Our experts
The Phoenix Contact Academy is a learning environment where a great deal of knowledge about electrical engineering, industrial automation technology and connectivity, among others, is pooled. Our experts are focused on developing you and helping you move forward. They do this by inspiring, motivating and educating you.
The goal is to leave you with more knowledge, motivation, inspiration and skills. A practical and future-oriented approach is central to this. You can put what you learn during the training into practice today and develop it further tomorrow. Technology is the link between you and the expert.
Meet our experts:
Bert van der Linden, Program Manager Technical Education
Bert van der Linden Bert is enthusiastic and passionate and has developed into an independent and objective expert in the field of technical and industrial automation. He strives to explain complex subjects in a clear and straightforward way.
Contact details
Tel. +31 (0)6 821 55 272
Email blinden@phoenixcontact.nl
Experience
Bert has worked as a trainer/consultant for many years and in recent years has focused on smart industrial automation and Industrie 4.0. As a result, he now enjoys working with PLCnext Technology. In addition, Bert is involved in various working groups in the organizations PLCopen and PI International, such as Software Construction Guideline and SU4 PITC.
Thijs van den Akker, Program Manager Technical Education Industrial Connectivity & Electronics
Thijs van den Akker Thijs is a passionate, curious and creative technician. He has developed a broad technical interest and knowledge, especially in the field of industrial electronics and automation. In doing so, he has a deep intrinsic motivation to teach and train people new knowledge and skills.
Contact details
Tel. +31 (0)6 531 64 016
Email takker@phoenixcontact.nl
Experience
Thijs has worked at Phoenix Contact as support engineer and product manager among others in the field of industrial connection technology electronics, E-mobility and surge protection. He also worked as manager of the technical support department. Currently, he is program manager and expert at Phoenix Contact.
Thijs is a member of the working group NEC81 overvoltage and lightning protection (NEN-EN-IEC 62305-4:2011).
Tom van Swam, Trainer Technical Education Industrial Automation
Tom van Swam Tom's motivation is to leave everything a little better than he found it every day. His dedication to continuous improvement inspires others to do the same.
Contact details
Tel. +31(0)6 263 88 822
Email tvanswam@phoenixcontact.nl
Experience
Tom has experience in designing, implementing and commissioning projects as a lead engineer. This includes projects with PLCs, SCADA/HMIs, industrial networks and web applications. In addition, he is founder of an open source project that has achieved over 10,000 downloads.
Tom has also obtained several certifications, including:
- IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist
- TÜV Nord Certified Machinery Safety Expert
- TÜV Sud Functional Safety Engineer Safety Instrumented Systems IEC 61511:2016
Wilco Stienezen, Trainer Technical Education
Wilco Stienezen Wilco's motivations are a passion for innovation and thinking along about new solutions. Thinking along about innovation and actively contributing to development gives him energy and satisfaction.
Contact details
Tel. +31 (0)6 441 42 753
Email wstienezen@phoenixcontact.nl
Experience
Wilco has experience in the following topics: E-mobility, solar, charging solutions DC, surge protection, PLCnext, industrial networks, energy monitoring, RF and wireless applications.
Wilco has also obtained several certifications, including:
- Certified Profinet Engineer
- Certified PLC Programmer
- Industrial Network Communication
Harm Geurink, Product Manager Industriële Automatiseringssystemen
Harm Geurink Harm enjoys explaining (complex) technical matters in an understandable way.
Contact details
Tel. +31(0)6 239 08 339
Email hgeurink@phoenixcontact.nl
Experience
Harm has more than 30 years of experience in Industrial Automation.
Sjoerd Hakstege, Technical Consultant PLCnext
Sjoerd Hakstege Sjoerd gets energy from helping customers. In doing so, he enjoys advising and supporting in setting up/programming, for example, a proof-of-concept.
Contact details
Tel. +31(0)6 868 58 758
Email shakstege@phoenixcontact.nl
Experience
Sjoerd's broad interests and years of work experience at Phoenix Contact make him a valuable discussion partner in many areas within industrial automation. In his previous position of Technical Sales Support, he supported a large part of the Phoenix Contact portfolio. From power supplies to isolation amplifiers and from IO stations to Network switches. In his current position, Sjoerd can further specialize in the areas associated with PLCnext Technology. He also regularly lectures at FHI theme days in the areas of Network Technology, Cybersecurity and Automation.
Rob Hulsebos, OT Cybersecurity Specialist
Rob Hulsebos Rob always strives to explain technology in the simplest and most understandable way possible. If it turns out afterwards that he succeeded, his day is a success.
Contact details
Email rh@enodenetworks.com
www.enodenetworks.com
https://linkedin.com/in/rob-hulsebos-9a10644
Experience
Rob has more than 35 years of experience in industrial networking, mechanical engineering and cybersecurity. He is also a member of the Industrial Platform Cybersecurity (IPCS) and gives guest lectures annually at Avans Hogeschool in Den Bosch. Rob has been self-employed for 25 years with which he disseminates his knowledge on industrial data communications and cybersecurity through courses, webinars and publications in the trade press and on LinkedIn.
Gerald van Engeland, Senior Consultant
Gerald van Engeland Gerald enjoys combining his knowledge as a software engineer and expert in functional security with his passion for sharing craftsmanship. He therefore derives great satisfaction from providing training and coaching others.
Contact details
Tel. +31(0)6 130 03 721
Email g.vanengeland@kader.nl
Experience
Gerald is a familiar face in the world of machine safety. With a background in control technology and experience as a software engineer at various machine builders, he brings a wealth of knowledge with him. He has now been with Kramp Group for more than 14 years, where he now works as a machine safety consultant. His highly specialized knowledge of functional safety in mechanical engineering has led to his own book, entitled "SIL and PL in mechanical engineering."
Michiel Hartmann, Onafhankelijk adviseur Aarding en Bliksem
Michiel Hartmann Michiel has a passion for the field of lightning and grounding. He also gets energy from sharing his knowledge and solving problems pragmatically. After 45 years, Michiel still considers it a "hobby" to work in this field.
Contact details
Lightning Grounding Advisor BV
Tel. +31(0)570 623 500
E-mail info@bliksem-aarding.nl
Experience
Michiel has more than 45 years of practical experience in the field of grounding and lightning. He has been director/owner of Schaap Lightning Protection for 45 years. In addition, he has written three books on lightning protection and grounding, including the Lightning Protection Handbook. Michiel is also actively involved in various industry associations in the field of lightning and grounding.
Johan Hofland, Senior Engineer
Johan Hofland For Johan, safety has always been the common thread in his motivation. From fire alarm and extinguishing systems to burglar, camera and access control systems, and since 2001 also grounding systems, lightning and surge protection. His goal is to protect people, buildings and installations.
Contact details
Van der Heide Lightning Protection
www.vanderheide.nl
Experience
Johan has extensive experience in designing low voltage and high voltage grounding systems, performing risk analyses and designing lightning protection based on NEN62305 and NPR8110, including surge protection. He has also trained mechanics in lightning and surge protection and provides training for external companies and institutions that want to know more about lightning protection. Johan is also a lecturer at various MIT-E courses in the Netherlands.
Stefan Brinkmann, Senior Trainer IMA Sales Automation
Stefan Brinkmann Stefan derives satisfaction from sharing his experience and knowledge with others. His motivation is to make new technologies understandable and accessible to everyone.
Contact details
PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG
Tel. +49 (0)5281 946 2133
E-mail stefan.brinkmann@phoenixcontact.com
Experience.
Stefan has 13 years of experience as a programmer, commissioning engineer and trainer in a large, global mechanical engineering company. He also has 12 years of experience as a trainer at Phoenix Contact with specializations in PLC programming, PROFINET, PLCnext, Network Technology and Cybersecurity.
Frank Erbs, Safety Consultant / Engineer Machinery
Frank Erbs The many different applications within machine and factory automation bring new challenges each time. Frank sees every challenge as an opportunity to find customer-oriented solutions and improve safety with his knowledge.
Contact details
PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG
Email frank.erbs@phoenixcontact.de
Experience
Frank spent 5 years working in project planning and management in plant construction. In addition, he has 11 years of experience in product support for electronic drives with large international customers. Since 2012, he has been a safety engineer at Phoenix Contact. In doing so, he also obtained the certificate TÜV Functional Safety Engineer.
Pedro Aguilar, Trainer / Technical Expert
Pedro Aguilar Pedro gets his motivation from the world of automation. His drive to keep learning and developing drives him to find better and better solutions.
Contact details
PHOENIX CONTACT Electronics GmbH
Tel. +49(0)5281 946 2164
E-mail paguilarconde@phoenixcontact.com
Experience
With 10 years of experience in packaging machine manufacturing and two years as a trainer, Pedro combines practical knowledge with the ability to transfer that knowledge to others. His motivation lies in improving processes as well as guiding people in their development.
Karl Schrade, Manager Cyber Security Trainings
Karl Schrade Karl gets his motivation from making the world a safer place. A major achievement is that he has trained more than 400 participants in various aspects of OT/IACS Security since 2016.
Contact details
PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG
Email kschrade@phoenixcontact.com
Experience
Karl has 20 years of experience in IT Security / Infosec, of which 10 years with a specific focus on OT/IACS Security.
Karl has also obtained several certifications, including:
- ISA/IEC 62443
- CISSP
- Cyber Security Trainer (TÜV Rheinland)