2024 Steel Intern Scholarships
James E. Maurer II
Working at SenTek Corp. in Columbus, Ohio, USA, gave me a memorable internship experience. I was confronted with many challenges and opportunities that gave me room for growth and development. During my internship at SenTek, I learned a lot about the functionality of gauges in steel mills as well as the various types of gauges. Not only that, but I learned a lot about the components of a gauge and the equipment that goes into allowing a gauge to communicate with a steel mill.
During my experience with SenTek, I worked as an electrical engineering intern under the chief executive officer/co-owner of SenTek, Niklas Almstedt. I oversaw a project that involved creating new PLC cabinets for one of our customers. These cabinets would be installed with other upgrades we were implementing so that gauges could communicate with our newer equipment. Overseeing the project included many responsibilities such as assembling the cabinets, wiring the control panels, circuit testing, co-designing PLC circuits, communicating with the customer, ordering parts for the project, as well as trouble shooting any electrical or mechanical issues that arose with the cabinets. Having the responsibility to deliver a finished and functional product that is instrumental to the communication of gauges to mill interfaces was an amazing experience.
Working on this project at SenTek allowed me to develop many technical skills that can help me advance my academic career and my career as an electrical engineer in the steel industry. I learned how to solder electrical components and wiring so that equipment with preset wire lengths could reach their terminal block landings. I learned how to use AutoCAD so I could design new circuits and edit existing circuits and how to read and understand various functional diagrams like mechanical drawings, line drawings, and ladder logic circuit diagrams. I even learned about the various physical properties and circuitry that guide many of our electrical components such as potentiometer modules, relays, AC to DC power supplies, and temperature sensors.
My favorite experience at SenTek was travelling across the across the country with various hardware and software technicians to troubleshoot and provide existing gauge support at steel mills. Not only did I shadow these technicians, but I took measurements on site, provided insight and potential solutions to problems, as well as communicating and answering customer inquiries.
I also had the honor of getting to know various personalities at my workplace from different walks of life. Each person with different insights, experiences and opinions about how to do something. However, the one thing that remained the same amongst all of them is they all were willing and able to assist me with any problem while also giving me the care and freedom to help me develop solutions of my own.
As my internship ends, all I can think about is being in the mill, troubleshooting new issues and learning about the deeper inner workings of it. The desire to see it run and to know that something as crucial as the steel mill is alive and kicking, is something I long to be a part of. I don’t know where God will take me, but one thing I do know is this: I came into this internship intrigued by steel, but I came out deeply passionate to be a part of it. If it be His will, I am eager to see what is next for me in the steel industry!