Welcome on board!

A group of 163 young people started their careers today with Saarstahl AG and AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke (Dillinger). An official welcome marked the launch of the new year of training, during which the new trainees were welcomed by their future trainers, Works Council representatives, youth representatives and the Labor Director. Saarland’s steel industry currently employs a total of 498 trainees when all class years are combined (Dillinger: 241; Saarstahl: 257). 

“Well-trained, skilled employees are the basis for our company’s competitiveness, and we look forward to working together with you to continue our success story,” explained Peter Schweda, Labor Director and Executive Officer, Human Resources, for Dillinger and Saarstahl. “You will find superb conditions in Saarland’s steel industry for successful training, and it is our aim to also be a good employer to our own young trainees once they have successfully completed their final examinations. You should therefore take advantage of the opportunities you have to pursue your career in Saarland’s steel industry. We wish you all the best in this new phase of your lives,” Schweda said in his motivational address to the young job entrants.

Dillinger Hütte is employing 80 trainees this year, including 76 in technical and industrial fields and four in business-related fields. A total of 83 trainees are starting their careers at Saarstahl: 71 in technical and industrial fields and 12 in business-related fields. For the first time, a female trainee is starting at Saarstahl to qualify as a process mechanic. With a total of 30 female trainees, the percentage of women at both steel companies is holding at a stable level. In addition, 5 trainees from other companies are completing training with Dillinger Hütte (3) and at Saarstahl (2) as part of the training partnership program.

Saarland’s steel industry has focused for many years on training its own pool of skilled workers, and it is one the region’s most important businesses providing vocational training. The training program includes around 15 career fields, from construction and process mechanics to mechatronics engineers and to laboratory chemists. Dillinger and Saarstahl offer training to meet their own requirements and generally hire their trainees once training is completed.

Moreover, the two companies offer 27 new interns (from technical colleges and as part of the one-year elementary vocational training) initial insight into the working world.

Prospective trainees for the next training year can find more information on the Internet at www.saarstahl.com and www.dillinger.de.