Apprenticeship with success

Alexander works between switches and tracks

Switching from a technical college 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 Weichenwerk Wörth, a joint venture between voestalpine, Railway Systems and ÖBB Infrastruktur.

After four years at the HTL, Alexander decided to make the switch. "My focus at school was also on mechanical engineering, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, manual work has become less and less important. That's why I looked around for alternatives and came across an online job advertisement for Weichenwerk Wörth," says the St. Pölten native.

"In my job as a mechanical engineer, I design, plan and build machines, systems and equipment for the production of turnouts and other railroad superstructure products."

Alexander, 20, Lehrling bei der voestalpine

The application was followed by a taster day, which made his decision easier: "It was really great, I was shown the machines and introduced to the people". One year was credited to the 20-year-old due to his previous school education, so he was able to start his second year of training straight away.

Turning, milling, drilling and welding using both mechanical and manual processes are currently among the main activities of the prospective mechanical engineering technician. But the apprentice has also already assembled brake clamps for tracks. What does he particularly like? "The collaboration with colleagues on joint projects and also the independent, solution-oriented work. And that you can create something yourself from the basic material steel, which is then used in the international rail infrastructure."

Apprenticeship at voestalpine

Around 140 young professionals are being trained at the voestalpine sites in Lower Austria. There are around 20 apprenticeships to choose from.

All information at www.voestalpine.com/lehre