Vaventus Opens Second Training Center in Frechen for Heat Pump Technician Development

Vaventus AG has opened its second corporate training center in Frechen, focused on developing specialists in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and pump technology (SHK), with an emphasis on heat pumps. The center is located in the building of partner company ClimaConnect GmbH and complements dual vocational training at trade schools and on the job. It is designed to support workforce development in an industry that is gaining increasing importance amid a skilled-labor shortage and the energy transition.

Infrastructure and Program

The training center spans 170 m² and includes:

• five mounting stands for hands-on practice;
• a 70 m² classroom;
• accommodation: single and double rooms (7 sleeping places in total), a shared kitchen, and a lounge.

Starting in 2027, per the company's plan, all apprentices at Vaventus partner companies will complete five-day courses at least twice a year. In the longer term, the program is expected to extend to career changers and to instructors.

Leadership Perspective

Vaventus AG HR Director Rasmus Dremmel stated that the center will be fully booked from its very first year of operation. Training Director Willi Kutsch emphasized that, in addition to technical skills, social competencies are developed here: young people learn and live together, and the program includes discussions on values, team spirit, reflection, pension planning, and personal issues.

Panel Discussion: "Learning, Reimagined"

The opening featured a discussion with representatives from business, public administration, and education. Participants included Gunter Hamst (CEO, Vaventus AG), Christoph Vogel von Vogelstein (Daimler Truck, West region), Ingo Arlinghaus (IFU), Susanne Kaiser-Dober (Wirtschaftsförderung Rhein-Erft), Melanie Zenner (BWNRW), and Selina Laubenstein (apprentice, Gross Energietechnik); moderator – Barbara Gremmler.

Gunter Hamst stressed the need for "radical honesty": expectations must be stated transparently not only for apprentices but also for existing employees. Christoph Vogel von Vogelstein highlighted the role of practical experience: young people should honestly experience what is required and what is supported in their training, and feel respected. Selina Laubenstein noted that in her first weeks of the apprenticeship she was given significantly more independent work than she had expected, and that the team culture is one of first-name basis and equal communication.

Participants agreed that career orientation should begin no later than the 7th grade, and that video contests in which teenagers present various professions can help attract young people to the HVAC and heat pump sector. A shift in the perception of dual vocational education was also noted: specialists with a completed trade qualification often hold an advantage over university graduates thanks to their practical experience.

Looking Ahead to 2036

To close the discussion, participants sketched a future scenario: Susanne Kaiser-Dober described a model of close collaboration between schools and companies with the deliberate use of digital tools. Gunter Hamst expressed confidence that the craft will become even more in demand and that Vaventus will continue to develop talent.

Source: Vaventus / fl

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