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Internship at
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in Nordborg, Denmark |
Andreas Kampleitner, August to September 2006 |
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The Journey
to my four-week practical course in Denmark took 15 hours. After my arrival with
the night train on Sunday, 20 August 2006, in Hamburg, the next step to my destination
was a connecting train of the Danish federal railroads to Flensburg. Two and a half hours
later, a few kilometers north of the German border, I had to transfer the second and last
time, before I reached the railway station in Sønderborg thirty minutes later. Subsequently,
I took a taxi to the dormitory from EUC Syd, where I was given a warm welcome.
My Work at Danfoss
On the following day, Mrs. Eva Sjoestroem picked me up at 9 o'clock and we drove to Nordborg,
where Danfoss' headquarter is located (compound from the word "Danmark" and the Danish verb
"fosse" (flow)). Danfoss is the largest industrial company of the country, with 6.000
employees in Denmark, more 18.000 world wide. Danfoss is one of the leading enterprises
in the warming and refrigeration technology area, with an annually turnover of approx. two
billion Euros.
My work place was similar to a development department. At the beginning I could choose between different projects. A running project for example was to build a robot which inserts workpieces into a CNC steered milling machine. However, I decided to participate in the development of a massage chair. It was still in the initial stage and so I could be integrated from the first day on. My tasks were to bring in ideas, discuss them or design parts for the concept chair on the computer in 3D.
I was involved in the construction of an exhibition stand. This stand was a table for small
chain excavators, which have to master various tasks ; e.g. to press a button with the arm at
the soil (see picture). These approximately 50cm large remote controlled "toy machines" with
impressing detail loyalty (even the door mechanism was copied from the original and fully
functional), at the unit price of €1.200, represent a part of the Danfoss products in the
range of hydraulics, because all movements are operating pneumatically.
Neben diesen Arbeiten war ich in den nächsten Wochen am Bau eines Messestandes beteiligt, was meine Zeit bei Danfoss ca. zur Hälfte beanspruchte. Dieser Stand war ein Tisch für kleine Kettenbagger, die auf diesem diverse Aufgaben bewältigen müssen; z.B. mit dem Arm einen Knopf am Boden zu drücken (siehe Foto). Die ca. 50cm großen ferngesteuerten "Spielzeugmaschinen" mit beeindruckender Detailtreue (sogar der Türmechanismus war dem Original nachgebildet und voll funktionsfähig), zum Stückpreis von 1.200 Euro, repräsentieren einen Teil der Danfoss-Produkte im Bereich der Hydraulik, da sämtliche Bewegungen pneumatisch betrieben werden.
Occasionally, I designed broken machine parts or other work pieces for my boss on the computer
which were manufactured and replaced then.
In the third week I drew first drafts for a wrist-watch with organizer functions. Subsequently a model of the clock was made on a 3D-Printer.
Further I participated planning and building a cover for a course-pressure test machine, because broken work pieces were hurled away again and again..
My department was a mixture of workshop and engineering department. Approximately 30
machine-builders, electrical engineers, mechatronics, etc. co-operate there. At first
sight I was overwhelmed of the manufacturing machines, because nearly each of them was
rather new.
The wage system at Danfoss is very interesting: Every three months the workers from the department are judged by the manager to criteria such as team ability, diligence, punctuality etc. and are put into higher or lower earning classes. The work atmosphere and the working climate among the coworkers were excellent. The superiors are not seen as the "boss", but as equivalent colleagues.
The Tour
During my last week at Danfoss in Denmark my boss Klaus Madsen gave me a tour through the whole company in Nordborg. I learned a lot about Danfoss. I did not only get to see the manufacturing plants, Klaus also showed me ranges like the quality assurance with innumerable test equipments and pertinent procedures, the fire-brigade and the rescue department, the purification plant, the heating of the enterprise, in which one million cubic meter gas are burned annually. Finally we visited the office building (picture on page one) which was completely reconditioned last year and where the deceased founder Mads Clausen had his office. The desk plate can be cooled or heated depending upon need. The picture at the beginning of this paragraph was taken from the highest floor and shows approximately a third of the entire company.
Mads Clausen was an inspired hunter what definitely shows in his office.
This photo was taken from the top floor and shows about one third of the overall company.
Danfoss has its own TV studio, in which media appearances of the company are shot, so the
group management needn't drive to Copenhagen for interviews.
This picture shows the conference room, in which the directors hold their meetings.
Each director shares a per cent of the Danfoss group which is held to 95% by Jørgen Clausen.
Entrance hall of the office building
Accommodations, Commuting and Meals
My room in the dormitory was not really big but nearly new and comfortably furnished,
with a bathroom and an internet connection for my laptop. The dorm provided a tennis
and football field, an internet cafe, television areas, a sport-resounded and much more.
However, during weekdays breakfast was too early for me, because my bus left at 650, so
I had free coffee at Danfoss during the first break at 830 o'clock. The buffet at the
cafeteria was remarkably good and cheap, a meal cost 2.60 Euros and it was all you can eat.
The ride to the company in Nordborg took approximately half an hour, busses back to Sønderborg
went on the half hour.
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On the second weekend I made a trip on the ferry to the neighbour island Fyn. The crossing from Fynshav to Bøjden took nearly an hour and was absolutely beautiful because of the excellent weather on the return trip.
On the last weekend I visited Danfoss Universe, a technical park that had been opened only a few months before. In an interesting and amusing way this park deals with phenomena as coolness, heat and movement and with the main technologies of Danfoss. The intention of the park is the improvement of interest and enthusiasm for science and technology. The area includes the Farm of Mads Clausen, which has been turned into a museum of Danfoss' history. One can visit all remained rooms, also the first office of Clausen.
Language
Sometimes I was able to understand some words in Danish because of similarities to German. My boss Klaus Madsen, who spoke German perfectly, strove to teach me some phrases in his language so that I was soon able to utter the most important expressions. Some colleagues spoke German very well, others preferred the English dialogue. My colleagues were understood some technical vocabulary in German.
Miscellany
During my four weeks in Denmark the weather was sunny and quite warm, except for a few days. Constantly little and sometimes strong wind is usual for these region. Because the temperatures of the summer of 2006 were above average throughout Europe, the sea was unusually warm (19°C). Depending upon tide, there were estimated five jellyfishes per square meter at the bank range. The price level in Denmark is a third higher than in Austria.
Conclusion
I would like to thank Professor Anton Pixner for arranging this foreign practical course and
the Friends of the Technical College of Voecklabruck for the financial support. I recommend
each pupil who gets the chance to take part in such a program to use it. It was interesting,
and I remember these instructive four weeks at the Danfoss company in Denmark with gratefulness.
The Most Beautiful Moments
All photos in this report were taken by me personally.
