West meets east
State Vocational College Bregenz 2 in Vienna

HERZ has long recognised how important it is to establish a link to education at an early age. At a time when the importance of qualified specialists is becoming ever more apparent and the search for them has become a challenge, HERZ continues to be actively involved in making the plumbing profession more attractive to schoolchildren. After all, as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said: ‘It is not enough to know, one must also apply. It is not enough to want, you must also do." With the clear aim of strengthening the expertise of future installers, HERZ regularly invites schools from all over Austria to its headquarters to give them an insight into the world of heating and cooling systems and their intricacies.

The hot start in Vienna - The Brennpunkt° Museum

State Vocational College Bregenz 2 organised a 6-day excursion across Austria as the crowning glory of the four-year vocational school visit. In order to make the State Vocational College Bregenz 2 reception in Vienna exciting and informative, the students were first welcomed by Gerhard Glinzerer at the hottest museum in Vienna - the Brennpunkt°. Hannes Morocutti and Josef Lehmann, two experts in the history of heating and the city of Vienna, opened the doors to a new understanding of heating culture for the students. But anyone who thought museum tours were dry as dust was very much mistaken. This unbeatable duo brought a real cabaret atmosphere into the room with their humorous presentation. A guided tour full of insights and laughs - the duo know exactly how to make history fun.

Melting moments

The route continued to Richard-Strauss-Straße 22 to HERZ. Before the theoretical and practical part started, the students were given a tour of the HERZ production facility. They were also allowed to dip the mould itself into the 900°C brass alloy to cast their own memento.

The highlight for the students at every training course is the casting,’ says Patrick Rajkovats, HERZ application technology employee, who has been running the training courses at HERZ for years. He himself graduated from Higher Technical College Pinkafeld and knows exactly what to look out for. "I learnt a lot at school. It gives you an overall impression of how something works from A-Z. But the world of work taught me what the valve really does and how it reacts to changes in the system,’ says Rajkovats, summarising the training courses as follows: ’At school, the students learn how to assemble the hydraulic system. We show them how to make it work."

The sweet end: Zotter Chocolates

The experience in Vienna was rounded off with a guided tour of the city. The next day, State Vocational College Bregenz 2 travelled to Pinkafeld to HERZ Energietechnik, where they were given a tour of the plant and a practical introduction to biomass systems. As a sweet bonus, they were then given a chocolate tour at HERZ customer Zotter Chocolates.

HERZ training for the shapers of tomorrow

With the growing labour shortage, it is crucial for companies like HERZ to recognise and act on their responsibilities. By working closely with schools, HERZ is not only making a significant contribution to training the next generation, but also inspiring talented young people into the industry, which is crucial for the future of the sector. ‘In schools, resources are limited, especially when it comes to building services engineering, it's difficult to make this subject palatable to pupils,’ says Rajkovats. Despite state support, the schools' ability to impart knowledge is limited. External organisations and companies such as HERZ are therefore indispensable partners in ensuring a varied and practice-oriented education. Because only together can the challenges of tomorrow be mastered and a successful future secured for everyone.

Practical training for hands-on education

At HERZ, practical training courses take centre stage. The training courses include a detailed explanation of the theory using real practical examples. But that's not all: HERZ also opens the doors of its factory for a tour so that the students can experience the production process at first hand. This gives their training a tangible dimension and provides a deeper understanding of the processes in the industry. "The first physical contact with the moulds is another highlight for the students. From mould making to raw materials: at HERZ, the students see the entire development of the valve. In other words, what they previously only saw on paper,’ says Rajkovats.

Knowledge and skills are the basis for a successful professional life. It is important to HERZ to make a contribution to a successful professional life for the next generation of plumbers.

The heart of heating - hydraulic Balancing by Prof. Rudolf Jauschowetz

From the correct planning and design of the hydraulics to the methods of hydraulic balancing, formulas as well as practical examples and product recommendations for the best possible solution - in the 3rd edition of ‘The Heart of Heating - Hydraulic Balancing’ by Prof. Dipl. Ing. Rudolf Jauschowetz, students, practitioners and technicians will find what they are looking for in the technical literature.

The book is available free of charge in 13 different languages from HERZ by e-mail at herznews@herz.eu.