Students day

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have carried out (or are currently carrying out) during your internship.

With the maintenance team, I have been involved in two main types of tasks: maintenance operations and service calls.
Maintenance involves carrying out a series of checks on the elevators, both from inside and outside the cabin (checking the doors, visually assessing the condition of components, etc.). If any component isn’t in the right condition to operate, we fix the issue or the potential cause of failure.

Service calls are managed through an internal company application, where operators are notified when someone submits a report describing a problem and the location of the elevator. This allows us to know where to go to resolve the issue.

There is also the repairs team.
With them, I have been installing photoelectric safety barriers in elevators, since new regulations require these systems instead of the older sensors.
Another task is replacing traction cables, and when the machine room isn’t located above the elevator shaft, we also build scaffolding inside the shaft to carry out the work safely.

What have you gained from your internship at Orona? What are you learning?

What I would highlight most is that speed isn’t what matters most—efficiency is. For example, when replacing traction cables with the repairs team, we could probably complete more than one elevator in a day, but under the supervisor’s guidance, we focus on one per day. It’s better to work at a steady, well-paced rhythm and ensure the job is done properly, even if progress is slower, than to rush through and simply try to finish more elevators in the same amount of time.

What would you highlight about Orona?

Above all, the teamwork. Sometimes, if one of the technicians doesn’t fully understand the cause of a fault, they call a colleague with more experience in that area for advice. There is a very strong sense of professional support.

As for me, as an intern, they are always willing to offer advice—often more than once. I really appreciate the genuine interest they show, not only in letting me learn from day-to-day situations, but also in giving me the tools and guidance to face them with confidence.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have carried out (or are currently carrying out) during your internship.

I am currently doing my internship in the Process Engineering Department, where I take part in both the project to automate the quotation process and the launch and management of public tenders.
My work involves analyzing the department’s different processes, identifying which parts can be automated, and collaborating in the implementation of improvements that increase efficiency.
Additionally, I assist in the preparation and follow-up of tenders, reviewing technical documentation and learning how the different phases of the process are managed.

What have your internship experiences at Orona brought you? What have you learned?

This internship is helping me gain a clearer understanding of how processes operate within an industrial company and to see first-hand how automation can improve daily work. I am learning to analyze processes with a broader perspective and to work collaboratively to find solutions that make our work more efficient and organized.

What would you highlight about Orona?

What I value most about Orona is the positive work environment and the closeness of the team. From day one, I have felt welcomed and included, working in a very pleasant and collaborative atmosphere.
I really appreciate how willing my colleagues are to teach and share their knowledge, which makes every day an opportunity to continue learning and growing.
Overall, it has been a very positive experience that is helping me develop both personally and professionally.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have carried out (or are currently carrying out) during your internship.

Since my internship was part of a Vocational Training program in Metal Construction, my work focused mainly on welding tasks in the Chassis Workshop in Hernani.
During most of the internship, I welded components such as machine frames, mainly for replacement and refurbishment elevators (SRA, Homelift, etc.).
Towards the end of the training period, I began learning assembly tasks for elevator chassis, specifically the M34E, which is Orona’s best-selling model.

Beyond the core manufacturing tasks, I also carried out cross-functional activities such as opening maintenance orders, performing OOL tasks (Organization, Order and Cleanliness), and making improvement proposals related to process optimization, design, or occupational safety.

What have your internship experiences at Orona brought you? What have you learned?

First of all, I have deepened the welding skills I learned during my studies, applying them in a real working environment.
In addition, this experience has helped me understand the workplace and how a large company like Orona operates, especially the range of resources—both material and human—that it provides to its employees. A clear example is the use of ergonomic equipment such as hoists and balance cranes, or the support from the Engineering and Maintenance department, which designs and manufactures customized tools and equipment according to our needs.

What would you highlight about Orona?

Above all, the people. The team has always been willing to teach and support me with anything I needed, helping me learn new tasks or refine the ones I already knew through guidance and training.

I would also highlight the high level of optimization in the production processes and the organization of the workshop environment, which makes it possible to manufacture up to 80 elevators per day.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have performed (or are performing) during your internship.

Andreas van Putten - During my internship, I have been analyzing internal processes, material flows, and warehouse management to find opportunities to improve the efficiency of the service department. I do this by speaking to people, looking at data, and discussing my findings.

Tim van der Vaart - During my internship at Orona I am involved in recruitment, employee wellbeing and learning & development. I call applicants, I contribute to the employee wellbeing policy, I help determine which courses are suitable for my colleagues and I assist with setting up training sessions. Every day is full of challenges.

Tim Keetman – I am currently an intern at the modernization and logistics department where I research the processes to find any bottlenecks and sometimes help with everyday tasks.

What have you gained from your internship at Orona? What have you learned?

Andreas van Putten - I gained valuable experience in the elevator sector, which was quite new to me. I learned how much effort and coordination are required to keep elevators and escalators operating everywhere. I also learned to work together with a broad range of interesting people, from mechanics to management.

Tim van der Vaart – My internship at Orona is my first real experience with professional work life, so I'm learning a lot here! For example: how to collaborate with a team around me, what it's like to work in a large company, where my interest lie, but most of all how exciting it all is, especially at Orona.

Tim Keetman - Looking at what I have learned during my internship at Orona, I would say that I have learned multiple things such as, working in a real rapidly moving business environment, logistic processes and broaden my knowledge about the elevator/escalator sector. Furthermore I think that I have gained a lot of knowledge and broaden my network.

Qu’est-ce que tu soulignerais chez Orona ?

Andreas van Putten - Orona is a company with unique and dedicated people who achieve a lot together. It is also a place where you can learn from others, as Orona gives everyone the opportunity to develop themselves, even without prior experience in the elevator sector.

Tim van der Vaart – It’s a truly great company that really cares about people, both its customers and its employees!

Tim Keetman – I would highlight multiple things about Orona. First of all the employees that are helpful within the organisation, these employees made me feel at home the second I walked inside the company. The second thing that I want to highlight is the diversity in workdays, during my internship at Orona the Netherlands every workday was different. I have worked days at the modernization department, logistics department, but also multiple days with mechanics. The last thing that I want to highlight is the professional guidance that I got throughout my internship.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have performed (or are performing) during your internship.

I learned how to read drawings, do alignments, and setting the elevator up. I learned a lot from the mechanics and did stuff by myself.

What have you gained from your internship at Orona? What have you learned?

I’m learning to think in solutions and getting a much better insight for the work.

What would you highlight about Orona?

My mentor Youri for sure! The teamwork, the fun, and the people. It’s a really nice place to work.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have performed (or are performing) during your internship.

I always start my day by checking my schedule to see what maintenance is planned. If there’s nothing on it, I look for a suitable location where I can start working. Once I’m on site, I go from lift to lift doing maintenance. Sometimes I get a breakdown call, and then I go and fix that. I also go to the office quite often to get materials for maintenance, because the cargo bike doesn’t fit the same equipment as a van.

What have you gained from your internship at Orona? What have you learned?

Technically, I’ve become a lot stronger in a short time. As a starting technician, I learned a lot by working alongside more experienced colleagues. I’ve also grown personally, I deal with many different people, take responsibility for my own work, and even handle things like writing emails. I really feel responsible for what I do.

What would you highlight about Orona?

I learn the most from problems. I actually enjoy running into problems, because if everything always goes easy, you’re not really learning. I like seeing and learning new things. At Orona you work with many different lift brands and systems, and that helps me learn a lot every day.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have performed (or are performing) during your internship.

Working with lifts and escalators, mainly fixing breakdowns.

What have you gained from your internship at Orona? What have you learned?

My social skills have grown, I’ve learned how to deal better with people and become more independent. For example, sometimes I work alone in the warehouse, which gives me a sense of responsibility.

What would you highlight about Orona?

I really enjoy working in the field, the contact with people both outside and inside the company. Working on escalators together with my colleagues is something I find really fun and interesting.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have performed (or are performing) during your internship.

During my apprenticeship, I held the position of New Installations Sales Representative. My responsibilities included preparing initial price estimates for tender responses, taking part in commercial and site meetings, and carrying out shaft measurements on site.

What have you gained from your internship at Orona? What have you learned?

My apprenticeship at Orona allowed me to discover a fascinating industry and helped me develop new professional and interpersonal skills.

What would you highlight about Orona?

What I would highlight about Orona is the mutual support among colleagues, both during onboarding and in their daily tasks.

Describe in your own words the functions and tasks you have performed (or are performing) during your internship.

My apprenticeship at Orona allows me to carry out various tasks related to payroll and personnel administration. I am responsible for collecting, checking, and entering the information required to prepare payroll for certain employees; monitoring medical check-ups and social security daily allowances; and preparing onboarding files for new hires.

What have you gained from your internship at Orona? What have you learned?

My experience at Orona allows me to put into practice all the theoretical knowledge gained during my training, which is a real advantage in my development.

What would you highlight about Orona?

What I would highlight is the willingness to share knowledge and support apprentices.

Describe in your own words what you do during your internship.

During my internship at Orona, I initially worked on all kinds of tasks related to elevator maintenance. These elevators are not only from Orona, but also from other brands. This allows me to learn how different types of elevators are constructed and how we can best repair them in the event of a malfunction. I have the opportunity to work with different technicians from different teams, which helps me to see different working styles and develop my own effective working methods.

What have you learned?

I have learned how elevators work technically and what causes malfunctions. This has given me a better understanding of how to quickly analyze and solve a problem. By gaining a lot of practical experience, I have become better at finding the cause of malfunctions and finding an efficient solution. This helps me to solve problems as quickly and correctly as possible. 

What would you highlight about Orona?

What I really like about Orona is the family atmosphere. Whenever a technician needs help with something, they can always call a colleague nearby for support. During breaks, colleagues also enjoy chatting with each other, which creates a pleasant working atmosphere. New employees are given the time and guidance they need to learn everything, and as soon as they see that you have mastered the job, you are given the opportunity to work independently. That gives you a lot of confidence and motivation.