press | release
ENGEL is expanding its apprentice training: New training workshops in St. Valentin and Dietach
Schwertberg/Austria – January 2018
Injection moulding machine manufacturer ENGEL has been focusing on in-house professional training for many years. This training is now set for expansion as ENGEL is opening up two new apprentice workshops at the plants in St. Valentin and Dietach.
“From September 2018, we will be taking on additional apprentices for the large-scale machine plant in St. Valentin and the production plant for robots and automation systems in Dietach,” says Werner Wurm, head of the global apprentice training programme at ENGEL. “Many from this area are interested in apprenticeships, but did not apply due to the long travelling distance to Schwertberg. That is why we are taking a new approach." In order to offer interested young people from the Steyr and St. Valentin area something appropriate, the Dietach and St. Valentin locations are going to have new training workshops and their own training team. The apprentice workshop at the headquarters in Schwertberg, which was awarded a certificate of excellence from the government, is used as a model. It is one of the most advanced in the country and is characterised by state-of-the-art machines, ergonomic work places and plenty of daylight.
In autumn, a total of around 60 new apprentices will begin their technical training at ENGEL AUSTRIA. For many years now, the company has been training young men and women in Austria to become professionals – there are currently 180 apprentices. ENGEL also provides professional training abroad to ensure a sufficient supply of skilled workers. At its plants in China, Czech Republic and Germany, apprentices are trained according to the Austrian model.
Virtually unlimited development possibilities
Professional training and further education are of great importance to the global market leader. Internationality already plays a role during the apprenticeship: the apprentices get an insight into adjoining departments and work in international teams at an early stage. The two best apprentices in each class have the privilege of spending three months at the production plant in Shanghai and gain valuable experience there. The apprentices at ENGEL are involved in ongoing production from the very beginning. In the first year of their apprenticeship, they are already manufacturing technical components and functional elements which are installed in the injection moulding machines.
ENGEL’s goal is to give the apprentices a permanent job after they have successfully completed their professional training. “With a retention rate of 98 percent, the in-house professional training is an important factor in terms of securing skilled workers,” says Johannes Höflinger, who is responsible for apprentice training at the Austrian plants and also encourages young women to apply for an apprenticeship at ENGEL. Overall, more and more women are opting for a technical profession due to the great career prospects. In addition, the salary opportunities in the mechanical engineering industry are better than in classic female professions. The family-run business offers great promotion and career prospects and also the possibility of gaining international work experience.
In order to prepare young men and women even more specifically for their future jobs, ENGEL has launched the “career through apprenticeships” project. In their second year, apprentices may apply to a particular department of the company by means of a covering letter. “We set out the development possibilities in the various divisions and then specifically tailor the content of third year training to the plans our young people have,” says Höflinger.
New apprentice workshops in St. Valentin and Dietach combine skills
Apprentices can be trained in eight technical professions at ENGEL. One main focus is on mechatronics engineers and machining technicians. In the future, St. Valentin will be the skill centre for the machining technician training. At the plant in Dietach, the main focus is on the subjects of mechatronics and robotics. Apprenticeships in plastics engineering, mechanical engineering, material engineering, operating logistics, construction and IT are also offered.
Continuing demand for skilled workers due to an extensive investment programme
ENGEL is investing heavily in the expansion of its plants, which means an increase in the demand for skilled workers. Both St. Valentin and the headquarters in Schwertberg are busy developing while the expansion at the Dietach location will start in the coming years.
The application period for the new apprenticeship workshops in St. Valentin and Dietach is already open. There are still some apprenticeship places available also in Schwertberg. Interested young individuals have the opportunity to register for a trial day directly at the respective plant. Additional information about the apprentice training programme can be found on the ENGEL company website at
<Picture 1>
The apprentice workshop at the headquarters in Schwertberg, which was awarded a certificate of excellence from the government, is used as a model for the new training workshops in St. Valentin and Dietach.
<Picture 2>
Christopher Track is an apprentice in machining technology in his third year of training at ENGEL. During his apprenticeship he has already used ultra-modern CNC injection moulding machines to manufacture high-quality machine parts from raw pieces of metal.
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH
ENGEL is one of the global leaders in the manufacture of plastics processing machines. Today, the ENGEL Group offers a full range of technology modules for plastics processing as a single source supplier: injection moulding machines for thermoplastics and elastomers together with automation, with individual components also being competitive and successful in the market. With nine production plants in Europe, North America and Asia (China and Korea), and subsidiaries and representatives in more than 85 countries, ENGEL offers its customers the excellent global support they need to compete and succeed with new technologies and leading-edge production systems.
Contact for journalists:
Martin Streicher, Group Marketing Director, ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH,
Ludwig-Engel-Strasse 1, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
tel.: +43 (0)50 620-3800, fax: -3009, email:
Julia Krentl, Media Relations Junior, ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH,
Ludwig-Engel-Strasse 1, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria
tel.: +43 (0)50 620-3817, fax: -3009, email:
Contact for readers:
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, Ludwig-Engel-Strasse 1, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
tel.: +43 (0)50 620-0, fax: -3009, email:
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH | A-4311 Schwertberg | tel: +43 (0)50 620 0 | fax: +43 (0)50 620 3009
|
1