60 days until retirement

After 25 years at HANSA‑FLEX, Falk Simon is now nearing his well-deserved retirement. Simon has left his mark on the company in particular by helping to set up the first HANSA‑FLEX training branch in Baunatal-Kirchbauna near Kassel in 2012, which he still manages today.

Falk Simon has been the training manager of the training branch since it was founded. With him, future specialists learn what everyday working life is like in a branch office. This is an important and valuable experience for all training courses, because only those who understand the business in the branches understand HANSA‑FLEX. The apprentices come to Baunatal in their first and third year of training. The duration of the stay is one or two weeks, depending on the training course.

As training manager, Falk Simon teaches the trainees theory in the mornings on topics such as pipe technology, bending technology, calculations of hose lengths and the like. In the afternoon there are practical lessons. Then, for example, the trainees perform bursting pressure tests on the test stand or work that is not so common in the rest of their training, such as bending pipes. In addition, walk-in customers are served - because the training branch is also a regular HANSA‑FLEX branch. Simon supervises the trainees, gives instructions and assistance where needed, and makes sure that the end product meets HANSA‑FLEX's high quality standards. He also teaches his protégés the central approaches. These include basics such as correct measuring, reading technical drawings, but also tasks such as organising the processes involved in series production. "It is important that the trainees get a correct routine in the various tasks so that they can work productively and confidently from the very beginning later on in the job," the training master knows. Visits to other areas are also part of the stay, for example to Boffzen to the metal hose production. Or to VW as part of the cooperation programme with Kassel University to see how HANSA‑FLEX components are installed. "When the trainees see what the products they make are used for, it is an important and meaningful experience," Simon emphasises.

Increasing digitalisation and automation are changing the labour market and training must adapt. Fewer employees will be needed in the future and those who are needed must be qualified for a much broader range of tasks. Everything is linked, processes are becoming more and more complex. That's why Falk Simon believes it's crucial that HANSA‑FLEX attaches such great importance to training: "It takes two years to understand the complex processes at HANSA‑FLEX, so it's important to retain employees. HANSA‑FLEX does that by offering many prospects." Simon has learned to incorporate the digital innovations of recent years into his training methods: "The trainees are growing up with digital applications, and as a trainer you have to respond to that." For example, Simon lets the trainees search for American thread tables on the Internet themselves instead of putting paper copies on their desks.

Falk Simon is spending the last 60 days of his working life dismantling his training branch, Baunatal-Kirchbauna will become a normal branch again: "This is important to me. I helped build it up, I want to dismantle it too and make sure there is a smooth transition." The training branch was founded ten years ago. Now it is being moved to Bremen to the new headquarters. "Of course, this is associated with some melancholy. But on the other hand, there are completely new opportunities in Bremen and that is enormously important for our trainees, so I'm not sad about it, but happy."

Falk Simon looks back on his career at HANSA‑FLEX with great contentment: "I was always able to do what I enjoyed." He started out in field service at HANSA‑FLEX. After that, Simon was frequently deployed internationally as an industrial fitter, gaining many impressions of other countries and companies, as well as rare insights into the world of science and space travel. He has always found his passion in staying mentally active, always learning new things and constantly developing himself, and he has been able to pursue this at HANSA‑FLEX. This is also his advice to younger colleagues to take advantage of as many opportunities for further training as possible: "Because only those who have the necessary specialist knowledge will have a well-paid job in the long term. HANSA‑FLEX also offers numerous opportunities for shaping one's own career. Anyone who takes the opportunity to get to know other areas will not only develop professionally, but also as a person."