SOUTHFIELD, MI – The German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC) awarded Dürr the 2020 Apprenticeship Award for outstanding leadership and innovation in workforce development and education by implementing the German-certified MAT2 (Michigan Advanced Technician Training) apprenticeship program in the United States. The winner was announced at the virtual Award ceremony during the 2020 German American Apprenticeship Conference in November.

Dürr was recognized for its hands-on, holistic approach to training and supporting apprentices as they progress into full-time employees. Ensuring that the company’s apprentices have state-of-the-art training equipment and opportunities to grow and explore in directions that interest them the most, Dürr has created a sustainable workforce pipeline that benefits both the company and its employees. Dürr’s first apprentice, Scott Kristian, is also recognized for his outstanding work as a full-time Associate Installation Technician working towards leadership in project management.

Dürr applied for the GACC Award, in which a panel of five jurors made up of independent industry experts and government reviewed all applications. Out of the eight applicants, the committee of experts selected Dürr as the winner.

“Dürr Systems Inc. is honored to be the recipient of the 2020 German American Apprenticeship Award. We believe in the philosophy of growing our own and make it our goal to ensure that each student has an opportunity to find their niche within the organization,” said John Edelhauser, Senior Manager, Systems Installation, Modular Build and Apprenticeship Mentor.

Being a global organization, GACC Midwest’s MAT² Apprenticeship Program is interlinked with Dürr’s apprenticeship program at the German headquarters in Bietigheim-Bissingen. The students have the opportunity to travel to Germany for a few work terms, where they get a better pulse on the business and start to form a global network of connections in the industry. Similar to Dürr’s German apprentices, the MAT² apprentices also participate in international Mechatronics examinations.

“This additional step sets our students up for success on a global scale and confirms that they can apply theory to practice. We are looking forward to seeing the continued growth of the MAT² Apprenticeship Program and to watch our students continue to grow and flourish within the Dürr Group,” Edelhauser added.

The apprenticeship program allows students to alternate between classroom instruction and on-the-job training, gaining the necessary hands-on skills and real-world experiences for them to become successful in the workforce.

As students in the program have stated, it is Dürr’s holistic approach to the development of apprentices that makes it a leader in creating valuable career pathways for future generations.

Virginia Rounds, Director, Apprenticeship Networks at GACC Midwest, said, “Our mission to encourage and promote apprenticeship programs in the U.S., to help employers close the skills gap and develop a globally competitive workforce continues to succeed every day, and Dürr Systems Inc. is a prime example of how a company takes an apprenticeship program and makes it their own. I’m proud to call Dürr a MAT² Network company and look forward to our future cooperation in building a skilled workforce pipeline.”