The Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences Friends’ Association regularly organises company visits for its members and members of the university community. This helps to strengthen the regional network between the university and the business community. This time, the host was SPECTRO Analytical Instruments, based in Kleve.
The question of whether the visitor’s necklace was really made of silver was answered in 30 seconds: “Using our analytical instruments, we can analyse jewellery non-destructively to determine its composition. That is why, for example, customs authorities and experts around the world use our analytical instruments to identify counterfeits,” Michael Privik, who is responsible for sales and marketing at SPECTRO, told the visitors.
However, jewellery analysis is just one of many areas of application. SPECTRO is one of the world’s leading suppliers of analytical instruments in the field of optical emission and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The instruments are used, for example, in the metal, chemical and electrical industries, and are developed and manufactured exclusively in Kleve. This makes the company an attractive employer for students from various departments at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
Dr Gerhard Heusipp, Head of the Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, sees good opportunities for students at the university to get involved: “Companies such as SPECTRO offer our students excellent opportunities, both for engineers and scientists as well as for business graduates who wish to work in an international company.” In terms of securing a regional supply of skilled workers, collaboration between the university and industry therefore makes sense: “Both sides benefit from work placements and applied final-year projects, for example,” says Dr Gerhard Heusipp. Sales Manager Michael Privik confirms the positive experiences with the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences: “We have already been able to translate findings from final-year projects into concrete product developments.”
The Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences Friends’ Association supports the university and businesses in establishing contact through its activities, such as company visits, work placement fairs and facilitating partnerships. Securing a skilled workforce is a key aspect of this.
Incidentally, the rapid test on the silver necklace proved positive, much to the visitor’s satisfaction: the necklace contained what it promised.
