From the school desk to the sulphuric acid department
What does the work of a process operator involve in practice? For intern Kelly, her internship in the sulphuric acid department was the ideal opportunity to find out for herself. For two months, she worked alongside the team in the department, got to know the plant up close and met the colleagues who ensure safe and efficient production on a daily basis. Time for a brief look back at her placement experience.
From an early age, Kelly had been fascinated by chemistry and industry. However, she did not initially pursue a course of study in that field. Her family took priority, but her interest never waned. She therefore decided to pursue her ambition after all and opted for the intensive, full-time Chemical Process Operator course at CVO.
Between April and May, Kelly undertook an internship as a process operator in our sulphuric acid department. For her, this marked the culmination of a one-year training programme. She was already familiar with Molymet Belgium from her studies and hoped that the internship would give her a better idea of her prospects as a process operator in the chemical industry.
Theory comes to life
During her internship , Kelly was introduced to various components of the installations and the production process. Among other things, she learnt about valves, pumps, the TCS system and the various products. Building up her knowledge of the installations was a key focus. She also worked on a final assessment to complete her course.
Kelly also discovered just how closely all parts of a production process are interconnected. A change in one place can have consequences further down the line. At the same time, faults can occur, and as an operator you have to learn to understand how the entire plant functions as a single unit.
Actively involved by her colleagues
Kelly looks back positively on the support she received during her internship. Our colleagues shared their knowledge, gave her plenty of information and actively involved her in the work on site. She also really appreciated her introduction to the rotary kiln and the tour of the facility.
Juggling shift work, university and running a household required a fair bit of organisation. Nevertheless, Kelly remained enthusiastic about the industry and chemistry. After completing her degree, she is keen to start a career in the sector.
If she had to sum up her work placement in three words, she would choose ‘impressive’, ‘exciting’ and ‘team spirit’. To other students considering a work placement at Molymet Belgium, she offers a brief but clear piece of advice: “Go for it!”
Kelly herself is particularly proud to have successfully completed her work placement. Despite her initial doubts, she has managed to turn her interest in chemistry into a concrete step towards a new professional future.
Thank you, Kelly, for your interest, enthusiasm and eagerness to learn during your internship!
