Record number of apprentices at BENTELER

Paderborn/Salzburg, September 11, 2024. This summer marks the beginning of a professional career for 135 young people at BENTELER, with 113 of them starting in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region. The new recruits will begin their training in metalworking or electrical engineering, or alternatively in a commercial or IT profession at one of BENTELER’s eight locations across Germany. At the Paderborn site, 16 dual students are also starting in various disciplines such as mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, (business) informatics and finance & accounting. At the Eisenach site one dual student is starting his dual studies with focus on production technology.

 “Today's apprentices shape the future and ensure our sustainable business success – which is why qualified training has a special significance for us at BENTELER. Accordingly, we have once again increased the number of apprenticeships this year and are delighted to have reached another record high of 135 new colleagues compared to the past five years," explains Fabian Fricke, Head of Training.

Joint team and skills training for an ideal start 

One thing that hasn’t changed compared to previous years are the joint introductory days. From Monday to Wednesday (9th to 11th September), the young talents from all over Germany came together at the company's own Training and Further Education Center in Schloß Neuhaus. They were welcomed by Tobias Braun, CFO of the BENTELER Group, among others: "135 new colleagues in one go, that doesn’t happen every day at BENTELER. Training is a key component of our future strategy. I’m therefore all the more pleased that so many young people have decided to start their careers with us." 

During the introductory days, the apprentices got to know each other through joint project work and were prepared for their upcoming training with courses on learning methodology. They also gained useful insights into their future daily work thanks to workshop sessions in process optimization and AI.

Experience ensures future-oriented training 

With more than 30 years of training experience, BENTELER offers a future-oriented and interdisciplinary training program. Apprentices not only gain practical experience in our state-of-the-art plant environment, they also enjoy access to innovative training formats and digital learning. However, the focus of the training isn’t exclusively on teaching technical skills, as Fabian Fricke explains: "It is just as important to us to promote social and personal skills. We want to train young people who can succeed both professionally and personally.” To this end, a values workshop was held as part of the introductory days to collectively reinforce the significance of BENTELER’s core values: courage, ambition and respect.

BENTELER is welcoming trainees at the following locations:

• In Paderborn, the Steel/Tube Division operates a welded tube plant and a seamless tube plant. In the automotive sector, BENTELER’s plant in Paderborn manufactures safety components, rear and front axle beams, hot and cold formed pressed parts, as well as hydroformed tubes. Here, the company is welcoming a total of 82 new apprentices, including 16 dual students. 

• Bielefeld is home to the BENTELER Group subsidiaries BENTELER Mechanical Engineering and BENTELER Glass Processing Equipment. Glass processing machines and complex systems for the further processing and finishing of flat glass are developed, designed and manufactured at the site. In addition, continuous furnaces and systems for the production of chassis components and structural components are developed and manufactured here. 17 new apprentices are starting here. 

• In Warburg, BENTELER operates an automotive plant that produces exhaust components, tubing systems for exhaust and engine applications, and axle beams and stabilizers for vehicle chassis. The site is actively shaping the transformation from products for combustion engines to e-mobility, for example with battery struts for electric vehicles. This plant is welcoming nine apprentices. 

• BENTELER also operates an automotive plant at its Eisenach site. With a press shop that specializes in the production of cold-formed parts made of steel, stainless steel and aluminum, and an assembly shop that uses various welding and joining processes, the Eisenach plant offers its customers products with a high degree of vertical integration. Here, the company is welcoming seven apprentices and one dual student. 

• At its Schwandorf site, BENTELER operates an automotive plant that produces aluminum and steel chassis and structural components for various premium OEMs. Furthermore, the Schwandorf site has a competence center for aluminum and hydroforming as well as prototype construction for chassis and structural parts. This plant is welcoming six apprentices.

 • At the Dinslaken site, BENTELER Steel/Tube operates a plant for the production of hot-rolled tubes. This plant is welcoming six apprentices.

 • At its Kleinenberg site, BENTELER operates an automotive plant for the production of engine components and is completing the transition from component manufacturer to systems specialist. Products include modules for exhaust gas recirculation and fuel distribution systems. In addition to parts for conventional combustion engines, the site is focusing on thermal management components for hybrid and electric vehicles. Five apprentices are starting here. 

• In Lingen, the Steel/Tube Division operates a steel mill that produces steel from 100% scrap. Two apprentices are starting here.