Electroplating training and further education in the Schwäbisch Gmünd area - A journey through time (Part 1)

The Zentrum für Oberflächentechnik Schwäbisch Gmünd e.V. (Z.O.G.), founded on 28.11.1986, is an association of schools, institutions and companies that offer events for basic, advanced and further training in the field of surface technology.

Fig. 2a: Z.O.G. seminar "Fundamentals of precious metal processes in theory and practice", Schwäbisch Gmünd [4]The reason for founding the association was the demands placed on specialists in this sector. These requirements had increased considerably over the years and are still increasing from year to year. In the same way that digitalization and automation are becoming established in all areas of the economy, the demands on the qualifications of the workforce are also increasing. It is no longer enough to acquire practical experience in a profession once it has been learned, but it is always a matter of orienting oneself to new trends and innovative technologies and further training according to requirements [2]. Although Gmünd had an unusually high density of training institutions in the field of surface technology, as well as the Research Institute for Precious Metals and Metal Chemistry (fem) with a high level of international recognition and a specialist electroplating company for precious metals, the industry's deficits in the further training of specialists were now obvious.

For this reason, Professor Dr. Christoph Raub (fem) and Director Hasso Kaiser (Degussa Galvanotechnik) suggested combining the training opportunities available in Schwäbisch Gmünd from all institutions and using them for further training. The Lord Mayor at the time, Wolfgang Schuster, was very taken with this idea and was therefore happy to take on the chairmanship of the new institution. This was also with the intention of strengthening the innovative power of the local economy and creating and securing jobs.

Why did this initiative start in Schwäbisch Gmünd?

Fig 2b: The proof of the pudding is in the eatingInSchwäbisch Gmünd, people can look back on a centuries-old precious metal tradition. Goldsmiths and silversmiths have been active here since the Staufer era. However, the precious metal trade was always very susceptible to crises. As early as 1776, an attempt was therefore made to improve the situation for "luxury items" by founding a drawing school. Young, well-trained specialists were trained there in order to expand the limited sales opportunities for the expensive precious metal products with new products. A few decades later (1818), there was even a memorandum to the king to advocate the development of a process to "develop a beautiful and durable gold-like color and luster for "Semilor products" [3]" - in other words, a type of gilding was to be found. The first electroplating patent was granted to Werner von Siemens in 1840 and as early as 1842, the progenitor of Degussa - Friedrich Ernst Rößler - presented a "Practical guide to electroplated gold and silver plating". As early as 1844, products from Gmünd companies were manufactured using galvanoplastic methods - for example the Hildesheim silver treasure. The economical and careful use of precious metals was the reason for the further development of precious metal chemistry and, based on this, the driving force for the further development of new surface techniques. Over the course of time, the local precious metal trade in Gmünd developed into a focus of precious metal chemistry as well as a variety of training and qualification opportunities for the specialists required for this.

The Z.O.G. initially combined the strengths of the following institutions in order to provide practical training and to maintain and deepen the high level of knowledge acquired while working:

• Electroplating school
• Industrial school
• Teacher training college
• Research Institute for Precious Metals and Metal Chemistry
• Degussa Galvanotechnik GmbH
• Technical Academy
• Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Electroplating Schools

Z.O.G. Managing Director Erich Arnet at the first webinar in 2013 [5]This was supplemented by the training opportunities offered by Aalen University of Applied Sciences (HTW), the experience of electroplating specialist Dr.-Ing. Max Schlötter GmbH & Co. KG in Geislingen with non-precious metal processes and the strengths of Helmut Fischer GmbH in Sindelfingen with new measuring methods and equipment.

The Z.O.G.'s first annual program already met with great interest among experts. In 40 events, not only classical topics were offered, but also new surface technologies for the production of semiconductors and printed circuit boards and micro-manufacturing. Other modern applications were also given appropriate consideration.

From the outset, these further training courses were designed according to one of Goethe's mottoes: "Tell me, and I shall forget; show me, and I shall perhaps remember; let me do it, and I shall be able to do it." The Z.O.G. events were therefore limited to 20 to 25 participants each, who were also almost always given the opportunity to test their newly acquired knowledge in modern industrial and/or research laboratories under the guidance of practitioners.

Specialists in the industry who had completed their training as electroplaters, technicians or master craftsmen in Schwäbisch Gmünd felt particularly attracted by these new further training opportunities. Many of them were entrusted with management tasks and were therefore particularly open to further training for their employees. The technical school alone had more than 800 graduates at the time.

The Z.O.G. initiative was successful right from the start and was able to demonstrate astonishing success after just a few years. The number of participants increased and the educational concept proved its worth and continued to develop. Many of the participants are regulars at the seminars and part of a constantly growing network of experts and receive "Gmünder continuing education points". -to be continued-

Literature

Galvanotechnik (2014) 11, Fundamentals of precious metal processes in theory and practice, p. 2380 ff
ZOG program booklet (2018), foreword by Dr. Andreas Zielonka
Semilor: Light yellow alloy from the 18th century, consisting of copper, zinc and tin, used as a gold substitute
Galvanotechnik(2014) 11, Fundamentals of precious metal processes in theory and practice, p. 2380 ff
Galvanotechnik(2014)2, First Z.O.G. webinar: Advantages of platinized titanium and niobium soils using high-temperature electrolysis (HTE), p. 316 ff