Freudenberg's India Training Centre skills over 700 youth over a decade

Pictured above: Freudenberg Training Centre’s students showcase their innovative projects. (Above right, from top to bottom): Ceremonial lamp lighting of Freudenberg Training Centre’s 10th Anniversary celebrations; students perform dance forms of Tamil Nadu and release of handbook showcasing the 10-year journey of the Training Centre and Freudenberg Team with the 'Tree of Success' memento.

Global technology group Freudenberg, which set up a a Training Centre in Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu in 2009, is celebrating 10 years of skilling Indian youth. The facility was established with a vision to provide career and skills-oriented vocational training to young people. Thus far, over 700 young people have received professional training to start off their careers as welders, fitters, machinists, mechanic (motor vehicle)and electricians.

The Training Centre is in line with the long-term orientation of Freudenberg’s local aid projects. It has top quality equipment and facilities and has been approved by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) which has strict standards and is widely-recognised throughout India.

On October 24, 2019,the Freudenberg Training Centre  held a celebratory function which was attended by Mr Jeevanandam, Principal, Government ITI, Nagapattinam, Mr Govindaraj, Chairman, Prime Group of Institutions; Mr Jagadeesan, Headmaster, Sikkal Higher Secondary School, Mr Ravichandran, Headmaster, Keevalur Government Higher Secondary School, Mr. Bhaskar, Head of SOS Children’s Village, Nagapattinam, headmasters of many local school and members of the media. Participants included students, their parents, the faculty along with their families and Freudenberg Business Group members.

“Freudenberg is opening up opportunities for young people with the excellent training in Nagapattinam, while also helping India´s economy," said Dr. Tilman Krauch, Member of the Freudenberg Board of Management and Chief Technology Officer. “It is a beacon for the ‘Make in India’ national program designed to foster innovation, enhance skills development and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure in the country.”

According to the company, the training is special because young people receive both theoretical and practical lessons in line with the German dual vocational education system for a period of one or two years depending on the course. Ninety percent of the trainees find work right after completing their courses. Most have found jobs in well-known organisations, mainly automotive, in the Chennai area and other cities.

“Skill development is essential as part of the drive to build on India's socio-economic infrastructure. Bridging the critical gap between manpower availability and employability is important to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities," said Georg Graf, Regional Representative, Freudenberg Regional Corporate Centre, India & Trustee Freudenberg Training Centre, Nagapattinam.

The 10^th year anniversary celebrations commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting followed by the release of the Freudenberg Training Centre’s 10^th year anniversary handbook showcasing the 10 year journey of the Training Centre. The book was released by Dr. Tilman Krauch, Member of the Freudenberg Board of Management and Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Georg Graf, Regional Representative, Freudenberg Regional Corporate Centre India and Trustee of Freudenberg Training Centre and Ms. Roopa Nagaraju, Corporate Communications, India. As part of the celebrations, students of the Training Centre showcased innovative projects from their respective trades. Students studying various trades showcased a pneumatically operated vice and pneumatically operated engine, natural air cooler, toy motocyle made completely from scrap material, hands-free smart dustbin and a hand-operated mixer.

Freudenberg Group turns 170
The highlight of the celebrations was a symbolic memento made by the students and faculty members symbolised by the six roots representing the Freudenberg Group Guiding Principles (Value for Customers, Leadership, Responsibility, Innovation, People and Long-Term Orientation), the 170 leaves representing the Freudenberg Groups’ 170^th year anniversary and the 10 branches representing the Freudenberg Training Centre’s 10^th year anniversary.The gold-plated tree, designed and crafted by the students of the Training Centre was chosen as the theme as it symbolises care, growth and nurturing.

In the lead up to the 10-year-anniversary celebration, the team at the Training Centre planted 170 trees to mark the Freudenberg Group’s 170-year anniversary and ten of those trees marked the Freudenberg Training Centre’s 10th anniversary.

Freudenberg has held business ties with companies in India for more than 90 years. The Group employs some 2,750 associates at 50 locations. Freudenberg in India recorded sales of Rs 2,401 crore in 2018.

Together with its partners, customers and research institutions, the Freudenberg Group develops leading-edge technologies and excellent products and services for around 40 markets and for thousands of applications: seals, vibration control components, nonwovens, filters, specialty chemicals, medical products and the most modern cleaning products.

In 2018, the Freudenberg Group employed approximately 49,000 people in some 60 countries worldwide and generated sales of more than 9.4 billion euros or ₹76,235 crore.