What Makes the A-Team Special
The A-Team consists of all trainees at Graepel. Everyone is automatically part of this community. The goal is to create an environment from the very beginning where trainees feel welcome, settle in well, and can actively and successfully shape their training. The A-Team supports the training program throughout all years of the apprenticeship and fosters a sense of camaraderie among the trainees.
An important component is the regular exchange between new and experienced trainees. Senior trainees pass on their knowledge, help newcomers get started, and share experiences from their day-to-day training. This allows for the practical sharing of knowledge that provides guidance and makes the transition into professional life easier. The trainers are there to offer support and encourage the group to organize itself.
The A-Team serves as the point of contact for all trainees. It offers support for questions, promotes open dialogue, and encourages trainees to take responsibility for their own development. Regular meetings ensure that communication remains active and that shared topics can be addressed openly.
At the start of the training program, the A-Team welcomes the new trainees with a group breakfast and immediately integrates them into the team. This is complemented by annual group events and activities that strengthen team spirit and foster camaraderie even beyond the daily routine of the training program. As a result, trainees experience Graepel not only as a training company, but as a community where personal growth and mutual support are a given.
Lars Eilers
At 28, I haven’t been out of training for very long myself—maybe that’s exactly why this topic is so close to my heart.
“To me, good training means communicating as equals: supporting, listening, and growing together.”
After completing my apprenticeship as an industrial clerk, I advanced my career in human resources and pursued further qualifications while working. Today at Graepel, I oversee the business apprenticeship program, plan the training processes, and serve as your point of contact for all questions—both professional and personal.
Outside of work, I find balance playing soccer at the Weserstadion and in my hometown of Cappeln.
Jan Övermeyer
My name is Jan Övermeyer, and I have been working as an industrial training instructor at Graepel’s Löningen location since June 2023. In August 2024, I took over full responsibility for industrial training. As a certified toolmaker who has gone on to become a mechanical engineer, it is important to me to impart technical knowledge in a practical way and to provide targeted support to trainees as they transition into their professional careers.
“It is important to me that trainees at Graepel receive a solid education and can develop confidently both professionally and personally.”
In addition to my work at Graepel, I volunteer as chair of the IHK examination board for tool mechanics specializing in stamping technology. In this role, I plan the examination procedures and serve as an examiner myself. Technology also plays a major role in my life outside of work. In my free time, I spend a lot of time on music, sports, and DIY projects in the workshop.
Leonie Prothmann
I have been part of the Graepel company for five and a half years, having started my apprenticeship as an industrial clerk in 2020. I have since taken over the apprenticeship program, as I am particularly passionate about guiding and supporting young people on their life journey. I want to be a trusted advisor for the apprentices, someone they can turn to at any time with questions or concerns.
“It’s important to me to guide young people through a crucial phase, give them a sense of security, and help them find their own path.”
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my friends and appreciate the balance it provides to my daily work life. I view the apprenticeship at Graepel very positively, as the company is strongly committed to its apprentices—including through in-house training, various apprentice events, and subsidies for obtaining a driver’s license. Additionally, Graepel offers good chances of being hired permanently, providing a secure outlook for the future.
Markus Ziekau
I have been with Graepel since 2006 and completed my 3½-year apprenticeship as a toolmaker here. Afterward, I worked in production for several years and gained extensive hands-on experience.
After my former trainer retired, I took over responsibility for providing technical guidance to the young industrial trainees at the Seehausen site. In this context, I switched back to toolmaking, a field I’ve always particularly enjoyed because it’s versatile, varied, and technically challenging.
“I started out as an apprentice at Graepel myself and remember exactly what that feels like. I simply enjoy passing on that experience.”
Today, it’s important to me to pass on my knowledge and experience in a targeted way. In my personal life, too, I know what responsibility means, because I have two children.
Joe Cole
Graepel North America is proud to offer a dual training program. The program focuses on teaching trainees Graepel’s expertise, including specific machines and processes used to manufacture parts and components for the agricultural, construction, automotive, and rail industries.
Graepel offers a unique opportunity: The company not only covers the apprentices’ tuition, books, and other expenses, but also pays them to attend college and provides 100% employer-funded health and dental insurance. At the end of the program, trainees receive an Associate of Science degree in Advanced Technical Training, gain practical work experience, and have the opportunity to secure a full-time position at a growing company.
The ideal candidate for the program is a recent high school graduate interested in acquiring hands-on skills in a manufacturing environment. Additionally, the applicant should have an interest in continuing education and be motivated to learn new skills across various workstations at Graepel.
