The Colleague Chronicles with Bazz

Welcome, dear readers, to an exclusive interview with the “Process Engineer of B4Plastics”; Bazil Van Beeck!
Today, we’re on a mission to unravel the mysteries, the quirks, and the exceptional talents of our beloved colleague.

Q. How do you explain your work to someone who has no idea about technology?

I like to use a cooking metaphor. Imagine you’re trying out a new recipe for the first time. The first time around, it might not turn out quite as you want it to – it tastes okay, but there’s room for improvement. It’s just like my job: we keep fine-tuning recipes (read: processes) until the result is really good. And it doesn’t stop there. Of course, you also need good cooking equipment. Think of our “kitchen”: the reactor, extruders, mixers, heating, cooling… Everything has to be just right to create a top-quality product.

Q. “What initially attracted you to the role of Process Engineer – was there a moment when you thought: this is it for me?”

I actually see process engineering as the practical translation of chemistry. After my studies, which were mainly lab-based, I wanted to be able to take things further by scaling up to a practically producible process that could also contribute to society.

Q. “What is one aspect of your work as a Process Engineer that people often underestimate or don’t fully understand?”

One thing that is often underestimated is that changing a parameter on a machine can sometimes have unexpected effects. Adding something to a reaction or taking a sample is often very easy in the lab, but much more difficult in our larger reactors.

Q. You wear a lot of festival wristbands – so I guess you like music? As a process engineer, how do you view the sustainability of festivals?

Definitely, I’m a big music lover! Festivals are great, but unfortunately they’re also notorious for their waste and high energy consumption. Waste in particular remains a challenge. I really see a role for B4Plastics here: a lot of festival waste consists of plastics, and we could perfectly replace those with sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. Prevention is of course the best solution, but if we can contribute to less harmful waste, that’s already a big step forward.

Q. What do you like most about working for a sustainable company like B4Plastics?

The variety is fantastic, and I get a lot of independence. But what really makes it special is that we are constantly innovating. We are always working on new processes and reactions. That keeps it challenging and exciting.

Q. Do you have any hobbies that people find surprising?

Model building! I’ve been doing it since I was a child. Plastic is involved in that too, although I admit – usually not the sustainable kind. But who knows… maybe an idea for a future project?