Rik is an adviser in the field of robotics and automation. He has completed a large number of projects in cooperation with Belgian companies, large and small. Among the results are a flexible production system (FMS), force/torque sensors for the automotive industry, the automation of the production of concrete reinforcement elements, the automation of the production of herbs,... Through these projects Rik widened his focus to the entire domain of automation, including PLC technology, fieldbus communication, SCADA software, vision sensors,...
Rik holds a degree in electromechanical engineering and obtained a Master's in applied sciences at KU Leuven. His dissertation in the field of biomechanics led him to a job as researcher for the Metallurgy Department at KU Leuven. Soon afterwards, he secured a position as a researcher at the Robotics Department, where for four years, he explored the possibilities of robots and power-controlled robotic applications.