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As a bench fitter specialising in precision mechanics, Thieu Op Heij (61) ensures a perfect finish of the metal parts that VDL ETG Precision makes for high-tech production equipment, medical radiation equipment, and other equipment. Thieu’s work is an important final step in the production process, because inadequate deburring can turn a product that may be worth thousands of euros into scrap metal. Highly complicated and high-precision work, therefore, down to 100th of a millimetre. ‘I prefer products that are as small as possible. Where many shy away from these kinds of jobs, I see them as a challenge,’ says Thieu.

Finishing touch
Thieu shows me around his workplace in the factory. He moves between the milling machine and his workbench, which has numerous small drawers filled with tiny products and tools for high-precision drilling, milling, and deburring. Next to it stands a table with a magnifying glass that can magnify products by a factor of up to 50. Under this magnifying glass, he puts the finishing touch to the products by deburring them. 

Nozzles
With great enthusiasm, he shows me all kinds of small boxes containing small products. He tells me: ‘For some time now, I have been helping to develop nozzle prototypes. This is a suction piece for a pick & place machine.’ He shows me an example of the product, which has tiny 0.25 mm holes in it. ‘Anyone else would say, ‘how on earth did you manage to do that? But I relish this kind of work. We have developed and tested many different versions of these nozzles, including nozzles made of different kinds of metal or plastic. I have direct contact with the customer so that I can get feedback quickly. The position is a very challenging one, and I have a lot of freedom to develop the right tools myself.’

Grinding for a round and smooth finish
Thieu has a background as an engineer fitter. After learning the trade at the Philips Trade School, he started specialising and honing his precision mechanics skills. ‘Grinding products to get a round and smooth finish soon became my preferred job. And then preferably the milling, drilling, and grinding of small products. Making something out of nothing, coming up with something new every time.’

Bench fitter specialising in precision mechanics
‘Thanks to my conventional background and many years of experience, I know which methods to use to deburr products without damaging them. This means that I sometimes have to make my own deburring tools to be able to get the finish we need. Or that I am working for days together with the customer’s designer to figure out how we can improve a drawing to make the product easier to make. You have to be patient for that, be able to work in a disciplined way, and you need perseverance to keep trying and trying. And when you succeed, that gives you the greatest feeling imaginable!’