The apprentices at Upper Austrian aviation industry supplier FACC combine their final-year projects with charitable commitment. In 2016, the FACC Future Team planned, designed, and built the so-called "FACC Wuzzler". The company doubled the proceeds from the prize draw for this table. The total revenue (8,000 euros) was divided between three social institutions: the Schärding Children's Protection Center, the Ried im Innkreis Animal Welfare Organization (3,000 euros each), and Bezirksrundschau-Christkind (2,000 euros).
The FACC Future Team from the 2013 entry year successfully continued what had provided many positive stimuli in previous years: Their project work had double significance. Firstly, an idea was realized jointly in close collaboration. Secondly, they also succeeded in making a positive impact outside the company. The FACC Future Team chose a table-soccer table, the "FACC Wuzzler", as the theme for their project work.
4,004 euros from the prize draw – doubled by FACC
The dedicated apprentices were engaged in designing, developing, and building the table for about one year. They invested a total of 1,210 working hours in this project, i.e. 100 hours per apprentice. In order to earn money for good causes, the "FACC Wuzzler" was raffled at the Christmas party for the FACC crew in Ried. Ticket sales brought in 4,004 euros. FACC CEO Robert Machtlinger had promised in advance that the company would double these takings. "On behalf of the whole project team, I would like to thank the company for this generous top-up, as well as all the ticket sellers for taking part," says a very happy design engineering apprentice, Simon Moser.
Grown closer and together as a team
Consequently, 8,000 euros were available for charitable causes after the Christmas party. "We intended from the very beginning to support the Schärding Children's Protection Center, the Ried im Innkreis Animal Welfare Organization, and Bezirksrundschau-Christkind," says plastics engineering apprentice Philip Scharinger. Nina Wagenleitner, who is also finishing off a plastics engineering apprenticeship, adds: "Team spirit played just as large a role in our project as the three other values of the FACC value compass – output, performance, and respect. I found it particularly instructive to experience the product emergence process in all its phases. During the project, we have grown even closer as a team – and grown together. Thank you for this experience!"
Apprentice trainers praise performance
Training Manager Helmut Winkler also summarizes the outcome very positively: "This really was a great achievement by our Future Team. This year's class project again involved mastering many challenges, from which every individual could learn a great deal." Training Manager Otmar Schneebauer sums it up as follows: "Our apprentices produced impressive evidence of their technical competence. At the same time, the project contributed to the promotion of key qualifications and resilience factors." Apprentice trainer Stefan Schuller was once an apprentice at FACC himself and knows that this project work is particularly important for the young professionals with regard to the final apprenticeship exam.
FACC is currently accepting apprentices again in the fields of design engineering, plastics machining technology, and process engineering. The skilled trade of process engineering is new to the training program and its apprenticeship lasts three and a half years.
About FACC
FACC AG is one of the world's leading companies in the design, development, and production of advanced, fiber-reinforced composite components and systems for the aviation industry. Their range of products extends from structural components for the fuselage and wings to engine components and complete passenger cabins for commercial aircraft, business jets, and helicopters. FACC produces parts for all the major aircraft manufacturers, such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, Sukhoi, and COMAC, as well as for engine manufacturers and subcontractors to the aircraft manufacturers.
In the 2015/16 financial year, FACC achieved annual sales of 587.5 million euros. The company employs a workforce of more than 3,000 employees in Austria. Further information can be found at www.facc.com.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Anja Bichlbauer
Project Manager Communications
Fischerstrasse 9
4910 Ried im Innkreis, Austria
Phone: +43 59 616-1137
E-mail: a.bichlbauer@facc.com