Switching from HTL to an apprenticeship turned out to be the right decision for Alexander. The budding mechanical engineer is currently in his second year of training at the Wörth switch factory, a joint venture between voestalpine, Railway Systems and ÖBB infrastructure.
After four years at HTL, Alexander decided to make a change. “My focus at school was also mechanical engineering, but due to the corona pandemic, manual work has become less and less. That’s why I looked around for alternatives and came to the turnout plant in Wörth through an online advertisement,” says the St. Pöltner. The application was followed by a trial day, which made his decision easier: “It was really great, they showed me the machines and introduced the people”. One year was credited to the 20-year-old because of his previous school education, so he was able to start right away in the second year of his apprenticeship. Turning, milling, drilling and welding using both mechanical and manual processes are currently among the main activities of the prospective mechanical engineer. But the apprentice has also assembled brake clamps for tracks. What does he particularly like? “The cooperation with colleagues on joint projects and also the independent, solution-oriented work. And that you create something yourself from the basic material steel, which is then used in the international railway infrastructure.” Approximately 140 young professionals are being trained at the voestalpine locations in Lower Austria. There are around 20 apprenticeships to choose from. All information at www.voestalpine.com/lehre
source site-12