Pfullendorf, April 12, 2025 – A truck full of technology, curious vocational students, and a well-utilized school day: Recently, two cohorts of electronics apprentices from the Willi-Burth Vocational School visited SPIE ESCAD’s control cabinet workshop. There, training manager Manuel Schuler is now training four young people to become electronics technicians for operational technology. Handling SIEMENS components is part of their daily business.

In cooperation with the vocational school in Bad Saulgau, the idea arose to make this practical relevance accessible to even more students: with a visit from the SIEMENS Truck, in which all modern industrial components of the company are exhibited and explained. The SPIE ESCAD premises in Pfullendorf offer ideal conditions with their large parking lot and the directly connected control cabinet workshop. Luckily: Both the second and third year electronics apprentices had regular classes that day, so two cohorts benefited from the offer.

Experience technology, instead of just talking about it
Inside the truck itself, an insight into the full range of modern control technology awaited: main switches, contactors, relays, and PLCs – everything SIEMENS has to offer in this area. And not just for viewing, but also for hands-on experience. For the students, this was a real added value, because usually only standard modules are available in school – not least due to budget reasons.

“Many of the components shown here are usually only seen by apprentices later in their professional lives – if at all”, says SPIE ESCAD Training Manager Manuel Schuler. “It was all the more exciting for the participants to hold modern technology directly in their hands and to have the opportunity to pepper our experts with questions.”

Spark and foster curiosity
The students’ reactions were consistently positive. Some were so eager to learn that they didn’t want to leave the truck. The event was very well received not only by the students but also by the teachers. They also asked many questions to be able to bring the latest developments closer to their students in class. Especially apprentices from smaller companies, who work with fewer or simply different resources, were able to expand their expertise with this experience.

A strong signal for apprenticeships
That SIEMENS, as a market leader in this field, goes to such lengths shows: It’s about more than just product presentation. It’s about inspiring future skilled workers for technology and giving them practical insights. The SPIE ESCAD training team is pleased to also be able to contribute to strengthening the electronics technician profession.