New trainees for the road paver specialist at the main plant in Ludwigshafen
Ten budding industrial engineers, seven mechatronics engineers, three warehouse logistics specialists and one warehouse operative have started their careers at Vögele. The market leader for pavers makes a point of training its own specialist staff. Apprentices can bank on highly skilled tutors, modern information communication methods, digital learning, close monitoring and a good chance of being taken on by the company after they qualify.
“I am delighted that we have been able to get hold of so many talented young people again this year,” says Dr. Christian Pawlik, Chairman of Joseph Vögele AG. “Throughout the world, Vögele stands for quality and innovation. We are setting new standards in digitalization, automation and sustainability with our electric pavers, automatic functions and cloud solutions - and we need qualified, committed new staff with good ideas to maintain and expand our position at the vanguard of the industry.” Vögele is currently training some 70 young people including the new apprentices.
As a certified testing company with a modern, 800 m² training facility, Vögele continuously invests in new technology, machines and high-quality apprenticeships. It’s been worth it: in 2024, 18 trainees completed their apprenticeships successfully, seven with above-average results. “Our philosophy is to train the staff of tomorrow in-house and to develop them in a specific, individual way,” says Oliver Laible, Head of Training. “Lots of our managers and long-standing colleagues started their careers as apprentices here.” As part of the Wirtgen Group, a group of construction machinery companies with international operations belonging to John Deere, Vögele gives trainees a variety of career and development opportunities.
Starting an apprenticeship with the market leader in road pavers: Joseph Vögele AG welcomes 21 new apprentices.
In order to prepare the apprentices for tomorrow’s world of work as thoroughly as possible, Vögele continuously develops the curriculum and expands its digital offerings: when they start, all apprentices are given an iPad and access to e-learning platform Vocanto. Here they can work through learning units on a flexible basis, network in tutor groups and get a better understanding of complex content through animations and videos. “We use the slogan ‘ Training 4.0 ‘ to link digital technologies to mechanical engineering training material,” says Laible. “We prioritise work with contemporary media, training in IT skills and the introduction of topics such as Industry 4.0, automation and networking. From the digital apprenticeship record to the 3D printer, we integrate a variety of methods into our apprenticeship.”
Personal interaction and close monitoring are still a top priority, despite the digital offerings. Five tutors look after the apprentices. “It’s important to us to encourage the young people’s personal skills, too, and to create an atmosphere of helpfulness, commitment, respect and the desire to achieve,” says Laible. Apart from staff social events, the tutors organise a variety of projects, excursions and team events specifically for the apprentices - such as the GreenBirds team, which meets outside work to develop and manufacture a wide range of robots. There are also apprentice “Techdays”, when apprentices from all the main plants of the Wirtgen Group come together to implement an actual road construction project.
The best of both worlds: Vögele tutors continue to value personal interaction with the apprentices despite the many digital initiatives.
Young people interested in an apprenticeship for 2025 can apply to Vögele online right now. Go to www.wirtgen-group.com/ausbildung-voegele for more information about apprenticeships at Vögele and to upload application material to submit it directly.