Leading European sawmiller Pfeifer Group is taking active measures to combat staff shortages by creating a new training programme at its Lauterbach mill from 2025.

The company said due to the ongoing shortage of skilled workers in the wood processing sector, management is increasingly relying on internal training and personnel development.

At the Lauterbach location, Pfeifer produces around 900,000m3 of sawn timber, 180,000m³ of chipboard pallet blocks and 90,000 tons of pellets per year.

Around 250 employees are employed in production, maintenance and administration., but numbers could be significantly more, according to managing director Carsten Doehring.

“The order situation is good, but the labour market is unfortunately difficult. In the wood industry, we offer attractive and future-proof jobs for skilled workers who want to follow our successful path.”

At Lauterbach, young people can currently learn four apprenticeships in the fields of industrial mechanics, electronics, woodworking mechanics and machine and plant management.

Pfeifer is expanding the training by working on a concept to strengthen the site with trainees as early as 2025.

As one of the largest employers in the Vogelsberg district, Pfeifer will intensify the development and further training of existing staff at the same time.

Alongside the training initiatives, the Lauterbach plant will also be receiving capital investment.

During the summer, the drying chambers are to receive a new AI-supported control system, while electric and hybrid forklifts are being added.

“The construction of a new hall with charging stations for loading the electrically powered industrial trucks is being implemented in order to drive forward the gradual conversion of the fleet to electric drive,” said Pfeifer.

Source: pfeifergroup.com