INTERVIEW WITH SAMUEL MAX AKRMAN
- PLEASE BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
Hi, I’m Sam Akrman, and I come from Czechia. In my 5th semester of Print Media Technologies, I interned in digital printing at Hinterkopf, about 40 km east of Stuttgart.
- HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR INTERNSHIP?
I learned about the company by coincidence. At the moment, they did not have a public intern position open, but because I liked the company’s profile, its field of work, and its products (plus the geographic location), I applied speculatively.
- HOW WAS THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AT THE COMPANY?
After exchanging a couple of emails, an introductory session took place via video call. There, we agreed for me to visit the company in-person, so that I could see the facilities, including my potential workplace, and discuss everything in more detail.
I really appreciate that relatively early into my application, I got to have contact with an engineer, alongside the HR representative. This made a lot of the initial technical discussion much easier and more direct.
- HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR THE COMPANY?
It was great. It definitely helped me on my journey of narrowing down what I’d love to do in the future. And I had a lot of fun along the way.
I’m enthusiastic of packaging printing in general, because it fulfills a utility along with an esthetic role. In some industries, you get to create beautiful pieces of art. In others, you are making functional objects on an industrial scale. In the packaging field, you have the privilege of doing both.
- WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
I don’t know where to start! I learned so much about digital printing, including the prepress stage (I have an especially soft spot for color management). The product design aspect was super interesting. Last but not least, my German improved a lot.
But I’d say in a broad sense, an eye-opening experience was how I got to apply my existing knowledge in a new, different problem space. Hinterkopf machines print round products, rather than conventional “flat” substrates. This simplifies some aspects of printing compared to sheet or web, but in turn introduces a new set of variables and quirks, specific to cylindrical printing, you don’t otherwise consider. So it’s quite literally a shift into a “new dimension”!
- DID THE COMPANY OFFER YOU CONSISTENT FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT YOUR INTERNSHIP?
For sure! With every project. But at the same time, I very much practiced reflecting on my own results as well, which can be just as valuable at times. Being able to anticipate the outcomes of your actions before they even happen can be a huge advantage and lets you do better work overall.
- WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR THIS COMPANY?
It was the technology, hands down. Hinterkopf digital presses are just wonderful pieces of machinery, designed with a lot of philosophies I agree with. And I’ve heard a lot of my colleagues mention something similar: It’s just engineering done right. But speaking of people, I’ll never forget the team I’ve met during my internship. It’s rare to see so many friendly, experienced, and helpful humans, technical or otherwise, under one roof!
- WHAT KIND OF TASKS DID YOU DO?
I worked at a digital printing lab, which doubles as a sample-product studio. My job revolved around an awesome little lab machine, which is used to prepare product samples and proofs, run all sorts of tests, showcase the digital print process to visitors, as well as conduct training.
- HOW DID YOUR INTERNSHIP RELATE TO THE FIELD YOU ARE STUDYING IN?
Well, I’m a print student, so my internship was in print technology. That’s the only way that makes sense to me. At PMT, we learn a lot about digital printing—and rightly so, as those are very much print processes of the future. So in that sense, I felt right at home. A big part of the magic for me, and one of the reasons I’m pursuing this industry, is that moment where an electronic image on your screen becomes a real, physical object in your hand. During my internship, I’m grateful that I got to experience that feeling every day.