Measurement Technician Ad Tijs on his work at Normec Rei-Lux
A Strong Work Ethic
As a measurement technician, you’re on the road a lot, because measurements are, of course, taken on-site. Sometimes that means traveling to Belgium for an assignment and/or staying overnight. Occasionally, the work is even carried out at night. Ad: “Workdays can therefore be pretty demanding, but I’m used to it. Personally, I also enjoy a good work ethic. Just roll up your sleeves and get to work. Then you can look back on the day with a sense of satisfaction.”
No two measurements are the same
Although the focus of the work is on measuring light poles, as a measurement technician you deal with a wide variety of objects—from wall anchors and facade fixtures to bridge railings and balusters. Ad: “You need good insight and common sense to do this job. Every object requires its own approach. Even if you were to limit yourself to measuring light poles, no two measurements are the same. Every pole is unique. They may look the same, but external factors like the location and the soil in which a pole is installed have a major impact on its lifespan.”
Measuring with a measuring machine
“Broadly speaking, a measurement proceeds as follows: the measuring machine is driven up to a pole and secured at the bottom and top. Two lasers are also placed on the pole. Then the measurement technician applies even pressure. Meanwhile, he monitors the mast via a 3D camera. Ad: “On my screen, I can see what’s happening to the mast. If there’s a defect underground, I can easily tell from the graph. If that’s the case, I stop the measurement immediately. After all, I’m not here to break masts. After the measurement, each mast is assigned a code that indicates its status.”
Fellow enthusiasts
Because the work is so varied, you learn the tricks of the trade mainly on the job—and that job can be quite challenging. Ad: “Sometimes you run into a situation on site that you want to discuss. At times like that, I don’t hesitate to call a colleague and bounce ideas off them. That’s what makes the work fun for me. I’m someone who likes to think through the best solution in every situation, but to get there, you sometimes need a different perspective and the input of colleagues. It’s precisely those moments of dialogue—among fellow professionals—that energize me.”
