Taking the initiative to address the shortage of skilled workers
“Anyone who wants to remain successful in global markets tomorrow must invest not only in machinery and technology, but equally in people,” reads the homepage of Bornemann Gewindetechnik GmbH & Co. KG. In late November, the owner-managed family business was honored with the Hildesheim-Alfeld District Craftsmen’s Association’s Apprenticeship Promotion Award for its exceptional commitment.
Delligsen-based company Bornemann receives an apprenticeship promotion award / 26-year-old Dennis Feigel is the head of apprenticeship training
Delligsen. “Anyone who wants to remain successful in global markets tomorrow must invest not only in machinery and technology, but equally in people,” reads the homepage of Bornemann Gewindetechnik GmbH & Co. KG. In late November, the owner-managed family business was honored with the Hildesheim-Alfeld District Craftsmen’s Association’s Apprenticeship Promotion Award for its exceptional commitment. “We’ve been training our own employees for 15 years so that we can meet our own needs,” explains Kathrin von Soden, a member of the management team and head of human resources.
Still Employed
Many of the former apprentices are still employed at the company today, says the daughter of Hans Gereke-Bornemann, who took over the business from his father-in-law, Gerhard Dietrich, in 1984, together with his wife, Gudrun. Dietrich founded the company in 1964. Currently, six young men and one woman are being mentored by training supervisor Dennis Feigel and prepared for the precision mechanics exam with a focus on machining technology. The 26-year-old also learned his trade at Bornemann. After graduating from secondary school, which he completed at the former Duingen secondary school, he began his three-and-a-half-year apprenticeship in 2005, followed by attendance at the master craftsman school. Afterward, the master precision mechanic worked at two other companies. Since 2012, he has been working again for the long-established Delligsen-based company and, in addition to being responsible for the trainees, serves as a master craftsman in thread manufacturing. The on-the-job training is supplemented by in-house instruction, which focuses particularly on technical drawing. This is very important for the company and is intended to support the academic training at the Alfeld vocational school, according to Kathrin von Soden. The average age of the approximately 60 employees is around 40. She is concerned about the “retirement at 63” policy, as it results in the loss of knowledge carriers.
Offer in hand
Two more apprentices have already secured their offers for next year. “But we still have room,” says the HR manager, recruiting the next generation of employees. The company already works closely with Delligsen High School. “For example, I visited the school and personally introduced our company to several 10th-grade classes. We’d like to do the same at other schools,” says Moritz von Soden, also a member of the management team. Bornemann Gewindetechnik is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of threaded spindles, turned and milled parts, which are used, for example, in machine, plant, tool, and stage construction, in lifting, conveying, and medical technology, in the offshore sector, and at airports.
From left: Tim Rittel, Dennis Feigel, Kathrin von Soden, Marvin Hein, Alexander Reinhardt, Paolo-Kimberly Verger. Absent: Kevin Raschke, Virginia Nemschok, and Leon Pedde.
33 Percent Export Share
“We can manufacture custom threads that are large and complex, require special geometries, or are made from specialty materials, and we can compete on a global level,” says Moritz von Soden. The export share stands at 33 percent. “We ship to over 20 countries, including Thailand and Australia,” the 38-year-old adds. As stated on the company’s website, the management prioritizes innovation, reliability, the highest quality, and loyalty to the Delligsen location to create and maintain jobs and training opportunities in the region.
