Bilal Ahmad (2nd from left) and Saad Malik (centre) proudly present their training certificates. They received their permanent employment contracts from Ralf Sammeck, member of the Koenig & Bauer management board and CEO of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, Jochen Mann, head of training (2nd from right) and Markus Rasche, head of human resources (right)
In 2015, when the refugee crisis reached its peak, two Pakistanis began their vocational training at Koenig & Bauer (K&B) in Radebeul near Dresden. After almost 4 years of training, the two, who fled for political and religious reasons, have now received their CIC certificates as skilled workers.
They learned the trade of mechatronics technician, one of the most demanding apprenticeships in Germany. With their vocational qualifications, Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed has taken both of them into permanent employment. Bilal Ahmad now works in printing tower assembly, while Saad Malik assembles electrical components on the feeders of Rapida sheetfed offset presses.
Saad Malik now has his qualification in mechatronics. As a skilled worker he now installs electronic components in the printing towers of Rapida sheetfed offset presses
Successful teamwork
Ahmad and Malik became the first refugees to pass the standard examinations in the Chamber district of Dresden CIC in mechatronics technician. All this was possible because of the 10-strong teaching group of this class. Jochen Mann, head of vocational training, K&B, said, “They all helped them and supported them with every trick in the book. They studied together, repeated the subject matter with the two refugees and explained the processes to them.”
Through the Senior Expert Service, a former master trainer supported Ahmad and Malik in the last three months before the exams so that they can understand and answer the complex questions asked in German by the CIC. In the end, they passed the exams with better results than some trainees from Germany.
Head of training Jochen Mann (right) with the two award-winning young skilled workers Theodor Hahn (left) and Tom Noack (5)
Sachsenmetall Award for Best of the Year
This year, as stated by employment lawyers, the employers’ association Sachsenmetall awarded Tom Noack with ‘Best young skilled worker in the electrical trades.’ He was also instrumental in supporting the two refugees in their training. The industrial mechanic, Theodor Hahn, received the award of ‘Best young skilled worker in the industrial metal trades.’
The fastest growing democracy in the world could be a market for your products !
If you are confused by slow and poor sales to a seemingly large but immensely noisy and fragmented market, you are not alone! If your product is great, or viable, or appropriate, you can find your sweet spot in this more than US$ 4.3 trillion economy. The trick is to understand your potential and addressable markets, which we can help with in light of your direct competition. We understand marketing, communication, and sales strategies for market entry and growth.
If you are an OEM or a supplier with a strategy and budget, talk to us about using our hybrid print, web, video, and social media channels for locating and dominating your addressable markets in India and South Asia. We may be one of the world’s leading B2B publications in the print industry with hands-on practitioner and consulting experience. Our 50 years of domain knowledge observing technological change and understanding of business and financials, includes the best globally recognized technical writers. Apart from our industry award winners, an experienced team is ready to meet you and your customers for content.
India’s fast-growing economy and evolving democracy has considerable headroom for print. Get our 2026 media kit and recalibrate your role in this dynamic market.
Founded in 1979 as a technical newsletter, Indian Printer and Publisher is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and multi-channel IPPGroup. IppStar [www.ippstar.org] is our Services, Training and Research organization.
