R&D Internship – Processing of oils

From our awareness about the importance of a responsible leather industry around the world, Royal Smit & Zoon is continuously searching for sustainable solutions for the entire leather value chain. In the leather industry, R&D plays a crucial role in this search through developing chemistry into products suitable for leather processing. At Royal Smit & Zoon R&D, we believe that we have a social responsibility to offer a good learn & work environment for trainees. Furthermore, we target to have internships designed such that these are not only beneficial for the individual intern, but also for Royal Smit & Zoon.

Internship location

The R&D department consists of 15 chemists/chemical engineers, which are all involved either in product development, process development or analytical support, and the intern is anticipated to be fulfilling the internship as a full member of the process development sub-team. The intern is expected to work primarily from the R&D laboratory located on the Royal Smit & Zoon production site in Amersfoort.

Project Overview

Fat liquors are processed fats (triglycerides of fatty acids) of plant and animal based oils. These processed fats are used to soften the tanned leathers. Fat liquors give the leathers required soft character to suit the application articles such as car, shoe, garment and upholstery.

Processing of pure oils involves multiple steps to convert them into fat liquors. Royal Smit & Zoon wishes to develop more benign processes without formation of by-products for the processing of oils. Goal is to achieve energy efficient processes and develop improved products.

We are offering an exciting internship opportunity for a motivated student interest in process chemistry to contribute to the upscaling of a process involved with oils. Hence we are looking for a student who can safely conduct the lab experimental processes at 1 – 5 kg on the bench scale reactor and able to analyze the process data to recommend the optimum conditions for the factory trial. DoE methodology is used during the internship.

Candidate Profile

• You are enrolled in a Master’s program in Process Chemistry or Chemical Engineering.
• You are interested in reaction engineering, scale-up, and experimental process development.
• You are confident working with bench-scale reactors and related lab equipment.
• You are familiar with Design of Experiments (DoE) tools and data analysis, or willing to learn.
• You are proactive, safety-conscious, and able to work independently in a lab environment.
• You are interested in working for an internationally operating, family-owned company.
• You are motivated to contribute to a more sustainable industry.
• You have good communication skills.
• You are available for a period of at least 5 months.

What does Royal Smit & Zoon offer you

• Gain hands-on experience in a real-world industrial R&D environment.
• Receive mentorship from seasoned process engineers and chemists
• Contribute to a high-impact commercialization project.
• Work in a dynamic and collaborative setting with professional supervision and feedback.
• Earn a €600 monthly internship allowance and potentially extend your internship based on strong performance.

About Royal Smit & Zoon
Acknowledged Royal Smit & Zoon is a dynamic, internationally operating company with an ambitious mission: to make the leather value chain more sustainable. Are we there yet? Not quite, but we are making great strides. We are proud to have been awarded the prestigious EcoVadis Platinum rating for the second consecutive year, a testament to our continuous innovation and commitment to making a positive impact on both the environment and society.

Since our founding in 1821, we have grown into a seventh-generation family business, specializing in the production of high-quality, sustainable materials for leather processing. Tanneries around the world use our products to create premium leather for applications in the automotive industry, furniture upholstery, and high-end fashion.

Our family roots remain deeply embedded in the company culture, where collaboration and genuine care for one another are at the heart of everything we do. At Royal Smit & Zoon, you’ll find the freedom to develop your skills and achieve your professional ambitions.

We are a respected and highly valued player in the leather industry. Our headquarters and main production site are located in Weesp, with a second production facility in Amersfoort. Across the globe, 400+ dedicated colleagues work for Royal Smit & Zoon, including in the Netherlands, Italy, China, India, and Germany. With a rich heritage, a clear focus, and a long-term vision, Royal Smit & Zoon is shaping the future of sustainable leather.

Join us in creating a more sustainable future!

More information

For more information about this internship or the Royal Smit & Zoon organization, please contact Mark Letter (HR & Recruitment Advisor) at +31 6 28 136 119 or [email protected]

Introduction of candidates by Recruitment agencies is neither appreciated nor wanted.