More space for more possibilities

Owner and CEO Jürgen Blicke, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dr. Jörg Hermes and long-standing Managing Director Johann Soder, the driving force behind the major project, welcomed the invited guests and provided insights into the development and philosophy of the new training center. This was followed by a video message from Minister President Winfried Kretschmann and words of welcome from the former Federal Minister and leading Green candidate for the 2026 state elections, Cem Özdemir, as well as from Graben-Neudorf's Mayor Christian Eheim. Finally, Jürgen Blickle handed over the building to the trainers and trainees of SEW-Eurodrive in a symbolic ceremony.

On an area of around 9,300 square meters and with an investment of over 30 million euros, an innovative learning location has been created at the Graben-Neudorf site that sets standards in terms of training and further education. The conceptual basis for the new training center is the three-pillar model "Introduce - Train - Specialize".

Introduce

SEW-Eurodrive is deliberately opening up to the outside world with its new training center. In close cooperation with local authorities and schools in the region, the aim is to get children and young people in particular interested in technology and STEM professions at an early age. Numerous school cooperations and practical offers make technical professions tangible. The aim is to promote talent and awaken the spirit of research.

Train

Training has always been a high priority at SEW-Eurodrive: In September of this year, 101 young people started their professional careers in this way. In total, around 250 apprentices in ten training occupations and around 100 dual students on nine Bachelor's and Master's degree courses will be trained in DriveEducation's innovative and ultra-modern premises in the future. The learning environment is state of the art and offers optimal conditions for practical, future-oriented training - in line with the guiding principle "More space for more opportunities".

Specialize

DriveEducation also provides targeted technical training for employees from all departments at SEW-Eurodrive, for example on topics such as robotics. Both theoretical content and practical know-how under real conditions are taught here in the interests of sustainable qualification.

There are also plans to open up the training center as a service provider for smaller workshops and industrial companies in the region. In areas where special equipment or premises are lacking, their trainees could receive practical training - for example in IT, robotics or interdisciplinary further training. "With our new training center, we are not only creating a state-of-the-art and future-oriented learning environment for a wide range of target groups. We are also sending out a clear signal regarding the attractiveness of our home region and Baden-Württemberg as a business location as a whole," emphasized COO Dr. Jörg Hermes during the celebrations and with a view to the supra-regional political interest in DriveEducation.