Press Release

First combined reception for trainees at Dillinger Hütte and Saarstahl - Saarland’s steel industry welcomes 140 new trainees

01 September 2014

The training year at Saarstahl and Dillinger Hütte begins on 1 September 2014 – launching a new phase in the personal and professional lives of 140 trainees and 65 interns.

“We wish you great success in this and all the best,” said Peter Schweda, Labor Director and member of the Board of Management for Human Resources for Dillinger Hütte and Saarstahl, at the official reception held this year for the first time for both companies together. Vocational training also marks the beginning of a career and of making decisions about one’s own life, Schweda said. “We are delighted that you have chosen to pursue your training with Saarland’s steel industry,” he added. “You are an important factor in innovation and progress in our companies – and you won’t regret your choice: you will find superb conditions here for successful training and a solid start to your career.”

A total of 75 trainees are starting at Saarstahl: nine are in business-related fields and 66 are in technical and industrial fields, including ten trainees at the Neunkirchen site. In addition, three trainees from other companies are completing their training with Saarstahl as part of the training partnership program. Another 21 interns from technical colleges are starting their training with the company. Nine university students also work as interns at Saarstahl.

Dillinger Hütte is training 65 trainees this year, including four in business-related fields and 61 in technical and industrial fields. Ten trainees from other companies are completing training with Dillinger Hütte as part of the training partnership program. In addition, there are 16 interns from technical colleges, who, along with 19 interns from universities, will be gaining initial hands-on experience within the company.

Beyond this, 17 young people are participating once again this year in career-entry programs at Saarstahl or Dillinger Hütte, offered in partnership with Stahlstiftung Saarland. With a total of 22 female trainees in initial job training, the proportion of women in the training programs continues to grow.

Saarland’s steel industry has focused for many years on training its own pool of young, skilled workers, and it is one of the most important businesses in the region that provide vocational training. The industry currently employs a total of 400 trainees when all class years are included. The range of training programs includes more than 15 career fields ranging from construction, process and mechatronic engineers to laboratory assistants.

Dillinger Hütte and Saarstahl offer training as needed and generally hire their own trainees once their training is completed.