From workshop floor to canal tour: study trip recap

Three days. Dozens of industry professionals from Norway and Sweden. One unforgettable experience at Voortman. - From May 21–23, 2025, Voortman welcomed a fantastic group of visitors from Norway and Sweden for a special study trip. The trip was organized in collaboration with SBI, MVR and Norsk Stålforbund. The program offered a perfect mix of technology, knowledge-sharing, and fun.

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Wednesday: Kicking off with good food and great company

After landing at Schiphol Airport, the group headed straight to Amersfoort. The evening kicked off with a dinner at Hotel Van der Valk.

Thursday: The power of automation

Thursday morning began with a visit to steel fabricator Van den Brink Staalbouw in Barneveld. Guests were given a behind-the-scenes look at the fully automated production line for large-scale steel structures. The group was impressed by the seamless integration of machines, VACAM software, cross transports, roller conveyors, product buffers and material sensors.

Then it was off to Voortman’s Experience Center in Rijssen. Our visitors enjoyed coffee and lunch before an afternoon full of machine demos, presentations, and plenty of time for questions. Highlights included live demos of drilling, sawing, coping and automatic welding machines. And of course, insights into smart software and automation possibilities.

The evening concluded with drinks and dinner at the Oosterhof manor, catered by restaurant Brodshoes. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a relaxing night at the hotel.

Friday: Brand new fiber lasers and a cultural highlight

Friday’s program continued at Voortman, this time diving into plate processing, fiber laser cutting, and pipe profiling. The demos sparked plenty of questions (and ideas) as guests explored how new technologies could be applied to their own production processes.

After lunch and an official closing, the group made their way to Amsterdam for one last stop: a canal cruise on a classic saloon boat. With a platter of Dutch cheese and a drink in hand, this relaxing cruise provided a refreshing close to a packed and inspiring program.

“Everything was perfectly arranged. From the program to the fantastic food and drinks,” shared one of the visitors.

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