15 years at VeroTech: one shared journey, two different stories
Fifteen years is a long time in engineering. Technologies evolve, industries change, projects come and go. Yet some things remain constant: curiosity, expertise and the people you share the journey with. As VeroTech exists 15 years, we’re also celebrating the people who have been part of that journey from the very beginning. Henk and Jan joined VeroTech in its early days and have been with us ever since. Their 15-year journeys offer a glimpse into how both engineering and VeroTech have evolved and what it takes to keep learning, growing and staying curious along the way.
From a small office to 15 years of engineering
When Henk first got in touch with VeroTech, the company was still in its infancy.
“There was virtually nothing. Just a little office in Haasrode, just Veronique, no employees, no projects.”
Joining a young company naturally came with some uncertainty. Would it survive? Would it attract customers without an established track record? For Henk, however, those questions never became a major concern.
“We just kept going.”
Jan experienced a very different start. Fresh out of his studies at Groep T, he was making the transition from academic theory to real-world engineering.
“I clearly remember that massive shift from academic theory to my first real-world, hands-on engineering work.”
He immediately had the opportunity to dive into a wide range of tools and processes. What stood out most, however, was the support he received. His manager at the customer site invested heavily in his development, including specialised training abroad. At the same time, VeroTech made a conscious effort to keep its consultants connected through team events and a strong sense of community.
Choosing VeroTech
For Jan, the variety of projects and opportunities to keep learning were important reasons for joining VeroTech. He was looking for an environment where he could tackle complex technical challenges and combine practical engineering with problem-solving. For Henk, it was a conversation with VeroTech founder Veronique that made the difference. Their first meeting took place not in an office, but in the lobby of a hotel in Ghent. Henk listened to her vision, joined her in meetings with potential customers and gradually built trust in both the company and its future.
When a client eventually offered him a project, he decided to take the leap.
“I jumped. And I never looked back.”
Fifteen years of changing engineering
Few things illustrate the evolution of engineering better than looking back at what has changed over the past 15 years. For Jan, one of the biggest shifts has been the rise of AI and digital tools. When he started as a CAE engineer, development, debugging and system architecture relied much more heavily on manual work and experience. Today, AI can assist with everything from code refactoring to routine tasks and data analysis. The result is not necessarily less engineering, but a different kind of engineering.
“We spend less time in the weeds of manual syntax or troubleshooting, and much more time acting as architects.”
Henk sees a similar shift from a software engineering perspective. With ready-to-use libraries and AI tools readily available, the challenge is increasingly about deciding how to structure what you build, with reusability, maintainability and extensibility in mind. And while technology can provide more answers than ever before, critical thinking remains essential.
“Don’t swallow everything that is handed to you.”
When a career takes an unexpected turn
Over 15 years, careers can change just as much as technology.
For Jan, what started as a traditional mechanical engineering role, designing timing gears for combustion engines, eventually evolved into something very different. As the industry changed, so did his role. Jan moved into a Solution Architect position within an Industrial IoT environment, designing and rolling out connected shopfloor applications across BMT factories worldwide.
Moving from physical mechanical design to global digital transformation meant bridging the gap between hardware and software; a significant shift that ultimately became one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.
Why VeroTech?
Henk's most impactful experience at VeroTech is of a very different nature. Around ten years ago, his brother had an accident that affected his life profoundly. During that difficult period, VeroTech supported him in a way that went far beyond his role as a consultant.
“I will never forget how VeroTech supported me during that difficult period, and helped me to get my life together again.”
It is a reminder that a long career is not only defined by the projects you work on or the technologies you master; it's also shaped by the people around you. And for Henk, that remains one of the things that has kept him at VeroTech for 15 years. And next to that, many other things:
“The variation of interesting projects. The colleagues, even though you don’t see them that often. But above all: the people who care about you, who know you.”
For Jan, it is the combination of continuous evolution, challenge and flexibility that has made the difference. Whenever one area feels mastered, there is always another challenge waiting. And as his personal life evolved, so did the support and flexibility he received from VeroTech.
15 years on
So what would they tell their younger selves?
Jan’s advice is to embrace the learning curve and not worry about knowing everything from day one. In an industry that changes as quickly as engineering and technology, the ability to adapt and keep learning matters more than knowing every detail. Oh, and:
Document your code thoroughly from day one - your future self will thank you!
And Henk?
“Don’t worry about your future, you will be here for a looong time!”
Perhaps neither could have known exactly where those early days would lead. Fifteen years later, their careers have taken different paths, technology has changed dramatically and VeroTech has grown far beyond that small office in Haasrode to a rooftop office with big clients.
Yet the things that matter most have remained remarkably consistent: curiosity, expertise, challenging work and people who care.