The vocational category ”Manufacturing and engineering technology” comprises eight out of the 45 competition skills and trades at EuroSkills 2020. In today’s blog post we take a closer look at which talents and abilities are needed for each of the occupations in this category, and which tasks need to be carried out on a normal working day.

In terms of the EuroSkills 2020 competitions, skills and trades such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Welding and CNC Milling all belong to the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology category. What do these eight skills and trades all have in common? All of these areas of expertise are involved in the industrial development and the industrial manufacture of various goods and products. This starts with the design, manufacture and maintenance of everything related to the electronics and machinery used in industrial manufacturing and production. The eight skills and trades include Mechatronics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), CNC Milling, Welding, Electronics, Industrial Control, Mobile Robotics and the demonstration skill CNC Turning (click here for an overview of all skills and trades including various videos).

High-tech skills for a future career

The main requirement for anyone pursuing one of the skills and trades belonging to the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology category is the ability to solve complex problems logically. Working on a PC is also involved in many of these occupations. An interest in technology, Industry 4.0 and related topics is also an advantage, as well as the ability to work to a high degree of accuracy. This is because many of these jobs involve carrying out maintenance and repair work on various machines and manufacturing facilities or systematically identifying the cause of the fault if a machine malfunctions. Another key feature of many of these occupations is that they are constant changing as a result of digital transformation, Industry 4.0 and other developments. Between 6 and 10 January 2021, EuroSkills 2020 will give visitors the opportunity to try out one of the above skills at a “Try-a-Skill” station and find out if this occupation might be the one for them. For example, the Try-a-Skill station of our main sponsor DMG Mori will have a CNC milling machine, while our second main sponsor FESTO will be offering a Try-a-Skill station for mechatronics. There will be another opportunity to find out more about the various occupations even before EuroSkills 2020, in the form of the AustrianSkills event which will run from 19 to 22 November at the Salzburg Messezentrum exhibition centre.

Strong supporters from manufacturing and trade

In order to get a contest like EuroSkills 2020 up and running while meeting all the requirements, the support of sponsors is crucial. We are therefore particularly grateful that companies such as DMG Mori, Festo and Weiler & Kunzmann have decided to support EuroSkills 2020 by contributing their machines and their expertise. After all, the participants in this category also need the right machines in order to complete the competition tasks to a professional standard. The biggest supporters in the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology category are the big players DMG Mori and FESTO.

Our main sponsor DMG Mori, an international company based in Germany, will ensure that the CNC Milling competition can take place by providing eight CNC milling machines on which the competitors will showcase their skills.

Our second main sponsor, Festo Austria, has been supporting various skills competitions for years. At EuroSkills it will mainly be involved in Mechatronics and Industry 4.0, with both skills involving a great deal of “smart manufacturing”. “Mechatronics is really great fun – it’s an interdisciplinary skill for truly creative minds”, says Rainer Ostermann , managing director of FESTO Austria. “We want to share this enthusiasm and turn it into an exciting experience. At EuroSkills 2020 you’ll get a real sense of what it’s like to do this job.”

EMCO, a worldwide leading manufacturer of CNC drilling and turning machines, will be part of EuroSkills 2020 as a diamond sponsor. The Salzburg-based company will be providing the machines needed for the demonstration skill, CNC Milling. “Our involvement in EuroSkills 2020 in Graz clearly demonstrates our commitment to the importance and quality of dual education”, says Dr Stefan Hansch, CEO of EMCO. “The requirements in terms of education and training are becoming increasingly varied, and EMCO faces this challenge with individual solutions from its broad range of products. Whether machines for industrial or training applications, software or courseware – the educational and training concepts are perfectly adapted to the needs and requirements of companies, and are of course also implemented during the in-house training of apprentices at EMCO.”

The gold sponsors for this vocational skills category also include the three companies Kemppi, Siemens and voestalpine. The Finnish family business Kemppi is making its equipment available to the Welding skill: “We are supporting EuroSkills 2020 because we we’ve noticed that we have a shortage of skilled workers, and we care deeply about our young people”, says Norbert Pfleger, Sales Director at Kemppi in Austria – and a EuroSkills 2020 Workshop Manager. As well as helping with the competition. Kemppi will also be running a “Virtual Welding Station” at the Try a Skill station. Siemens Austria focus in particular on the skills of Industrial Control and Industry 4.0, with both Austrian competitors also being Siemens employees. Providing top-quality training is very much a priority for the company, as Gerhard Zummer, Head of Professional Education, explains: “The training we offer at Siemens gives young people the foundations for a career with prospects. We foster our future skilled workforce with new training content, innovative educational concepts and a range of training models, and enable them to make the best start for a successful career at Siemens.”

Silver sponsors in this vocational category are AUTODESK, Paul Horn, Mitutoyo and Zoller. Autodesk is providing the software needed for the Mechanical Engineering – CAD skill. Paul Horn is supporting the competitors by providing suitable toolkits, while Mitutoyo will be supplying equipment such as workbenches for the CNC Milling skill.

Shining 3D, Raise 3D, boehlerit and Kemper are on board as bronze sponsors for this skill category and they, along with suppliers such as Zultner, Spiral and Vcom, will also play an important part in making a success of the first European Skills Championships to be held in Austria.

Photos Gallery: Marija Kanizaj (2) und GEOPHO (1).