Afstudeerstage ICT

Berkvens is a technology company that operates as a provider of engineering, systems integration, and software-enabled solutions for industrial and commercial customers. The organization positions itself as a specialist in combining mechanical and electrical engineering with control systems, industrial automation, and digital services to deliver end-to-end solutions for production facilities, infrastructure projects, and specialty manufacturing clients. Berkvens’ activities span project engineering, custom equipment design and fabrication, installation and commissioning, plus lifecycle support including maintenance, retrofit and software updates. The company works with a mix of hardware, firmware and application-layer software to automate processes, gather operational data, and improve reliability and efficiency for customers across sectors that include manufacturing, packaging, food processing, and building systems. Core business activities at Berkvens typically include requirements analysis and conceptual design; detailed mechanical, electrical and control system engineering; prototype and production manufacturing; and on-site integration. The company supplies engineered assemblies and bespoke machines—such as conveyor systems, material handling solutions, and modular processing units—integrated with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and industrial networks. It also implements supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, sensors and IoT gateways to enable data capture and remote monitoring. Beyond physical systems, Berkvens produces and maintains embedded control software, visualization dashboards and reporting tools that convert machine telematics into actionable business insights. A significant part of Berkvens’ service offering is systems integration: combining mechanical subsystems, electrical distribution, motor control centers, drives and automation software into fully-tested, factory-acceptance-tested (FAT) assemblies. The company provides installation and commissioning services that include wiring, calibration, control logic commissioning and operator training. Post-commissioning, Berkvens typically supports customers through service contracts covering preventive maintenance, spare parts provisioning, emergency repair, and periodic software revisions to ensure continued compliance and performance. For customers pursuing gradual modernization, Berkvens offers retrofit and upgrade programs that replace legacy controls with modern PLCs, add connectivity for condition monitoring, and migrate older HMI screens to current platforms. On the product side, Berkvens manufactures custom-engineered equipment and assemblies tailored to client specifications. Typical hardware offerings include custom frames and enclosures, electrical cabinets, drive and motor assemblies, sensor packages and modular skids that integrate multiple functional elements into compact units. The company emphasizes rugged, industrial-grade components suitable for continuous production environments and provides documentation and drawings to support regulatory and quality audits. For its control and software layer, Berkvens develops PLC code libraries, HMI templates and data-consolidation services that can be deployed on-premises or as part of hybrid cloud solutions. These software components facilitate alarm management, recipe control for batch processes, and production reporting compatible with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Berkvens’ engineering teams typically work under structured project management methodologies, delivering defined milestones from feasibility studies and 3D CAD models through to FAT and site acceptance tests (SAT). The company places importance on testing and validation—conducting functional tests, safety interlock verification and performance trials prior to customer handover—to minimize commissioning time and mitigate start-up risks. Safety and compliance are addressed through adherence to applicable standards and industry best practices, including electrical safety, machine guarding and control-system safety concepts such as safety PLCs and redundant interlocks when required. Although Berkvens’ portfolio centers on physical automation systems, the company increasingly integrates data-driven services. This includes deploying edge-compute devices and telemetry collectors to stream operational data for analytics, condition-based maintenance and uptime optimization. Berkvens collaborates with customers to define key performance indicators (KPIs), implement dashboards for shift supervisors and maintenance teams, and enable predictive maintenance use cases by pairing sensor data with threshold- and model-based alerts. Where applicable, Berkvens supports connectivity to cloud platforms and offers secure remote access for diagnostics and software patching. Clients typically engage Berkvens for complex projects requiring close coordination between mechanical design, electrical engineering and control-system development. The company’s value proposition is centered on reducing overall project risk by delivering integrated solutions from a single supplier, shortening time-to-production through thorough off-site assembly and testing, and offering lifetime support to protect customer investments. Berkvens often serves mid-sized industrial customers and OEMs that require tailored machinery rather than off-the-shelf products, and it collaborates with component vendors and technology partners to incorporate proven subsystems into delivered solutions. Berkvens may also provide consulting and feasibility services to help customers assess automation strategies, estimate costs and determine phased upgrade approaches. Typical engagements include energy-efficiency improvements, line balancing and throughput optimization projects, as well as technology refresh programs that replace obsolete controls and improve connectivity. Through these services, Berkvens supports clients’ operational objectives such as reduced downtime, improved product quality, and more predictable maintenance planning. In sum, Berkvens is a technology-focused engineering and systems integration firm that combines mechanical fabrication, electrical engineering and control-software development to deliver customized automation and data solutions for industrial and commercial customers. Its offerings cover the full project lifecycle—from concept and design through implementation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance—emphasizing integration, reliability and measurable operational improvements for customers deploying automated production and processing systems.