Training
Two careers fairs in the Vogtland region: What training to become a mechatronics engineer specialising in refrigeration technology really entails
KSI at the Vogtland Training Fair and the 22nd Career Guidance Fair in Reichenbach: the most frequently asked questions about the mechatronics technician for refrigeration technology apprenticeship – with a local vocational school.
A profession that hardly anyone is familiar with from school is best explained in conversation. That is why KSI Kältetechnik attended two trade fairs within a week: on 3 September at the Vogtland Training Fair at the Vogtlandstadion in Plauen and on 9 September at the 22nd ‘Career Adventure’ Career Guidance Fair in the sports hall on Cunsdorfer Straße in Reichenbach im Vogtland. The questions asked at both stands were very similar. This article answers them in turn.
“Refrigeration technology? Isn’t that just air conditioning?”
No. Refrigeration systems keep data centres running, cool production processes in the plastics and metalworking industries, preserve food in warehouses and logistics centres, supply operating theatres and server rooms, and are therefore found wherever technology would fail within minutes without cooling.
As a mechatronics technician specialising in refrigeration technology, you will install these systems, commission them and keep them operational. The role combines three areas: metalworking in piping installation, electrical engineering in control and regulation, and thermodynamics in the refrigeration circuit. If you enjoy understanding why things work but still want to work with your hands, this is the right career for you.
Our … give an idea of what this looks like in practice. Case Studies – from the data centre to the clinic.
“Where is the vocational college?”
That was the most common question asked at both trade fairs, mostly by parents. The answer is a short one: The vocational school is situated in Reichenbach in the Vogtland region. No moving house, no block teaching in another federal state, no weekend trips across Germany.
This is by no means a given. Refrigeration engineering is a vocational training programme with few places available nationwide, and because it is hardly viable to run courses for just a few classes at every location, the nearest vocational school in many regions is several hundred kilometres away – block teaching in a different town, spending weeks at a boarding school, with all that this entails for sixteen-year-old apprentices just starting out. In the Vogtland region, none of that is necessary.
The practical part takes place at the company’s premises. Our training workshop is located in Heinsdorfergrund near Reichenbach, so it’s in the same area. Anyone coming from the Vogtland region will remain in the region for the duration of their training.
“How long will it take, and what do I need for it?”
The training course lasts three and a half years and is a dual-track programme: theory at the vocational college, practical training in the workplace and in the training workshop.
The minimum educational requirement is Secondary School Leaving Certificate. More important than your grades are an interest in technology, practical skills and a willingness to get to grips with electrical engineering . You’ll learn the rest with us.
A full overview, including the content, programme and requirements, can be found on our page on Apprenticeship as a Mechatronics Technician specialising in Refrigeration Technology.
"And after that?"
The question almost always came from the parents, and it’s a fair one. Once you’ve completed your training, there are several paths open to you.
- Further training and manufacturer training courses explore specific areas in greater depth, such as control engineering or the handling of certain refrigerants.
- The Master Craftsman’s Certificate It opens the way to leadership roles and the authority to train others. The preparatory training is provided by the Chambers of Skilled Trades’ training centres, on a full-time or part-time basis.
- State-certified technician is to go via a technical college.
- A degree course is also possible provided you hold the relevant university entrance qualification.
The demand is there. Because natural refrigerants, heat recovery and statutory requirements for energy efficiency make the systems more technically demanding in terms of control systems, there is a growing need for people who are proficient in both – the mechanics and the control systems. Those who have learnt the trade are in demand.
How KSI Kältetechnik contributes to this
We don’t train people just to fill vacancies. We want those who join us to stay. Currently, we’re training four trainees With us, you’ll be working on real projects right from the start.
What's included:
- Permanent employment contract after completing their training
- Fixed working hours, which allow for a family life
- No on-call duty and no weekend shifts for trainees
- In-house training workshop in Heinsdorfergrund for the practical part
- Vocational school in Reichenbach, i.e. without moving house
- Travel expenses and a meal allowance, because building sites are rarely right on your doorstep
- Coverage of driving licence costs is possible
- Holiday pay and Christmas bonus, meal allowance and Jobrad scheme
- Occupational pension schemes and an annual driver safety course
A driving licence is more than just a bonus. Anyone travelling to work on assembly jobs in the Vogtland region needs one, and the costs can really add up for a family. That’s why we talk about it early on, rather than leaving it to chance.
We weren’t the only ones with a stall
In Reichenbach, more than 110 exhibitors showcased their work, including companies, public authorities, schools, universities and social organisations, covering a total of over 300 career paths. At many stands, young people were able to try things out for themselves, from virtual welding equipment to gaining an insight into care professions. The fair was organised by the town of Reichenbach and the SAQ (Saxon Development and Qualification Society).
At this event, it is the professions themselves – not just the companies – that are competing for attention. Big names attract people all on their own. A profession whose title is a mouthful even when read aloud, on the other hand, needs explaining, and that is precisely where the value of these sessions lies: five minutes at the stand are worth more than any brochure that ends up lying unread at home.
Anyone who missed us in Plauen or Reichenbach, or who only discovered the profession later on, is welcome to get in touch at any time. A Work placement is the easiest way to find out whether the job is right for you. A week in the workshop and on the building site tells you more than any description ever could.
Two days in pictures
How to join us
There are apprenticeship vacancies available on our Careers page. Applications should be sent by email to info@ksi-kaelte.de or directly via the Application form. A covering letter doesn’t have to be a novel. We’re interested in why you’re interested in technology.
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have in advance over the phone. There’s no such thing as a silly question, not even the one about vocational school.
