Since 1999, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce has recognised toolcraft as a company that takes on trainees. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce supports 145,000 companies in the industrial, commercial and service sectors in Middle Franconia by providing quick and expert information, practical assistance and contact details, and by representing business interests. The Chamber's President, Dirk von Vopelius, recently visited this company in Middle Franconia. His visit focused on the investments made in recent years and the company's far-reaching training concept.
Knowledge sharing and site visit
Bernd Krebs, toolcraft's founder and managing director, gave his high-profile guest a tour of the Georgensgmünd production halls. The tour included a visit to the training workshop, the metal laser melting facility and the recently opened robotics section. Toolcraft has been manufacturing precision metal and plastic parts for 27 years. During this time, the company has consistently invested in expanding its production technologies and in its machinery. Since moving locations in 2000, two additional halls have been added, with a third already being planned. The company has secured additional land in the course of the last year.
Investing in the future
Toolcraft's willingness to invest was first demonstrated in 2011 with the expansion of the product portfolio to include laser-melted precision parts. Since then, the machine park has been consistently expanded, most recently in 2015 with the addition of a fifth metal laser melting machine. As of this year, the injection moulding section will create tiny plastic parts in an environmentally responsible manner with an electric injection-moulding machine. This machine has been proven to consume 50-70 percent less energy than conventional machines. Due to the continued high demand for turning and milling parts, the company has also invested in a unique automated solution and in additional turning and milling centres. Originating from the field of engineering, robotics technology has established itself as an independent area in the past few years. The company's long-standing collaboration with its partner company unicam Software GmbH is of great importance in the production of universally applicable robotic solutions - from the design and construction of the machines through to the software.
Far-sighted training
Investments in machinery have resulted in a steady rise in the number of employees. The company now employs around 300 people, who are mainly from the local region. The company also trains its own workforce. The proportion of trainees is 10%.
Previously, the only trade available to trainees was tooling mechanic. The training concept has been restructured since 2012. There is now a permanent training team that works closely together and new training opportunities have arisen. These have been specifically selected to meet the needs of the company because as soon as the training contract has been signed, the stated objective is to employ the trainee in the company. The trainee is then provided with an individual employee training programme. This provides training measures to suit the trainee's talents and interests. To date, toolcraft has employed all trainees in their respective specialist areas. Bernd Krebs sums the situation up as follows: "To ensure that this remains the case, we are receiving active support from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which not only helps to structure the trades available to trainees but also acts as an information platform for our skilled workforce."
Knowledge sharing and site visit
Bernd Krebs, toolcraft's founder and managing director, gave his high-profile guest a tour of the Georgensgmünd production halls. The tour included a visit to the training workshop, the metal laser melting facility and the recently opened robotics section. Toolcraft has been manufacturing precision metal and plastic parts for 27 years. During this time, the company has consistently invested in expanding its production technologies and in its machinery. Since moving locations in 2000, two additional halls have been added, with a third already being planned. The company has secured additional land in the course of the last year.
Investing in the future
Toolcraft's willingness to invest was first demonstrated in 2011 with the expansion of the product portfolio to include laser-melted precision parts. Since then, the machine park has been consistently expanded, most recently in 2015 with the addition of a fifth metal laser melting machine. As of this year, the injection moulding section will create tiny plastic parts in an environmentally responsible manner with an electric injection-moulding machine. This machine has been proven to consume 50-70 percent less energy than conventional machines. Due to the continued high demand for turning and milling parts, the company has also invested in a unique automated solution and in additional turning and milling centres. Originating from the field of engineering, robotics technology has established itself as an independent area in the past few years. The company's long-standing collaboration with its partner company unicam Software GmbH is of great importance in the production of universally applicable robotic solutions - from the design and construction of the machines through to the software.
Far-sighted training
Investments in machinery have resulted in a steady rise in the number of employees. The company now employs around 300 people, who are mainly from the local region. The company also trains its own workforce. The proportion of trainees is 10%.
Previously, the only trade available to trainees was tooling mechanic. The training concept has been restructured since 2012. There is now a permanent training team that works closely together and new training opportunities have arisen. These have been specifically selected to meet the needs of the company because as soon as the training contract has been signed, the stated objective is to employ the trainee in the company. The trainee is then provided with an individual employee training programme. This provides training measures to suit the trainee's talents and interests. To date, toolcraft has employed all trainees in their respective specialist areas. Bernd Krebs sums the situation up as follows: "To ensure that this remains the case, we are receiving active support from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which not only helps to structure the trades available to trainees but also acts as an information platform for our skilled workforce."
