Levy and Kleid learn the trade at Fortadio: "On a job you really see everything happen"
No day is the same. That is perhaps the first thing Levy and Kleid mention when they talk about their BBL program at Fortadio. One day they are at the office working on school assignments, components, or projects. The next day they get in the van with an experienced technician and go to a job somewhere in the Netherlands. There, in practice, the trade really comes to life for them.
Levy and Kleid are both 17 years old and are following a technical BBL course in Sneek. At Fortadio, they learn step by step everything involved in lift technology. Not just by watching, but especially by doing.
Levy: "I especially want to understand how the technology works"
For Levy, elevator technology was not entirely new. As the son of Theo Holtrop, founder and owner of Fortadio, he was closely familiar with the trade. Theo has been working in elevator technology for many years and has built Fortadio on craftsmanship, safety, and technical knowledge. For Levy, it was precisely that combination of technology and variety that made the work interesting.
At Fortadio, his workday always looks different. In the office, he is busy preparing projects, dismantling old parts, or learning new things, such as how relays work. On site, he observes an experienced technician, receives explanations about the problem, and then tries to do as much as possible himself.
Kleid: "I mainly wanted to be active and learn by doing"
Kleid came to the training and eventually to Fortadio through Levy. While Levy was already interested in elevator technology, Kleid was not yet sure which direction he wanted to take. When Levy told him about the training and the work at Fortadio, Kleid decided to give it a try. "Now I am doing the same training and I really like it," he says. For Kleid, choosing the BBL was also logical. Sitting on a chair all day does not suit him. He wants to be active, make things, try, and learn in practice. "Working at the company is fun, but on a job site you really see everything happen."
"Learning in practice, with people from practice"
The variety is an important part of the work for both students. At the office, they work on assignments from school, projects, and practical assignments related to their education. On location, that knowledge becomes concrete. There they see how components, malfunctions, and solutions come together. Within Fortadio, Levy and Kleid learn not only from their regular BBL supervisor but also from experienced mechanics and specialists. They receive explanations, are allowed to ask questions, and gradually build technical knowledge about, among other things, electrical engineering, hydraulics, control technology, maintenance work, and safe working.
From watching along to doing more and more themselves
Since their start, much has changed. Where Levy and Kleid initially mostly watched along, they now take on more and more tasks themselves. Always under supervision, but with more confidence and technical insight. They ask more questions, think more actively, and are learning better how to analyze problems. Not just looking at the consequence, but searching for the cause. For Fortadio, training young technicians is a way to pass on expertise to the next generation. For Levy and Kleid, it is mainly a chance to learn a profession that never stands still.
"We do it well and safely, otherwise we don't do it"
A BBL program at Fortadio is all about learning in practice. Levy and Kleid are given the space to observe, ask questions, and gradually take on tasks themselves. Always under the guidance of experienced professionals and always with attention to safety, technology, and quality. This is how we train young technicians for a profession that keeps evolving. Because good elevator technology starts with people who want to learn, want to understand, and want to grow in practice. Curious about the opportunities within Fortadio?