Apprenticeships & internships

Training duration: 3 years

School education: Hauptschule, vocational school or Realschule

Your work:

As a process technician for plastics and rubber technology, you are involved in the entire production process of a plastic component. You use machinery and equipment to manufacture a wide range of plastic products, processing materials such as thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers. You prepare the compounds and set up or convert the machines to suit the product. Depending on the product, plastics or rubber are processed using different methods, such as injection moulding. You operate and monitor the production equipment, measure and check process values and settings, and ensure the material supply. You locate faults and carry out minor repairs and maintenance. Finally, you check the products for defects. Throughout production, you follow environmental protection requirements and take responsibility for workplace safety.

Training content:

• Manufacturing and processing semi-finished and finished plastic or rubber products in industrial production
• Preparing materials to specified formulations
• Setting up tools and machines, adjusting process parameters and commissioning machinery and equipment
• Controlling, regulating and monitoring production and carrying out quality checks

Vocational school: Block release

Final examination, part 1
At the end of the third half-year of training, theoretical and practical knowledge is tested through set assignments. Practical skills are assessed by independently making a workpiece within a specified time.

Final examination, part 2
A theoretical examination in the school subjects and a practical examination before an IHK examination board, consisting of a work assignment with documentation and a related technical discussion.