Waldner is expanding its training workshop into a training centre, with more modern machines, two full-time trainers and more training places. Thanks to its various divisions, the company also scores highly with its varied training and interdisciplinary learning. The career opportunities for graduates are very promising.
Waldner's new training workshop is a paradise for anyone who likes technology and likes to lend a hand. All the machines and tools needed to work as an electronics technician, mechatronics technician, industrial and cutting machine operator or metal technology specialist, for example, are available here in one room. Waldner has also invested in additional new lathes and milling machines. As a special highlight, the trainees have two new CNC milling machines at their disposal, exactly the same as those used in current production at Waldner - only in a much smaller format. Here, the trainees can learn in peace and try out what they will have to master later in their everyday work. ‘Metal doesn't forgive mistakes,’ explains Markus Veit. He is trainer at Waldner and is there full-time for his trainees. ‘Our apprentices can learn on the machines in the training workshop without the pressure of production. We have time for basic training and exercises until they have developed a certain routine.’ The special thing about this is that the CNC machines work in exactly the same way as the large machines in production, right down to the 1:1 programming. This means that the apprentices can immediately use the skills and knowledge they have learnt in the training workshop on the machines in production.
Luca Hilber was pleasantly surprised by this freedom to try out the machines at his leisure, to help shape his own training, so to speak, at the beginning of his apprenticeship: ‘It requires initiative and a willingness to learn, but gives you all the more freedom and room for manoeuvre,’ reports the 21-year-old. He passed his exams this summer after his third year of training and is now a newly qualified industrial mechanic. ‘The basic training in the training workshop in particular offers so much scope for my own projects. For example, during this period I made a four-in-a-row game, a laser sword imitation from Star Wars and a compressed air motor.
Waldner encourages this independent thinking and working. ‘We manufacture customised systems at Waldner, so the requirements change from project to project. Our trainees learn this flexibility in planning and working right from the start,’ explains Markus Veit. ‘And working with stainless steel is quite demanding. Anyone who learns from us which programmes, tools and speeds they need to achieve the best result will be in demand in the industry.’
It is often old prejudices that prevent pupils from even thinking that this is a great profession. ‘Grinding, milling, welding - many parents still think of metal dust that gets on everything, noise and carrying heavy workpieces,’ reports Markus Veit. ‘But that's a thing of the past for us. Some people are surprised at how clean and quiet it is in our training centre. There are extraction systems at the welding stations and the new milling machines are enclosed so that neither chips nor coolant get into the room.’ Of course, there is also manual grinding work in the training centre. ‘But we have a separate room with a ‘dirt and noise lock’ for this,’ explains the trainer. And the welding? ‘We have a modern virtual welding stand where our trainees from the different specialisms now have real competitions to see who can achieve the highest score,’ laughs the trainer. Despite all the fun of virtual welding, they also learn their trade 1:1 here, as they practise with welding gloves and original equipment. ‘And to come back to the heavy loads: There are now a number of aids for this. Nobody has to carry heavy loads here any more. After all, we want healthy employees,’ emphasises the trainer.
Something else that stands out in the training workshop: Every now and then, trainees from different professions stand together at a machine and confer. ‘Yes, the fact that they do this is one of the reasons why we have created a training centre for five different professions in one room,’ explains Markus Veit. ‘Of course, we want to be able to train even more young people here. But there are two reasons why everyone is learning in one training centre: Firstly, the trainees can benefit from each other's knowledge - so the industrial mechanic from the 1st year of training can learn something from the machinist from the 2nd year of training or even from the mechatronics technician. Secondly, different trades have to work well together for our end products - and you simply can't start early enough. After all, Waldner is one of the few companies where we still make almost everything ourselves. Every part that we produce can also be found in our own products.’
Hubertus Buchholz agrees. He is a trainer in the field of electrics, and has been working full-time since this year. He adds: ‘We recently had a product training course in the laboratory area. The task was to set up a media cell. All the trades required for this were involved: trainees from the areas of plumbing, electronics, wood mechanics and warehouse logistics. We want to promote interdisciplinary knowledge in this way. The feedback I get from the trainees is that it's great that we're being taught to think outside the box.’
In order to gain an overview of the bigger picture, the trainees spend time in almost all areas of the company. ‘We have four very different business areas at the Wangen site,’ says Hubertus Buchholz. ‘In concrete terms, this means that the trainees can, for example, go through planning, design and assembly in the area of lab space solutions, as well as building technology or process & automation solutions and filling and sealing systems. There are even new plans for research and development. They not only get to know the various fields of activity, but also the people who work there. ‘At the end of their training, they not only have extensive knowledge and skills, but have also built up a large network. They know who they can approach with which questions,’ says Hubertus Buchholz.
The trainees benefit from the family atmosphere - despite over 1,200 employees at the Wangen headquarters alone. ‘I wouldn't have thought that you would be welcomed so quickly and in such a friendly manner in the various departments,’ says Emma Wierer, who was surprised. She is a cutting machine operator in her 3rd year of training. This is not a matter of course and is well received by the trainees. David Piontek is no exception. He is a mechatronics technician in his 3rd year of training and what he particularly likes about his apprenticeship is: ‘the friendly work colleagues and foremen, with whom you learn new things and enjoy working together.’ Markus Veit and Hubertus Buchholz are naturally pleased to hear this. They are both on the respective IHK examination committees and are familiar with the challenges faced by other companies. ‘We want to introduce the trainees to our professional fields as realistically as possible and prepare them perfectly for their profession as trainees,’ says Markus Veit and Hubertus Buchholz adds: ’The fields of work at Waldner are very diverse. ’This also convinced Manuel Bodenmüller. He is now in his 4th year of training as an electronics technician for industrial engineering: ‘I decided to train at Waldner because I had only heard good things from my family. On my trial day, I immediately saw the wide range of activities as an electronics technician. I was also allowed to work straight away. I was also very impressed by the 35-hour week. ’His trainer Hubertus Buchholz says: ‘When pupils apply to us because their parents or relatives have recommended us, that's great praise for the Waldner company. After all, parents only want the best for their child.’
Competing for the high score in virtual welding
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