Training starts worldwide at Tognum

• 83 new apprentices and students from the Cooperative State University in Friedrichshafen
• 21 career entrants at other locations in Germany
• First vocational training courses at MTU Asia
• Vocational training at mtu South Africa secures skills for the future

Friedrichshafen, 7. September 2010. Over the coming weeks, apprentices and students all around the world will be starting their vocational training with the various subsidiaries of Tognum, the specialist for propulsion and power solutions. “Anyone who aims to develop, build and maintain outstanding propulsion and power plants must have a workforce trained to outstanding standards. That’s why our German locations have always placed particular emphasis on high-quality vocational training and it’s why our companies abroad are now doing the same”, explained Joachim Coers, Tognum CFO and Executive Board member with responsibility for Human Resources, and Director of Labor Relations at Tognum’s largest subsidiary, MTU Friedrichshafen.

With a total of 83 young people in training, MTU Friedrichshafen has the lion’s share of the new generation of employees. 60 school leavers are starting courses in industrial mechanics, construction mechanics, technical pattern making, mechatronics and electronics for automation technology whilst two others are beginning their training as technical draftspersons. In addition, 7 young people are embarking on commercial training courses and a further 14 are undertaking integrated studies programs at the Friedrichshafen location leading to Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science qualifications. In total, 311 young people are currently training at the Lake Constance location.

Training programs are also getting underway at the German subsidiaries L’Orange and mtu Onsite Energy Gas Systems in Augsburg as well as at the Tognum SKL location in Magdeburg. In Stuttgart and Glatten,
13 L’Orange trainees are starting their courses whilst one school leaver will also be beginning a Bachelor of Engineering study program in October. Three young people will be starting 3-year courses in mechatronics in Augsburg and in Magdeburg, four school leavers are starting vocational training in machining technology, mechatronics and industrial mechanics.

A structured program for training future assembly technicians has now been in place at mtu South Africa for three years and, as the training year there begins in January, it will be just a few months before the next generation consisting of five new trainees gets to grips with the intricacies of engine assembly and servicing. “Our system closely resembles the German model and uses both workshop training and vocational college courses to prepare our young people for their jobs as assembly technicians”, explained Michael Baumann, Managing Director mtu South Africa.

In October this year, for the first time, 14 aspiring assembly technicians will begin training as after-sales workshop technicians at 5 MTU Asia locations. “This program aims to cover our very real need for good next-generation technicians”, said Peter Kneipp, President MTU Asia. “With its solidly-founded technical training programs designed to prepare the workforce of the future, Tognum is not only creating a worldwide basis for future success, it is also offering young people the chance to achieve top-class vocational qualifications and secure excellent career prospects”, said Matthias Jobmann, head of Human Resources at Tognum.