The extensively refurbished Demag training centre in Wetter/Ruhr was officially opened as part of an exclusive customer event. Training courses on the safe use of cranes and hoists are held here, led by highly qualified instructors. With the practice-oriented training programme, Demag Service from Terex Material Handling is focusing on owners of installations and their employees, who would like to supplement their theoretical knowledge by learning directly on the equipment. Qualification of in-house service technicians with dedicated product training courses represents an additional focus.
On an area measuring approx. 1,000 square metres, the new training centre provides training islands for approximately 100 fully functional training models. In addition to the current Demag DR rope hoist and DC chain hoist ranges, equipment from the previous generation, which is still in use on the market, is also available. Therefore, owners of older installations can have their employees trained for maintenance work. Product training courses are also offered for the Demag modular drive system and control systems. In the Demag training centre, there is also ample free space for crane and forklift training, and training rooms equipped with state-of-the-art presentation and communication media.
New approach for practical and customer focus
“The range of training for solid qualification is based on experience gained in continual dialogue with our customers, and undergoes continuous further development”, said Carolin Paulus, Vice President Service at Terex Material Handling and responsible for Demag Service worldwide, on the occasion of the launch event. “Our training programme is of modular design and can be flexibly adapted to individual requirements. Therefore, company-specific training courses are also possible.”
In addition to a high number of training courses for customers, Demag Service also focuses on the highest possible training standard of its own service staff. Demag service technicians not only acquire the required product knowledge in the context of extensive qualification programmes but are also trained to carry out their work safely. In the training centre in Wetter alone, a total of up to 1,000 participants are trained per year.
Owners of installations have a duty
Part 1 of the opening of the Demag training centre is characterised by safety. “According to BGV D6 accident prevention regulations, owners of crane installations are obliged to provide evidence of qualified training and corresponding ability of their employees”, underlined Carolin Paulus, who also welcomed Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Koop from the Wood and Metal Industrial Employers’ Mutual Insurance Association as a guest.
Senior Director Klaus Bohnet, Head of Demag Sales and Service Germany, knows that untrained staff can jeopardise the safety of employees in the company and the availability of crane installations: “No-one should take this sort of risk, which is the responsibility of every owner of an installation.” He explained that with professional operator and product training for employees, Demag Service contributes to protecting people from accidents in the work environment, preventing damage to material and reducing liability risks.
Knowledge transfer under expert leadership
Following the presentations, the participants in the event were offered the chance to experience the various practical training courses live. They were supervised by the Demag trainers, certified by the Industrial Employers’ Mutual Insurance Association, including a crane expert authorised in accordance with BGV D6. Carsten Wittmer, Head of Training at Demag Service: “When selecting our instructors, it has always been particularly important to us that they are not only recognised experts in their technical fields. They also have sufficient pedagogical experience to easily convey and consolidate learning content.”