Apprenticeship with crossing borders

The Komax Group is committed to promoting and developing its apprentices - both professionally and personally. As part of this development strategy, Komax offers some apprentices the opportunity to spend time abroad within the Group during their education. In April, Leonardo Mozzatti traveled to Komax Belgium for four weeks, where a range of products are manufactured within the Solutions business unit. He wanted to get to know a new culture, improve his language skills, become more independent, expand his technical know-how, take on new challenges and prepare for a future working life in a globalized world. Leonardo Mozzatti is eighteen, a third-year apprentice automation technician and works at Komax in Dierikon. Here he does “what an automation technician does”. He solders, assembles modules, takes care of pneumatic tubing and electrical wiring. For example, he has manufactured two modules for the Lambda 240 high-voltage machine platform. Here on Komax Stories, the sports enthusiast tells us what he learned during his internship in Belgium and what he thinks of his time abroad in retrospect.

Leonardo how were you received by your temporary team in Belgium?
The transport to Belgium, my accommodation and the commute from my home to the company were organized for me by Komax. I didn't have to arrange anything myself. On my first day at work, I was picked up by a Komax Belgium employee, got to know my team and everything was explained and shown to me. I received a very friendly welcome and felt comfortable and at ease right from the start. Everyone was willing to help me and teach me new things. I was invited to a bike race on the very first weekend. The atmosphere at the Tour of Flanders, the most popular one-day race in Belgium, was great. We had bikes with us in our van and were able to ride along the cycle route to various locations within the city. It was there that I had my first taste of Belgian fries and waffles. They are delicious and I have become a big fan of them.

What did you work on in Belgium?
I was part of the assembly team. First, I completed smaller jobs on various machines, such as reassembling and rewiring a main switch or an Ixon router. After that, I had the opportunity to work on the new Delta 520 crimping machine. I was allowed to adjust and fine-tune the machine, set it up and test it. That was extremely exciting, and I learned a lot. It was the first time I had done these kinds of tasks. In the last two weeks, I also started assembling an ILC Bench Top, a high-performance laser stripping machine. It is manufactured in Belgium for Komax France.

What new skills or knowledge were you able to acquire during your stay at Komax Belgium?
I learned how to set the positions on the new Delta 520, how to test the machine and what characteristics a good crimp must have. However, within the assembly project of the ILC Bench Top, I collaborated for the first time with colleagues who do not work at the same site as I do. Despite receiving instructions, I had to approach the Komax France team if I had any questions, which taught me how cooperation works within international teams. At the same time as my stay, an employee from Komax Maroc visited Belgium. So, I not only got to know colleagues from the Kingdom, but also from other Komax Group sites.

What is different at Komax Belgium than in Dierikon?
The way of working is no different in Belgium than in Switzerland, although there were some variations in terms of the tools I used. The working hours are also very similar. I did notice one striking difference in terms of commuting: in Belgium, many more people travel by bike. Including me, because Komax Belgium had rented a bike especially for me.

Your internship is over and you are back home. In retrospect, what can you say about your stay abroad?
The four weeks flew by. It was my first experience abroad on my own and a great opportunity to get to know a new place without having to worry about things like accommodation or contact with other people. I learned a lot at work and also took home some tips and tricks from my colleagues in Belgium. But the experience was not only worthwhile in terms of work: at the weekends I had the opportunity to visit the cities of Bruges, Ostend or Ghent and experience a lot. I would recommend an internship abroad to everyone. Especially within the Komax Group, because I noticed one thing in particular both in Switzerland and in Belgium: The positive working atmosphere with friendly, open-minded and appreciative people. I feel at home at Komax, which is why I would like to continue working here after completing my apprenticeship.