Meet Marcel Steine: R&D Engineer at Bever Innovations
Connectivity is becoming more and more commonplace in the market. The number of smart homes in which the lighting, thermostats, smoke alarms and camera systems can be accessed and managed remotely and smartly is skyrocketing. A development that is also evident in our (lighting) products. Such as in the price displays and canopy lighting, of which the accessibility and possibilities are growing rapidly. A connection to our EOS network functionality enables fuel station managers to view the status of their (lighting) products as well as energy consumption and any faults 24/7. Remotely too, thus offering considerable benefits for in excess of 2,000 unmanned fuel stations in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the wireless EOS platform presents opportunities for predictive maintenance, enabling significant savings on the costs of service and maintenance.
I’ve been working at Bever Innovations for five years now. Together with the other R&D engineers, I’m fully dedicated to improving our existing products and to the development of new products and functionality. Mainly based on customers’ wishes, which we observe on location or have highlighted to us by our sales and back office colleagues. In this regard, my focus is particularly on the software required to ensure the products function properly. From the control software to the mobile applications. Right from the outset, I’m involved in the development of the EOS network functionality, which not only interconnects our products but also enables smart connections to the Internet, customers’ mobile devices as well as third-party systems. I also contribute to the development of new price displays for the Fuel division. In line with the latest standards, with us focusing on more straightforward production, swifter integration of customers’ wishes and more robust housing. Thus ensuring the display continues to work optimally in all extreme (weather) conditions.
Another interesting thing is the developments within Bever Innovations’ Horticulture division—a relatively new division focusing on mobile, flexible and plug-and-play cultivation carts for plant-growing, featuring smart integration of the lighting. Besides a more robust finish—which enables the cultivation carts to be assembled and dismantled quickly and easily and to be used in extreme conditions—within this division we’re focusing on connectivity. An app on a smartphone or tablet makes it easy to do such things as switch the lights on the plant trays on and off, as well as (pre)program switching-on and switching-off times and adjust light intensities. Entirely in accordance with the (cycle) needs of the plants, thereby ensuring an optimum climate for growth and minimal energy consumption.
The developments for existing and new products are invariably worked on in project teams. As a project manager I’m responsible for fine-tuning the work within the multidisciplinary teams, monitoring planning and achieving the objectives set. I studied at Eindhoven University of Technology. Following my BSc in Computer Science & Engineering, I studied an MSc in Embedded Systems, in which my focus was on software control of various integrated systems. I subsequently studied for a PhD, which saw me predominantly working on the quality of wireless sensor networks and amassing, processing, analysing and visualising data. A basic precursor to my work at Bever Innovations. Hence the experience I acquired during my studies comes in really handy here!