For a company like ours, setting up internships is an added value, giving us the opportunity to introduce the professionals of tomorrow into our midst. We met with three of them - Lukas, Mohamed and Stefano - who are currently taking part in an internship with us and we asked them to tell us about their experience at Solema.
Here at Solema, we have always placed great emphasis on the progression of our employees and collaborators, demonstrating that we are a dynamic company in step with current trends.
Consequently, we have offered numerous internships over the years, providing an opportunity for the growth of the company with the added bonus of finding new resources to add to our workforce. They are the professionals of tomorrow who bring a breath of fresh air to the company by stimulating creativity and innovation, lending a hand to the teams in various tasks, lightening the work load of our senior staff and bringing specific skills based on their educational path.
Internships also give many young people the opportunity to get into the job market with direct experience in the field, thus helping them to realise their own potential.
There are currently three interns in Solema - Lukas, Mohamed and Stefano - who are taking part in a six-month work experience programme in different company departments.
We asked them a series of questions to find out about their work experience within the company, what they are currently involved in and what the future holds for them.
Here are the questions with the relevant answers.
Can you introduce yourself briefly: your age, studies and educational background? And tells us what kind of internship you are taking part in at Solema?
« I am Lukas Molitor, I am 24 years old and I am half-German, half-Japanese. I went to primary school in England and secondary school in Switzerland, before moving to Germany. After finishing high school, I enrolled at the University of Freiburg, initially in the IT faculty and then, in the Printing Technology department, on a path that combines Technical Engineering and Business Management. I am currently studying Print Media Technologies at Stuttgart Media University.
I am taking part in a six-month internship at Solema: a path that my university suggested I undertake - possibly in a printing-related company to compliment my study programme. I’m currently working on an internal company project, under the supervision of my company mentor, Cristiano Brignoli.»
« My name is Mohamed El Rhiraki, I am 20 years old and I was born in Calcinate (Bergamo) to Moroccan parents. I went to the IISS Ettore Majorana high school in Seriate (Bergamo) from where I graduated with a diploma in Maintenance and Technical Support. I am currently attending the second year of the Mechatronics and Industrial Automation 4.0 course at the JAC Foundation - JobsAcademy, an institute specialised in post-diploma education located in San Paolo D’Argon (Bergamo).
I am taking part in a six-month internship at Solema in the R&D department. My company tutor is Francesco Caglioni, Head of the Software department. The internship involves work-related learning with three days a week spent in the company. This is my second internship at Solema, following on from the one in the Electrical Production department last year that lasted two months. »
« I am Stefano Castellazzi, I am 22 years old and I am from Valtellina. After gaining my high school diploma at a scientific high school in my province, I decided to move to Bergamo to enrol on an ITS course in Design and 3D Modelling at the JAC Foundation - JobsAcademy, the institute in San Paolo D’Argon (Bergamo), geared towards post-diploma advanced courses.
I am currently taking part in a six-month internship at Solema in the R&D department of the Mechanical Technical division, working as a Mechanical design technician, supervised by the company tutor, Nicholas Zappella. My internship is part of school work-related experience which includes 3 days a week spent in the company.»
How did you find out about Solema and why did you choose to do an internship with us?
« I found out about Solema during drupa 2024, the world's number one event for graphic art and printing technologies that was held in Düsseldorf last year. I was really impressed by the interactive layout of the stand and their focus on process automation, a theme that was perfectly aligned with what I had studied up until then. So, I saw a possibility of gaining experience that would boost my educational background.
I chose Solema for my internship because, after finding out more about their various skills, I thought that it would be the perfect company in which to gain practical field experience. So, I introduced myself and asked for information about taking part in a school work-related internship with them. My application was accepted straight away and here I am at Solema. »
« I learned about Solema during one of the Jobs Talent Day organised by the JAC Foundation. These are events where companies meet students to offer educational internships. My interview turned out to be really inspiring from the very beginning. A couple of months later, I was contacted again for a follow-up interview in which I met Luca Parsani - CEO of Solema - and Francesco Caglioni - Head of the Software Department - who gave me a presentation of the company and explained what tasks I would carry out during my internship.
After considering other internship opportunities, I decided to accept Solema’s offer due their professional approach. They showed a genuine interest in my profile and the opportunity that they have offered me is fully in line with my own professional goals. »
« I found out about Solema during one the periodical Jobs Talent Days, educational events for companies and students organised by the JAC Foundation, aimed at identifying work experience opportunities with companies.
I decided to accept the offer of an internship by Solema because, out of all the offers I received, it was the one that best fulfilled my desire to learn more and improve my skills in the field of mechanical engineering and design, subjects in which I had a good grounding thanks to my studies. »
What are you main tasks at Solema and what projects are you working on?
« I am part of the work team as project manager for Solema Hub, a project aimed at improving the company’s in-house app in order to turn the app into a single access point for all Solema’s resources.
More specifically, my job, with the rest of the team, is to identify areas for improvement, to rework existing functions and introduce new app functions. My tasks mainly consist of creating a detailed plan that outlines our targets and what to do to fulfil them. Over the last few weeks, we have started to roll out some changes to the app, and despite this work stage proving very challenging, the results have made it all worthwhile. »
« I am involved in writing software programs that use the PLC system (which stands for Programmable Logic Controller) in the IT department, under the supervision of my tutor, Francesco Caglioni. These are programs specifically designed for several of Solema’s automated lines, based on the relevant wiring diagrams supplied by the electrical department with whom we work in close contact.
I am also designate for the software updates of some of Solema’s historical machines, such as the Andax, the automatic partition assembler for corrugated cardboard. My job is to update the various software programs to the new versions released by Siemens. Once the update has been completed, I also take part in the testing of the updated software, together with the rest of the work team. »
« I started my internship in the Mechanical Technical division of Solema’s R&D department, where I spend most of my time participating in the design and production of 3D technical designs and models of the machinery mechanical components and systems of Solema’s entire production. All of this happens under the guidance of my tutor, Nicholas Zappella.
At the end of the design and production stages, I also help with the final testing of the individual machines, together with the other members of the work team. I mainly use CAD software for the 3D design and modelling which I had already learned to use during my studies.»
What skills have you mainly developed during the internship? And how is this experience helping you to define your professional goals and your career path?
« So far, it has been a really great learning experience, that has allowed me to get a good grounding in project management, including the planning, organisation and implementation of the design ideas, improving my ability to relate to and work with the various project teams. This is the first time I have taken part in such a long internship in a company. Being here for six months really lets me get an in-depth view of the company’s internal processes and how the various departments work together to reach common goals.
The internship has helped me to better define my professional aspirations. Here at Solema, I have discovered the appeal of working in an international environment, surrounded by different languages and cultures. In the future, I would like to embark on a career that lets me work on a global level, perhaps in the printing and packaging industry. »
« Over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to program software directly in the field, with the help of professionals with years of experience. I have learned to read and interpret the wiring diagrams applied to the various machines: a first-hand look at what I had only previously studied in theory. As they say: putting theory into practice! I have also learned to listen to my supervisors’ requests, and have been able to ask them for help whenever I have needed it. Seeing my more experienced colleagues working together and being able to take part in person in the creation and modification of a program or wiring diagram has been very important for my professional growth and has undoubtedly contributed to developing the key skills required in the industry.
The internship is proving very useful in defining my future professional goals by helping me to clearly see what I could do ‘when I grow up’, so to speak. »
« During this six-month internship, I have had the concrete opportunity to acquire many ideas about the mechanical design industry, getting to grips with latest-generation modelling programs which I only knew by name beforehand. The time spent at Solema so far has also given me the amazing opportunity to use their in-house management system which gives you complete control over all the production stages that take place within the company.
This six-month work experience is really helping me to identify the pros and cons of possible types of jobs that I could potentially do during my future professional career. »
What are your plans for the future once you’ve finished the internship?
« Once the internship has finished, my first goal is to complete my studies. Whilst I wait to see what other opportunities are on the horizon, I can say that this experience at Solema has had a positive influence on my professional prospects and ambitions.
One specific thing that I am thinking about doing at the end of this internship is to work in another country and possibly in a role that allows me to best combine technical skills and international collaboration.»
« The first thing I’m going to do when the internship at Solema finishes is to finish my studies, trying to get a good result because the diploma is important and will help when it comes to getting a job. But also for a question of personal pride and to make my family and friends proud of me too, especially my parents.
After that, I will look at any job offers I receive. I definitely want to continue in the field of automation, an industry that really inspires me and which I have had the chance to learn about during these two work periods at Solema. They have shown me the right balance between what I have studied and what I would actually like to do.»
« Once I’ve finished my work experience at Solema, the first goal I have set myself is to finish my study path at JAC. After that, once I’ve obtained my diploma to the satisfaction of my parents (as well), my main goal will be to try and gain various job experiences that have a clear link to what I have studied and, of course, to what I have had the chance to learn from this invaluable work experience at Solema.»
We would like to thank Lukas, Stefano and Mohamed for their time and we wish them all the best in their future careers.
For more information on Solema, write to info@solema.it or call us on +39 035 654111.