After completing his BSc and MSc in aerospace engineering, at Delft University of Technology, Wim Westbroek joined our team in 2017 in the mechanical test department, thereafter realizing his passion for composite engineering. Since then, he has rapidly progressed his career at Strohm, becoming the team lead for composite engineering in 2021.
During his studies, Wim learnt about the work Strohm does across the composite industry through his university supervisor, who drew his attention to our company’s reputation and quality products. From there he gained experience with the hands-on assembly of our thermoplastic composite pipes (TCP) as a mechanical test engineer.
“Joining the team in such a hands-on role was extremely beneficial, providing me with a solid background of understanding of the products and how they work on a physical basis. Although I had an engineering background through my studies, this role really gave me an appreciation for the product and how it works, setting me up really well for my progression through the company.”
“I had developed an interest in composite materials during my university days where a lot of my work centered around composites, including my master’s thesis, and this opportunity gave me the chance to work more with these interesting materials and their application in the field.”
Wim’s engagement with composite materials has also been part of his personal life, where he puts the materials to good use when undertaking one of his hobbies, gliding.
“I suppose you could say that I’ve been living alongside composites my whole life! I’ve been gliding since I was 14 and grew up in a gliding family, so I have seen how composites have improved modern life since I was very young, as gliders are made from these types of materials. This hobby also gave me an appreciation for aerospace and aeronautical engineering, which put me on my path towards university and, ultimately, Strohm.
“In my current role, I lead my team in their work across each commercial and R&D project for Strohm, from design to manufacturing, before the technology is shipped into the field. As part of this I have had the chance to work alongside a fantastic group of people at Strohm and a range of experts that have been fundamental to me growing my career and professional skillset.
“In addition to this, my time with the Strohm team has also supported my interest in the subsea sector. With so many like-minded people that have a real passion for what they do around me day to day, it’s no wonder that this enthusiasm rubbed off and is something I bring to work with me every day.”
Not only does Wim have a passion for working alongside the team at Strohm, but also for the projects he and his team work on. Speaking on his standout projects in the past few years at Strohm, he said: “It’s really hard to pick a specific favourite project; for me it’s a bit like picking your favourite child! But I have been involved in some really interesting work across many different sectors working in the subsea environment.
“In one big project we delivered a dynamic jumper for deep-sea mining activities to source rare earth materials that can be used for car batteries for electric vehicles. This was particularly fascinating for me as I am also very focused on the energy transition, so it was nice to support a project that was looking towards the future for greener solutions.
“I have also worked across some exciting activities in the renewables space, which I am very pleased to see the industry as a whole engaging with. This is something which I hope to be more involved with going forward in my time at Strohm, where we have a commitment to supporting the next step in the energy transition.”
Wim has also worked to deploy Strohm’s solutions to the oil and gas industry and has delivered quality and efficiency to our clients across Africa, Brazil and beyond, as well as to major operators in the regions. This includes standard pipeline production and delivery, to the qualifications of our products, in line with global industry standards.
The work he delivers across the world also reflects Wim’s own passion for travel. “My wife and I are serial travelers and love to explore new and exciting places that are slightly off the beaten track, particularly in places like Mexico. I also have an interest in keeping active and have been developing my skills at bouldering and indoor climbing since the pandemic.
“As in my personal life, I am keen to foster my skillset and broaden my horizons in my career, which I have been lucky enough to do so far in my time at Strohm and something I look forward to as we move on to bigger and better projects in the future.”