Interview for training at Caparol Industrial Solutions

The people, the atmosphere and working methods – here you can obtain a personal impression. In brief interviews colleagues report on their job in the company, on their professional development and on their motivation for making their professional contribution within the DAW corporate group.

Janine Große and Saskia Steinort, both going through their apprenticeships to become Enamels Laboratory Technicians, and their Trainer, Barbara Wiese-Edelmann, explain what the main points and possibilities are in an apprenticeship with Caparol Industrial Solutions in April 2015. Barbara Wiese-Edelmann has been working in the company for 25 years.

"A great apprenticeship for young people who are eager to learn, who want to become all-rounders in the world of colour and who love experimenting."

Question: What are the apprenticeships at Caparol Industrial Solutions and what are the procedures?

Barbara Wiese-Edelmann: In the laboratory area we have trainee Enamels Laboratory Technicians and in production we offer training as Chemical Laboratory Technicians – we have several apprentices in both areas. What takes place in the so-called dual apprenticeship in which one part takes place in the factory and the other part in the vocational school. Our partner for the technical part of the laboratory and chemical technician apprenticeships is the Sächsische Bildungsgesellschaft training establishment in Dresden.

Question: How long does the apprenticeship last and what is the process after that?

Barbara Wiese-Edelmann:Generally, both apprenticeships last 3.5 years. Some trainees can and would like to shorten the apprenticeship period. This can be agreed on a case-by-case basis with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Some though decide on a subsequent course of study. There are universities of applied sciences, for example in Esslingen and Krefeld, which deal specifically with enamels technology. Here, courses in chemical engineering with the emphasis on paints and enamels are offered.

Question: As the co-ordinator for the trainee Enamels Laboratory Technicians, what do you particularly focus on?

Barbara Wiese-Edelmann: The vocational schools undertake part of the training and the Enamels Laboratory Technicians there come to grips with all fields of the paints and enamels industries. As a manufacturing operation we put the emphasis on industrial colour concentrates. In the laboratory our apprentices pass through all the ranges of tasks, from colour adjustment to suit customer requirements through to the product quality inspection.

Question: Is there anything special about the apprenticeship with Caparol Industrial Solutions?

Barbara Wiese-Edelmann: We prepare our apprentices to become all-rounders later in the laboratory. We have such a wide product range, also in the field of industrial dyeing pastes – from water-based pastes through to epoxy resin-bound pigment pastes – they have to know all about that! In addition, we set great store in them having practical experience and in working from the start on their own in as many different areas as possible, for example with colour measurement equipment. But there is something else: the family atmosphere in the company. We always consider the person too, not just the performance. For example, once you have met Dr. Murjahn, the owner, then he recognises you and knows which department you work in. That is not particularly typical of a large company with a total of over 5,000 employees.

Question: Janine Große and Saskia Steinort, how did you come to be aware of Caparol Industrial Solutions as a company for training and employment?

Saskia Steinort: I live in the vicinity and learnt of Caparol Industrial Solutions through my school. Colours have always interested me – in the job interview they gave me information about the job of Enamels Laboratory Technician and that won me over.

Janine Große: I live a bit further away in Brandenburg. At first I wanted to be a Chemical Laboratory Assistant, but I found the Enamels Laboratory Technician apprenticeship also very appealing, so I decided on that.

Question: Is there something which you particularly like?

Saskia Steinort: I've noticed that here really everything is well explained and that you are included straight away. We are always told: if there is anything we want to know, we should come and ask. And everyone is really friendly. I think it's great.

Janine Große: I think it's good that we are assigned a task which we can then also carry out on our own. Here, no tasks are set just for practice, instead we work properly on the job.

Question: What advice would you give to potential applicants?

Saskia Steinort: I'd say that you need curiosity and interest to understand everything and above all else – to want to understand.

Janine Große: And sometimes you don't have to mind getting your fingers dirty.

Barbara Wiese-Edelmann: Yes, with painted finger nails you don't get very far in the laboratory ...