When it comes to welding, the trainees will be given a hand in future by a collaborative robot – also known as a cobot. It specializes in welding and can be programmed via the display and by guiding the robotic arm. Budding metal-cutting technicians will be able to train on the new CNC milling machines and learn how to mill a wide variety of steel grades with an accuracy of one hundredth of a millimeter. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing are real technologies of the future. With their new high-end 3D printer, the trainees can print high-quality components made from plastic or carbon fiber – and so learn to appreciate the flexible possibilities this new technology offers. A new CNC boring mill with innovative control system will be added next year.
"We want to get our apprentices ready today for the technologies of tomorrow that are needed to build and operate environment- and climate-friendly plants and machines," emphasized Torsten Heising, CFO at SMS group, during the handover ceremony in Hilchenbach. The corporate mission of a CO2-neutral and sustainable metals industry based on the motto of "turning metals green" can only be put into practice by exceptionally well-trained young talents. "Our apprentices today will help to shape the future of a sustainable metals industry. The investment in the most advanced manufacturing machinery further enhances the quality of our training, making it state-of-the-art," says Heising.
The investment in the most advanced manufacturing machinery further enhances the quality of our training, making it state-of-the-art.
Good post-training career prospects
Every year, 70 apprentices start their career path at SMS group. We train young people for industrial professions including plant fitters, electronics technicians for industrial engineering, industrial mechanics, mechatronics engineers, and metal-cutting technicians, and thereby secure new young talent, for example for the manufacturing team in our dedicated workshop.