“I joined because my former manager moved here. He became the first designer and founded the drawing office. I was asked to come along, and it immediately felt like the right step.” He started within biogas, working on large industrial digestion plants. Today, he works at Bright Renewables, focusing on biogas upgrading and CO₂ liquefaction installations.
The story of Erik Peezenkamp
Meet Erik Peezenkamp, our Mechanical Engineer
Erik Peezenkamp has been working at HoSt Group as a designer and constructor for fifteen years. When he started, the company had around fifty employees. Today, HoSt Group has grown into an international organisation with hundreds of colleagues, but for Erik, the attraction has always remained the same: technology, freedom and the opportunity to truly build something.
As a designer and constructor, Erik develops installations down to the smallest detail, from individual containers to complete layouts of full-scale systems.
“With biogas upgrading, the first step is removing impurities from the biogas before it is upgraded to natural gas quality. That starts with cooling, removing water and filtering out harmful substances. After that, the gas goes through compression and finally into the upgrading system where methane and CO₂ are separated.”
The captured CO₂ can then be liquefied, an in-house product within Bright Renewables. “I work on both individual sub-installations and complete systems. That keeps the work varied and technically interesting.”
Always something new
What Erik values most is the continuous development of new products. “Bright is constantly innovating. There is always something new. Right now, for example, we have started working on a methanol reactor. It begins with the concept and develops all the way into a final product.” That constant change keeps the work from becoming routine. “You are never doing exactly the same thing. That is what makes it challenging and enjoyable.”
Proud of tailor-made projects
The projects Erik is most proud of are often the special ones: fully customised installations that need to fit within existing buildings. One example is a project in Houtrust, the Netherlands, where the team had to fit an installation into a location where almost everything was already fixed.
“We were initially given several small spaces where it was technically almost impossible to make it work. In the end, we were assigned a different building that was much more suitable. That is where we also placed the CO₂ liquefaction installation, separate from the rest because of explosion safety requirements.”
The project required a great deal of precision. “We had the entire building scanned in 3D, so from the office we could digitally walk through it and measure everything exactly. I worked on that project for about six months. I went back later when everything was completed. That is when it really starts to come alive. That makes you proud.”
Freedom and responsibility
According to Erik, the culture at HoSt Group is one of the main reasons he has stayed for so long. “You are given a lot of freedom, but also a lot of responsibility. A lot is possible, as long as you communicate well.” He also values the way teams work together. “People here do not quickly point fingers when something goes wrong. We solve it together. That team spirit is very strong.”
Growing together
Within the drawing office and across the different business units, Erik sees plenty of opportunities for personal development. “If you start as a designer, that does not mean you have to stay in that role forever. You can grow into project engineering or even move to a different business unit.” That flexibility makes HoSt Group attractive for technical professionals. “There are many directions you can take here, as long as you take initiative yourself.”
Working on something that matters
For Erik, the impact of the work is also an important motivation. “I think it matters that your technical work contributes to something meaningful. Enough pollution has already been created in the world. It is good to be working on solutions that help improve that.” That makes the work more than just engineering. “From the first sketch to an installation that is actually running and making an impact, that remains the best part.”
Employees Testimonials
Hear directly from our dedicated employees who contribute to our success each day.
“I work on both individual sub-installations and complete systems. That keeps the work varied and technically interesting.”
Kaspars Lāmanis-JēgersonsCommissioning Engineer
"You really get the opportunity to develop yourself. You are given responsibility and the space to take initiative. HoSt Group has truly become part of my life."
Saskia StratingProject Manager
“Here, you work on real problems and see results quickly. In the R&D within a company, you can go from concept to something in the field within a short period."
Thomas BrouwerProduct Manager
