Quality that pays dividends
Top-class training to safeguard the future: This helps companies acquire the junior talent that they need, while newcomers are offered a chance to start a career in the occupation. The example of David Jelusic, who has learned the ocupation of industrial insulator at XERVON, shows how greatly both sides profit. If top performers are needed, then well-insulated areas of plants and facilities save customers money and ease the strain on the environment caused by unnecessary waste of energy – making a valuable contribution to climate protection.
Precision work in a competitive environment
It is Tuesday, 7 November 2017, day two of the German Industry Insulators Championship. Six young men are working with tremendous concentration at training frames simulating pipelines at chemicals plants at the training centre of the building industry in Hamm. On the previous day, the contenders for the championship equipped the pipes with different types of insulating material in accordance with their own strategy. Now they are wrapping the insulation with a cladding made out of rolled sheet metal custom-cut to fit it like a glove.
Well insulated areas of the plant save on energy and costs – so the demand for professional insulation is commensurately high.
Only the year‘s best performances on final examinations for all German chamber districts are admitted to the championship. David Jelusic, XERVON staff members and best-in-class in the Dortmund guild trade chamber, is representing the region of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Qualified for the European Championships as the German Champion
A jury assesses the chamber‘s candidates in the afternoon. The result is final by early evening: David Jelusic scored the most points. He was the 2017 German Industry Insulators Champion and has qualified for the European Championship to take place in May 2018. Along with David Jelusic, his trainer Detlef Kurztusch is also pleased. At the XERVON site in Bottrop, he leads trainees through the apprenticeship years with a lot of commitment and know-how. At present 24 insulators-to-be are being trained there along with ten painters and varnishers. Later they will work in their occupations hand in hand, with painters and varnishers preparing the facility before being clad by the insulators.
This is what a winner looks like: David Jelusic, German Champion Industrial Insulator, and his trainer, Detlef Kurztusch
High quality apprenticeships help counteract skills shortages
Six years ago, Detlef Kurztusch took over at the helm of the training department, restructuring it step by step. Successfully, too, it would appear, as is substantiated not only by the title of champion, but also by the good results on the examination turned in by the other trainees. “There is a big demand for good industrial insulators. We can counteract bottlenecks in human resources with our own training program,“ he explains.
XERVON is hiring 114 new trainees in 16 occupational fields this year. For more details see remondis-karriere.de (German only)
This year the training program for insulators is being expanded once again by around 30 per cent. The training structures created in Bottrop are in addition being adopted at the XERVON sites in Hamburg and Grossenkneten. The paramount objective: Trainees are to be trained in such a manner so that they can later be assigned tasks as highly specialised skilled workers at a central point. Just like David Jelusic, who is at present assigned by XERVON directly to a customer plant, where he heads his own team.
Three Questions for Detlef Kurztusch
Are you proud that your team has produced the German Industrial Insulator Champion?
Of that you can rest assured! It is not so easy to win this highly coveted title. The crucial factor is what the trainee has to offer, but also what is attained in the training program and how engaged the trainees are in putting what they learn into practice.
What do you attach particular value to in training?
Teaching people to be independent and team-building. Both foster motivation, encourage professionalism and are in line with what really counts later in the field of practice.
What is the calling card of training at XERVON?
The basic attitude of our enterprise. It is not allowed for trainees to be treated like cheap labour. Instead, we emphasise a willingness to invest in training in order to gain highly specialised skilled labour so as to be ready to face future challenges.
Three Questions for David Jelusic
How does it feel to win the title of champion?
The training was important to me over the entire three years. It is difficult to put into words how happy I was about winning the title. It was a fantastic vote of confidence when the members of the jury were so satisfied with my performance in the competition.
In the championship competition, the deciding factors were well-founded knowledge, but also technical understanding, practical skills, creativity and decision-making abilities
Why did you decide on the profession of industrial insulator?
Because I like to make things. Another aspect is also that you are always being confronted with new things, however. For example industrial plant and equipment on a scale that you never dreamed of.
What made you decide to start your career at XERVON?
A recommendation – namely the timely advice to undergo training at XERVON because the company makes a true commitment to its trainees. My expectations have been fulfilled!
Image credits: image 1: iStock: antoniokhr; image 2, 3: © REMONDIS
