The ebm-papst Group, a family-owned company headquartered in Mulfingen, Baden-Württemberg, is the world's leading manufacturer of fans and drives. Since its foundation 60 years ago, the technology leader has been setting international market standards with its core competencies of motor technology, electronics, digitalisation and aerodynamics. All of this is also supported by the company's current workforce of around 15,000 - and among them there is currently a small group that is looking forward to HANNOVER MESSE 2023 with even more anticipation, excitement and anticipation than usual. For 15 of them, all of them ebm-papst students and trainees, were not only allowed to plan and organise the entire trade fair appearance on their own under the motto "Future Heroes", they will also represent the southern German family-owned company completely independently and present the latest highlights in fans and motors to the international audience.

ebm-papst sends a clear signal

"With this project, we want to send a clear signal about the central importance of dual vocational training in Germany and show what excellent development opportunities modern training offers today," says Dr. Klaus Geißdörfer, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors at ebm-papst. Many training positions remain unfilled today, and getting young people excited about technology now presents many companies with enormous challenges. This also applies to the technology leader ebm-papst with training locations in Mulfingen, St. Georgen, Landshut and Lauf.

Frightening numbers

According to a press release from the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) dated 06.11.2022, more than 11,000 training positions in mechanical engineering-related professions remained unfilled last September. At ebm-papst, of more than 100 new training positions in 2022, just under 20 places were open, and the trend continues to come to a head. "It is particularly through training that our company gains the urgently needed skilled workers to remain successful in Germany," knows Kim Ziegler, a prospective second-year electronics technician and member of the young organisational core team of the HANNOVER MESSE project.

Great responsibility, great commitment

Kim Ziegler and her colleagues Melanie Bildhoff (student of online media) and Maximilian Chzan (apprenticeship as industrial clerk), together with their team of young people, are responsible for the entire planning, from the stand concept to product selection, from controlling budgets, timing and press communication to personally inviting top politicians. And in order to be optimally prepared for their trade fair appearance, the four had prepared a training plan that included product training, personality coaching, trade fair training as well as team building activities for a strong cohesion of the young group. For feedback, the team had chosen mentors in advance who could provide advice and support if needed.

Increasing interest in dual vocational training

Dr. Sonja Fleischer, Group Managing Director Human Resources: "I am extremely proud of our junior staff. It is fantastic to see how they approach this complex task with enthusiasm and successfully implement it. HANNOVER MESSE is a great platform to show how we live the transfer of responsibility with a high degree of creative freedom in the company and simply let our youngest ones do it. It would be great if we could increase interest in dual vocational training with this project."

Anticipation coupled with expectation

In addition to new junior staff, the fan specialist is naturally also hoping for interest from international trade fair visitors in its latest efficient and intelligent fan innovations for the current topics of the day, such as heat pumps, data centres, clean rooms or vertical farming. Meanwhile, the ebm-papst heroes of the future are planning, organising and training to be perfectly prepared on 17 April 2023 in Hall 7 at Stand C50 of the world's largest exhibition centre and to show how the company is leading ventilation technology into a new age.

Video