DEPRAG invests in a new training and education center in Amberg

The company DEPRAG, based in Amberg, Germany is investing in the future: On Wednesday the 29th of November 2017, in the presence of the mayor of Amberg, Michael Cerny, at their headquarters of Kurfürstenring – Schlachthausstraße, the new DEPRAG Training Centre was inaugurated. Over a total area of 1410 m², the experts at DEPRAG will be providing professional training and instruction courses, to the highest market standards, for their international clients, partners and employees.

With the completion of the two-storey training centre, a new milestone has been set in the company’s history. The new building annexes the former workshops of the Bavarian Rifle Factory of 1871, and in the same way, for this new build, a lifespan of at least 150 years is foreseen, explains DEPRAG’s Managing Director, Dr. Erik Hallmann. Furthermore, Dr. Hallmann underlined the booming economic situation and full production capacity. When times are good, the DEPRAG management takes a down-to-earth approach; planning for a sustainable future. German manufacturing is distinguished by technically superior, high quality products. Accordingly, employees must also attain high proficiency.

 

Training center for young professionals

Majority shareholder, Ingrid Schulz-Hallmann reiterates the key role of the new Training Centre. "It is of central importance to DEPRAG: our young employees are our future. We guarantee exceptional training; equivalent to the high calibre of our products and the passion of the company. Our apprentices routinely attain outstanding results in their final exams". This is also evidenced by the company’s long-term focus on the encouragement of young people. The brand-new workshop, together with its training areas, has set the stage for effective and comprehensive training, the benefit of which will be felt by all apprentices. The company upholds the principle of dual training, a practice which is the envy of the world.

Apprenticeship has a long tradition within the company. According to Managing Partner, Dr. Pfeiffer, to date, around 500 young people have been successfully trained as technical experts. Many of these are still active in the company and contribute substantially to the success of the business. Some have built their careers in the company and now work in executive positions within the firm.

Whereas in the past, classic job titles, such as lathe operator, metal turner, fitter, draughtsman or industrial clerk, were the norm, so today job descriptions have also moved forward alongside the changing job roles. In the state-of-the-art training centre industrial machinists, industrial mechanics and predominantly mechatronic engineers are trained. However, the centre is also designed for the teaching of IT specialists, product designers and industrial salespersons. The subject matter requirements for these fields have changed and advanced significantly. These careers are all challenging and require extensive and costly facilities for training. Modern apprenticeships also challenge the training provider with comprehensive, cutting-edge tuition elements and a wide variety of innovations. Nevertheless, even more input is needed to secure the future of dual apprenticeship. "We need to boost the standards of school leavers in fundamental subjects, such as Mathematics, German and English. Furthermore, we need to retain local teaching places in vocational colleges and forge new paths, where currently, there are declining pupil numbers. There needs to be a greater societal appreciation of dual vocational training. We hope that this new training centre and today’s event will contribute to this", stated Dr. Rolf Pfeiffer.

 

DEPRAG counters product complexity with training for employees, sales partners and customers

"In view of the increasing complexity of our products, for example cordless, integrated electric tools, the need has arisen for continual training opportunities for employees, technical specialists and clients", explains Ingrid Schulz-Hallmann. The software ratio in special machines is continuously increasing. Here, the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, becomes evident, offering great opportunities and challenges to the operator, also in relation to customer support and care. Products themselves are more complex and require precise explanation, making resources such as qualified instruction courses and ongoing training, particularly vital.

The training provision in this building is not only directed at employees and sales partners, it is also intended for customers. Ingrid Schulz-Hallmann explains: "Consequently, we have also relocated our demonstration area to this building. Clients can learn about products during the training course and then immediately put their acquired knowledge to practice".

 

Production preparation at DEPRAG

The pre-production department is also located in the new training centre. In the western world, it is rare to see such high depth of production, in other words, "vertical integration". "We believe in quality assurance under our own roof, from A to Z, therefore this department has a central role in the production process," elaborates Ingrid Schulz-Hallmann.

"The objective of our training centre is the consolidation of our dominant global position in our core competencies. For us, this building is an investment in the future and an enhancement of our facilities in Amberg. The history of DEPRAG is deeply entwined with the city and we are looking forward to an enduring and prosperous future".

 

 

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