North Brabant), the control room was recently renovated. SNB incinerates sewage sludge, converting it into energy reused within the plant—a circular process. After nearly 30 years, the control room furniture needed an upgrade. During the briefing, we covered all the essentials: access procedures, parking, building routes, and details about the custom operator workstations to be delivered.
Armed with safety gear - and sausage rolls
The day starts early in Moerdijk. I arrive equipped with PPE and a bag of sausage rolls. My colleagues Peter, Marco, and Michel are already waiting. After a warm welcome from our contact, Peter reviews the in-house logistics with them while Marco, Michel, and I begin unloading the truck. Once we’re familiar with the route to the control room, we lay out the materials and begin unpacking. Meanwhile, Peter drives back to CREON to collect the second delivery.
Precision installation of ergonomic workstations
We follow a structured process. First, the space is measured with precision. At the customer’s request, the sit-stand workstations are positioned slightly farther back for optimal visibility of the process panel wall that visually tracks the sludge processing steps. It’s important to get it right at this stage—once installed, repositioning becomes difficult.
The four SPLIT workstations are placed on the raised floor in the correct sequence. Each component is securely mounted and interconnected. We also install two height-adjustable video walls, tailored to provide operators with improved screen visibility and support an ergonomic posture.
Marco mentors me step by step. Unsurprisingly, I manage to drop a screw into a spot I can’t reach—but the technicians are prepared. With a telescopic magnet tool, Marco expertly retrieves it.
Teamwork and customer focus
Throughout the day, our client and several operators drop in to check progress. The feedback on the new setup and installation process is enthusiastic. Once the foundations are laid, we connect the cables—a task already well-prepared at CREON’s workshop, though finalizing the connections on-site still requires precision. Meanwhile, Peter assembles a custom printer cabinet.
By the end of the day, we’ve made impressive progress. Although the original schedule included three installation days, it looks like we’ll complete the job in just two.
What I learned
This day gave me far more than insight into our technical solutions—I gained genuine appreciation for the work of our technicians. It’s not dirty or heavy work, but it demands precision, experience, and practical thinking. Our custom-designed control room furniture is engineered for efficiency, with everyone understanding their roles and working together seamlessly.
What stood out most was the team spirit. There’s room for humor, and the atmosphere stays positive—especially when customers are clearly happy with the result. It’s energizing to see that our work truly makes a difference.
In short: it was an educational and inspiring day. And I now have even more respect for the craftsmanship and professionalism of our installation teams.