From craftsmanship to high-tech

A look at a special job profile

Craftsmanship is at the heart of every production company. It guarantees the manufacture of high-quality products with precision and care. For REHAU, training as a polymer and rubber technologist has always played a key role in this context.

For a polymer processing company like REHAU, the recently redesignated profession of polymer and rubber technologist (formerly process mechanic for polymer and rubber technology) is as indispensable as a barista in a good café. They are the experts who specialize in the manufacture of our products using our materials and processes. This is why training our own specialists in this field is particularly important. "In fact, the vocational training for polymer molders, as it was called in the beginning, was only created through REHAU's efforts," reports Michael von Hertell, Head of Vocational Training at REHAU Industries. "For this reason, the vocational school in Rehau, which was the first to teach this profession, proudly bears the name of Helmut Wagner." But how did this come about?

Handling poylmer was new

At the time, polymer was still a new material that you first had to learn how to handle. Helmut Wagner knew this and recognized the great potential of the material even then. As the training and further education of employees was very important to him, he soon pushed for internal training courses with the aim of raising the level of knowledge of the polymer molding apprentices to a high level. As early as 1975, the first six apprentices were taken on as polymer molders - one year before the profession was adopted by law in Germany.

As technology changed, so did the profession

In the dynamic world of industrial production, the demands placed on polymer moulders have constantly evolved to become today's polymer and rubber technologists. From simple manual procedures to highly technical processes, this profession has undergone a remarkable transformation. "Since 1997, new specializations have been constantly added to the training framework in order to reflect technical progress and make the profession fit for the future," explains Michael, who plays an important role in the Expert Council for the reorganization of vocational training. "Sustainability and digitalization play a major role in the latest changes, which came into force in August 2023. These are both topics that are also essential for REHAU."

This is also confirmed by Carsten Franke, who started his apprenticeship in 1981 and is fascinated by the changes: "The content of today has very little to do with that of the 1980s," he says. To have always been close to the technical developments and to have grown together with the profession at REHAU, to be part of this history - that makes Carsten particularly proud as a loyal employee. Tyra Uhl is still at the very beginning. She started her apprenticeship a year and a half ago and is very happy with her decision to choose a technical profession: "REHAU helped me to find out that this profession is the right one for me and I am learning so much here."

A profession with a future

REHAU offers apprenticeships at all German plant locations. "Unfortunately, like everyone else, we are struggling with declining application numbers, but the prospects after successful completion are very good," emphasizes Michael. A total of 57 highly motivated apprentices started in the latest training year with a high chance of being taken on and the opportunity to work internationally. They encounter a balanced mix of practical and theoretical training with specially trained instructors in an attractive environment. Modern, well-equipped training workshops, such as at our own Prolin training center in Rehau, enable targeted learning and trial and error. The high quality standard of the training is demonstrated by the many prizes that the trainees have repeatedly won in recent years. For example, a REHAU apprentice has been in the top 10 of Germany's best apprentices every year since 2005.

A future without this training? Unthinkable for Michael: "Our plastics and rubber technologists keep the production engine running in shifts, contribute their expertise at our locations worldwide and also ensure that our products continue to impress with the highest quality in the future."