25 years Fritz-Hopf-Technikerschule Nördlingen

25 years Fritz-Hopf-Technikerschule Nördlingen – which also stands for 25 years of successful cooperation between the largest state school for technicians in Bavaria and SPN Schwaben Präzision being the most important premium partner. It is not for nothing that the school for technicians – which trains the subjects mechatronics technology, mechanical engineering technology, automotive engineering and electromobility – bears the name of the founder of the drive specialist based in Nördlingen. As early as in 2007, the school´s name was changed to “Fritz-Hopf-Technikerschule” due to the extraordinary commitment of the Fritz und Lieselotte Hopf foundation. The first big support project of the foundation was the complete procurement and equipping of a PLC laboratory. After that, SPN has supported the school by providing teachers, by assigning project specific technician and research papers or by providing financial support for purchases. The best example showing how close the personnel cooperation and support between school and company has been, is SPN`s department head for mechatronics, Wolfram Stahl, who teaches the examination subject “Mechatronic System Development” there once a week.  After all, the school was one of the first schools for technicians in Bavaria having introduced the subject mechatronics on their own initiative (also in cooperation with SPN). With the industry requesting knowledge in the field of mechatronics, the first mechatronic technicians were trained in Nördlingen after the approval by the Bavarian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. Their graduates have been among the best ones in the whole region for years. This is not a coincidence as the training offers a broad content and provides an excellent basis for a subsequent successful professional life. Furthermore, the students are not only provided with technical knowledge but also with soft skills which enable them, for example, to lead successful negotiations. The Fritz-Hopf-Technikerschule is also well prepared for the future. At the moment, new automation systems and laboratory devices are being bought in order to strengthen the digital competences of the students. Unique and new in Bavaria: in order to meet the demands in terms of the industry 4.0, the teachers of the school have initiated the subject “digital transformation”. From autumn 2018 onwards, it will be a permanent part of the lesson plan and thus is a test project in Bavaria. It can be seen on its amazing international reputation how well this training model in Nördlingen works. Currently, a school for technicians is being created in China according to the sample of the school in Nördlingen, with the contents and equipment being almost identically. In order to provide practical launching assistance, the school´s principal Wolfang Breu has been travelling to China again and again these days, together with an expert delegation. The school in Nördlingen will benefit from this cooperation as well in the future. SPN´s Managing Director and 2^nd chairman of the promotion society of the Fritz-Hopf-Technikerschule Rainer Hertle said: “We are still convinced by the school for technicians in Nördlingen and we will continue to support them. We benefit from the well trained skilled employees.”