A look behind the scenes at Demcon

What is happening across the street from the University of Twente? On 11 March, students, young professionals and PhD students had the chance to get to know UT spinoff Demcon.

Across the street from the University of Twente lies a completely different world. Although closely linked to the talent and innovation produced by the university, it feels like another dimension, almost like entering a new level of Mario Bros. This world is called Kennispark Twente: a business campus where national and international companies open their doors daily to develop ground-breaking solutions. On 11 March, we had the chance to discover one of the stand out companies of Kennispark. A group of students and young professionals were allowed an exclusive look inside the head office and some operational departments of UT spinoff Demcon.

With the slogan ‘Imagine tomorrow, challenge today’, Demcon was founded in 1993 in a small room at the University of Twente by two mechatronics enthusiasts and UT alumni: Dennis Schipper (ME‘89/PhD’01) and Peter Rutgers (ME'91). The company develops high-quality technological solutions for sectors as diverse as healthcare, security, water, energy and communication markets of today and the future. Demcon is a supplier to many well-known companies, including ASML.

Demcon welcomed more than 30 students, young professionals and PhD candidates from the UT for inspiring presentations and a guided tour. What made this experience extra special was that the tour guides were UT alumni themselves and have established careers at Demcon. "This way, we create a stronger connection and students get an authentic picture of what it is like to work at Demcon. They discover the difference between working on projects as students and working within a leading company like this." says Magali Coello, UT alumni relations manager and co-organiser of the event.

What did the participants think about the event?

"I am very grateful for this visit to Demcon, it was a great opportunity to get to know the company better."

"The tour was very informative, and the conversations with UT alumni were especially incredibly valuable."

"Visiting Demcon was a great opportunity to learn more about this exciting company!"

During the visit, five alumni shared their experiences within different processes and departments at Demcon. They answered questions, shared valuable insights and inspired the visitors to discover more about the company.

The company visit was organised in cooperation with KIVI Students Oost, UT Career Services and the UT's Young Alumni Network. A special thanks to our hostess Marijke Kenkhuis, whose professionalism and warm welcome made the experience unforgettable-for the visitors, the speakers as well as the organisers.

📌 Read more about our previous company visit to HoSt Group and Foseco Vesuvius.

alumni Speakers

Arno Schuerink ME'12 Senior Mechanical Engineer

Esmee Buter BME'22 Mechanical Engineer

Jeroen Houwers ME'14 Group Leader High Tech Systems

Peter Pluimers IEM'16 Business Unit Manager

Onno Derkman BME'21