For anyone who is interested in cars, tractors and trucks and loves tinkering with them, the EuroSkills 2020 category Transport & Logistics is a must. For this blog, we take a closer look at the three skills and trades of Automobile Technology, Heavy Truck Maintenance and Heavy Vehicle Technology.

The idea of an oil-smeared mechanic lying under a vehicle and tinkering with an engine is no longer entirely accurate these days, as job profiles are now very different in the automotive industry. New technologies are coming into play: the construction of vehicles has undergone major changes and the same holds true for the skills required of anyone wishing to become a “mechanic”. At EuroSkills 2020 from 6 to 10 January 2021 in Graz, interested visitors will have the opportunity not only to watch the competitors in action as they work on the vehicles, but also to have a go themselves at a Try-a-Skill station and find out more about the Automobile Technology, Heavy Truck Maintenance and Heavy Vehicle Technology skill categories.

Spotlight on young talents in Automobile Technology

Automotive technicians deal with maintenance and repair work to be performed on motor vehicles. They primarily work in garages or workshops, on an employed or self-employed basis. Working individually or as part of a team, they remove damaged or unserviceable parts and replace them with new ones. They advise customers on necessary repairs and scheduled maintenance, and they inspect, service, repair and install mechanical, electrical and electronic parts in the vehicles.
They also adjust settings on the engine, brakes, steering and lights and carry out services on motorised vehicles according to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedules and the statutory safety and environmental inspections. At EuroSkills 2020, a wide range of competition tasks are designed to test the competitors’ knowledge. For example, the competitors will be expected to inspect, dismantle, install, repair and service a car’s safety, comfort and communications electronics, as well as checking, assessing, applying and refilling all coolants and lubricants together with other fluids necessary for the vehicle to function. In addition, accurate records must be kept of all technical data concerning the workflows and results.

Heavy Vehicle Maintenance put to the test

Specialists in the skill heavy vehicle maintenance repair and mantain vehicles, equipment, machinery and plants. Depending on their professional specialism they primarily work on construction machinery such as excavators and cranes or agricultural machines such as tractors and harvesters. They regularly inspect the vehicles, equipment and plants to ensure functional efficiency, carry out maintenance and repairs and are also responsible for modifications and installation work. They use computer-assisted machine tools and electronic diagnostic equipment, as well as conventional tools such as hammers, screwdrivers and files, and even welding and soldering equipment.
Depending on their specialism, agricultural and construction machinery technicians work in production and repair workshops of agricultural machine repair services or for construction companies and/or service and repair businesses. They are also sometimes required to work at the customer’s premises, visiting agricultural businesses or construction sites where they work together with colleagues, and they also come into contact with customers on a daily basis.
EuroSkills 2020 puts the competitors’ knowledge to the test in all aspects of the job. For example, during the competition the competitors are required to carry out repair, maintenance, inspection, installation and modification work associated with the necessary adjustment, readjustment and monitoring tasks on electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and cooling components and modules contained in agricultural and construction machines. These tasks may involve identifying, assessing and diagnosing faults, including the use of computer-assisted diagnostic methods. Just as for the automobile technicians, accurate records must be kept of all technical data concerning the workflows and results.

Heavy vehicle technicians demonstrate their skills

As with the two previous skills categories, the tasks of heavy vehicle technicians include inspection, parts installation, servicing, maintenance and repair of utility vehicles. In their daily work, they check various chassis parts and components such as the vehicle and wheel suspension, steering, brakes and wheels. They service electrical and electronic systems and adjust the settings of various components of the related safety equipment. They also check brakes and lighting systems. They are also responsible for eliminating any corrosion damage and carrying out bodywork and paintwork.
They use mechanical, electrical and electronic measuring and testing equipment to identify the causes of faults and malfunctions on heavy goods vehicles. The practical and theoretical knowledge that is applied every day at work is also tested at EuroSkills 2020. The competition tasks therefore include, for example, the inspection, removal, installation, repair and maintenance of the electrical and electronic systems, the EC control units and speed limiters and the use of various measurement and control methods and computer-assisted diagnostic tools, and evaluation of the corresponding results. As with the two skills previously described, accurate records must be kept of all these activities.

Strong support for the Transport & Logistics skills category

Likewise in this skills category, EuroSkills 2020 also depends heavily on the support of sponsors who are providing the working materials the competitors will need for the contest. First of all we should like to mention the main sponsor in this category: the public infrastructure service provider Holding Graz, which has come on board EuroSkills 2020 as a gold sponsor. Wolfgang Malik, CEO of Holding Graz, explains why getting involved in EuroSkills 2020 is synonymous with making a commitment to Austria’s young people: “We are supporting EuroSkills 2020 because, as municipal service providers, it is our social responsibility to provide the best possible education for young people and to prepare them well for their future careers. We are very proud that these skills championships are taking place in Graz for the very first time.”

Another strong supporter is the company Würth, which is providing highly professional tools in its role as a diamond sponsor. Supporting young, skilled workers is something the company is passionate about – and is also an investment in the future, as managing director Willi Trumler explains: “As a partner of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Würth Austria has been supplying competitors at WorldSkills und EuroSkills with high-quality, professional tools to use during their preparations for the competitions for over 10 years now.” Now that the European Skills Championships are being held in Austria for the first time, it is particularly important for us to lend our support as a sponsor at the 2020 event. Würth is involved in projects for young people engaged in skilled occupations at both national and international level. The future opportunities offered by skills and trades are infinite. The career options in Austria are superb. There are many training organisations among our customers, and the competitors at EuroSkills 2020 are also the potential entrepreneurs of the future.”

As a silver sponsor, BMW Austria is also lending its strong support to the first European skills championships to be held in Austria by providing the vehicles needed for the automobile technology skill competitions. Christian Morawa, managing director of BMW Austria explains: “We are delighted to be supporting EuroSkills 2020 in Austria. We think it’s important to promote top talent and to present the attractiveness and diversity of the various automotive apprenticeships to a wider public. Here at the BMW Group in Austria, we know how important a sound education and training is for each individual member of staff as well as for a successful business. More than 480 automotive technicians in Austria are employed by the BMW sales and distribution organisation, for example. In addition, we are currently training 316 young automotive technicians and 71 chassis technicians.”

Another silver sponsor in the skill of Heavy Vehicle Maintenance to come on board EuroSkills 2020 is the company Liebherr. For managing director Manfred Santner (Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen GmbH), it is EuroSkills 2020’s focus on dual education and the quality of the Austrian education system that will make a lasting impression: “At EuroSkills 2020, young, skilled workers will be turning out peak performances at the highest level. At the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen, we are currently training 67 talented young people in seven different apprenticeship trades. As a premium manufacturer of construction equipment, having highly trained specialist staff is a key success factor for us and for our customers. By making this commitment to EuroSkills 2021, we wish to emphasise the importance of dual education, our domestic industry and its skilled workers.”

In addition, the companies Bosch Rexroth and Volvo are also involved in the Austrian EuroSkills premiere as bronze sponsors in this skills category. The two companies Pöttinger and Steyr are also lending their support as suppliers.