Extensive advanced-training opportunities at Automechanika
With around 90,000 apprentices, the automotive sector trains more young people than any other branch of industry.
The number of advanced training courses offered is also remarkable and covers a wide range of subjects from e-mobility, re-spraying and collision repairs to service and diagnosis. For the first time, this year’s Automechanika will offer a special platform for basic and advanced training and issue attendance certificates for a variety of courses, including paintwork and body repairs. Hence, automobile enthusiasts of all ages should make a note of two places during Automechanika 2012 – the Galleria and Hall 11 – now.
For secondary and vocational school students interested in working in the automobile sector, the Federation of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (Zentralverband Deutsches Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe – ZDK) will provide an overview of the broad spectrum of apprenticeships currently available at a special exhibition covering 600 m² in the foyer of Hall 11 (Level VIA).
The noise level in the Galleria, the vaulted glass building between Halls 8 and 9, will be somewhat louder with lots of beating out, bending and spraying going on. The German Federation of Body and Automotive Engineering (Zentralverband Karosserie- und Fahrzeugtechnik e.V. – ZKF) is planning three workshops on metalworking and body painting. Non-profit initiatives, such as ‘yourmove’ and the ‘Formula Student’ race track, will present hands-on exhibits including, in the latter case, a racing car and an electric racing car designed by students.
Numerous associations, institutes, exhibitors and partners from the industry and media support the fair’s new thematic focal point. In addition to ZDK and the associated academy (TAK), ZKF, the Association of the Independent Parts Market (Verein Freier Ersatzteilemarkt e.V. – VREI) and DEKRA, the supporters include colleges for master craftsmen, universities, vocational schools, job exchanges and publishing companies, such as Krafthand, Vogel Business Media, Springer Automotive Media, ADAC and the non-profit ‘yourmove’ training network. The companies participating include Glasurit, L-Tec, Henkel Teroson, Carbon, Audatex, Wieländer+Schill, Car-O-Liner, Sauer-Werkzeug, Hella Gutmann Solutions, Coparts, Febi,
Adam Opel AG and Liqui Moly.
Bodywork and paintwork training courses
The four-hour bodywork and paintwork course covers all aspects that could arise within the framework of a collision repair process – from computer damage calculation, via dent removal and the use of bench-type straightening systems, to joining methods (welding and bonding) and painting. At the end of the course, all participants will receive a certificate of attendance and an iPhone raffled among the best graduates.
The important subject of ‘Collision repairs on hybrid / electric vehicles’ will also be included. It is planned that Academy of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (TAK) will assume responsibility for that part of the training course that requires an instructor for working on intrinsically save high-voltage systems. This training course will be supported by Opel with the new Ampera. The model-specific operations will be demonstrated on the vehicle so that participants easily follow the various steps. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the three-hour course. In common with the other training activities, this event represents genuine practical ‘added value’ for participants and their companies.
Krafthand-Dekra professional training courses
Aimed at professionals and instructors, the Krafthand-Dekra professional training courses cover subjects such as chassis and suspension / steering and loosening injectors. These courses have been held in a variety of cities since 2008. They are organised by ‘Krafthand’ magazine and DEKRA, and supported by companies such as Sauer-Werkzeug, Hella Gutmann Solutions, Coparts, Febi and Liqui Moly.
Help for job seekers
School leavers and graduates looking for jobs will find numerous opportunities for making contacts in the Galleria. The spectrum ranges from the information counters of numerous educational institutes, e.g., the Automotive Engineering Department of the Institute of Land and Sea Transport Systems (ILS) of Berlin Technical University, the Technology and Education Institute (ITB) of Bremen University , the Technicians’ Association (Techniker e.V.), paint training schools, etc., via various online job exchanges, such as www.jobboarding.de, www.azubidoo.de, www.autojob.de (the job portal for the automobile sector) and www.etecmo.de (the first job exchange for the electro-mobility trade). In cooperation with Automechanika, members of Association of the Independent Parts Market (VREI) will hold ‘Career Days’ on the fourth and fifth days of the fair (14 and 15 September). There, companies belonging to VREI (a list can be found on the internet at www.vrei.de) will give young Automechanika visitors the chance to meet their personnel specialists.
yourmove – education live – back again
The non-profit ‘yourmove’ initiative will be making a guest appearance at Automechanika for the third time. From experience, the director of the ‘yourmove’ Academy, Nikolas Aichele, who works together with educational partners, such as the Karlsruhe University of Education, knows that it is impossible to awaken an interest in technology and a trade without the benefit of a good general technical schooling. Although many students can use a PC with no difficulty, they have no feeling for the material to be processed by their computer-controlled machines. At the fair, they will be offered a practice-oriented overview ranging from small technical tasks from a didactic perspective to expert restoration solutions.
