Breweries are dynamic and challenging environments for automation, which is where robotics truly shines. With over 160 breweries worldwide, Heineken has a vast and varied testing ground—no two breweries are alike. This diversity highlights something that robotics and Heineken have in common: adaptability.

In this episode, we sit down with Wessel Reurslag, Product Owner for Robotics at Heineken, for an open and insightful conversation. We start from the very beginning—when Wessel’s interest in robotics was sparked as a kid. Spoiler alert: while many kids were doing their first presentations on guinea pigs, Wessel’s was about bearings!

We follow his journey through his studies, his early career, and his experiences at a start-up, by discussing the career decisions that eventually led him to Heineken, where he stood at the very beginning of the robotics department. Wessel also gives us a glimpse into the future, sharing his vision of robotics and the future of work.

This episode is extra meaningful to me, as I’ve had the privilege of working with Wessel on the Robotics team. Huge thanks to Wessel for sharing his journey with us!

ExRobotics: https://www.exrobotics.global/

Heineken Robotics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPagwiat80

Losing functionality in your arms greatly disrupts your life by making day-to-day activities a struggle. Imagine a cyborg-like solution that actuates your arm and hand. Sounds futuristic? Andrew Harlan works at Myomo, a company that brings this to reality TODAY.

Myomo is a Boston-based company that creates electrically actuated braces for people who can no longer fully use their arms, such as after suffering a stroke. We join Andrew Harlan on his journey from studying at MIT to being Director of Engineering at this innovative company in the field of medical robotics.

In this second episode we will peek behind the scenes at Lely, a company that fuses robotics into the lives of people working in agriculture. Joram van der Sluis recently graduated from TU Delft. He will tell us about how he got to where he is now: developing innovative robotic solutions at the R&D department of Lely.