Best of 2015: Budding design engineer Sara Brandstätter took first place in the competition for apprentices organised by the Economic Chamber for Upper Austria; she also claimed a special award for the best female trainee in a technical trade. Raphael Pechhacker secured second place in the machining technicians category.
ENGEL AUSTRIA is celebrating budding talent, as two of its freshest faces have been recognised and awarded for their skills and achievements by the Economic Chamber for Upper Austria.
Fledgling design engineer Sara Brandstätter not only secured first place in her occupational category for this year's competition for apprentices, but she won a special award for the best female trainee in a skilled technical grade, while ENGEL apprentices brought a second trophy home to Schwertberg as Raphael Pechhacker scooped second place in the machining technicians category.
ENGEL's gifted apprentices shone amid 805 entrants from 123 businesses throughout Upper Austria. A total of 37 young men and women from ENGEL were presented to the critical panel of experts, with one-third of them rated 'excellent'.
Josef Wahlmüller, Training Manager at ENGEL AUSTRIA, said: "This has been an outstanding result overall – we are proud of our talented young people."
Although ENGEL trainees consistently outperform in competitions organised by the Economic Chamber, every new contest means fresh excitement and every new award is special.
"The success of our apprentices confirms that our training efforts are on the right track," Wahlmüller stated.
Unique opportunity for growth
At ENGEL, a team of trainers devote their time and expertise to identifying the strengths and talents of trainees and promoting individuals. Training courses also offer content that not all companies can offer, giving ENGEL talent a unique opportunity to grow. From the outset, ENGEL apprentices gain insights into adjacent departments; they learn how to take an interdisciplinary approach and work as part of international teams. English courses, crane and forklift operator licences and first aider training are offered during training.
One major motivator is the fact that machine components produced by trainees are used in machine assembly operations.
"Integration into the production network is something we will continue to encourage in future," said Wahlmüller.
The expansion of the Schwertberg headquarters, which started in June, will involve a revamp of the apprentice workshop and modernisation of the machine park for the benefit of trainees. The training centre, which has received national awards, is already one of the most modern facilities of its kind in the country.
Competitiveness-boosting training
Some 45 apprentices are taken on to be trained by ENGEL AUSTRIA every year. Among each cohort are those training to become mechatronic technicians, machining technicians, mechanical engineers, plastics technicians, materials technicians, design engineers, surface technology specialists and warehouse logisticians. ENGEL's large-scale machine plant in Shanghai also houses a big training centre.
"With a retention rate of 98 per cent, in-house professional training is critical in terms of securing skilled positions," explained Wahlmüller. "At the same time it enables us to enhance our company’s international competitiveness."
