Digitization, automation, networking: "We have the whole wide bandwidth!"
09.08.2022
Twenty-year-old Yannick Herzog trained as an electronics technician for automation technology at Arburg and now works in the company's printed circuit board production. Since August 2021, he has been responsible for SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) and AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) for quality control of printed and assembled PCBs, respectively, in a production line. These are used in the control systems of the Arburg machines.
In an interview with K-MAG, he explains what an electronics technician for automation technology actually does, what particularly excites him about the job and to what extent it contributes to a sustainable plastics industry.
Mr. Herzog, why did you decide on a technical profession and specifically training as an electronics technician?
Yannick Herzog: Various projects during my school years awakened my enthusiasm for technology. For example, a project was worked out in technology class in which an LCD display was to be controlled via a controller and a ticker was to be programmed. First, a circuit had to be built to connect the outputs of the controller with the inputs of the LCD display. Then the ticker was programmed using software. The interaction of hardware and software always inspires me. From simple circuits to highly complex interconnected production lines. Through various internships, I was able to get a taste of the apprenticeship as an electronics technician for automation technology. My job is concerned precisely with these components, hardware and software, setting up the circuits/systems and then programming and parameterizing them.
What did your training at Arburg look like?
Herzog: My training at Arburg lasted a total of three and a half years. During this time, I was taught important content that prepared me for the intermediate and final exams and my upcoming professional life.
The first year of the apprenticeship covered the basics of electrical engineering. From installing simple circuits to the functioning of electrical components (resistors, capacitors, coils) to programming controls.
From the second year of my apprenticeship, I moved on to the specialist departments of our company. Here I was assigned to different departments for a certain period of time. This gave me the opportunity to get to know the profession better and to acquire specialist knowledge.
In addition to the time spent in the company, the knowledge gained in practice was combined with theory in block instruction at the vocational school. From January 2019, I was then able to prepare for the upcoming intermediate exam.
In addition, in-house training courses imparted and deepened additional knowledge. For example, I received further training in pneumatics, E-Plan, PLC (programmable logic controller), sensor technology and the application of standards.
In December 2020, it was time for the final spurt. Here, too, I was intensively prepared for the final exam.
What did you like best about it?
Herzog: The varied activities during the training. Going through the individual departments and the training courses made the training varied and exciting. I also liked the friendly atmosphere among colleagues and the helpfulness of the trainers. No matter what topic was open, you always had a competent contact person who could explain the topics in a way that was easy to understand.
What is the importance for you of working towards a sustainable plastics industry?
Herzog: Sustainability has always been a major issue for us in the company. Right now, this point is once again very much in the foreground. It is very important to me that Arburg attaches so much importance to this topic and that I can do my part. Our "arburgGREENworld" program is a good example of this. It covers the topics of resource conservation, Circular Economy and other points such as the processing of recyclates and bioplastics that contribute to sustainability.
In my department, too, great importance is attached to the conservation of resources. For example, it is part of my job to produce our products, i.e. printed circuit boards, in the best possible quality in order to be able to guarantee a long service life. Controlling and optimizing individual processes is also part of the job.
A student is thinking about what kind of training he should do. What would you use to convince him of your apprenticeship?
Herzog: I have a very wide range here: digitalization, automation, networking, robotics, programming and much more. These are topics that are already occupying us electronics technicians for automation technology, but will also increasingly do so in the future. Anyone who is enthusiastic about technology and would like to plan, wire, program and commission systems themselves should definitely take a closer look at this training occupation.
The trend is moving more and more in the direction of automation. With this apprenticeship, you'll always have your finger on the pulse of the times and deal with exciting and tricky tasks on a daily basis.