This question is being asked more and more frequently, as the increasing integration of AI and process automation is fundamentally transforming the industrial landscape.
At Vogelsang Elektromotoren, we monitor the age distribution of our workforce very closely. In the coming years, the baby boomer generation will be retiring—a shift that poses major challenges for many companies, including ours.
That is why we are proud that, starting in August, we will be employing a total of 34 apprentices. With an apprenticeship rate of 18%, we are ensuring that we have the skilled workers we will need in the future.
Given the current economic situation in the industry in Europe and the ongoing geopolitical turmoil, we naturally view the future with only cautious optimism. How and where should we invest to secure our future? In response to this, we see a real opportunity—perhaps even the decisive solution—in training the skilled workers of tomorrow, providing continuing education for our existing workforce, and strengthening our position as an attractive employer and independent specialist in the repair of electrical machines.
AI will also transform maintenance. Production processes will become safer, breakdowns more predictable, and machines smarter. But the question remains:
Will machines still break down in the future? Will our work become obsolete?
Our experience tells a different story. There have always been revolutionary changes. Condition monitoring was one of them—and yet we’re still here, stronger than ever. We’ve evolved, grown, and adapted our service portfolio. Those who fail to do so will disappear from the market.
That’s why we believe it’s more important than ever to train people for the future—people who can navigate a world shaped by AI, digitalization, and traditional craftsmanship. Because one thing is clear:
No computer will be able to disassemble, repair, or rewind an electric motor anytime soon.
We continue to teach the classic skills—and supplement them with modern, future-oriented training content. A colleague who is about to retire won’t be taking on a new AI project.
Well-trained, motivated young people, on the other hand, certainly will.