Bartlett, Ill. – Dec. 12, 2018 – U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell paid a visit to WITTENSTEIN’s North American headquarters this week to learn about the company’s leadership and success in it’s apprenticeships through the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (ICATT). WITTENSTEIN has received national recognition for its work in the apprenticeship program and provided Ambassador Grenell a chance to speak with apprentices, trainers and graduates of the program.

The Ambassador’s visit was also part of the U.S. government’s focus on supporting programs advancing workforce development.

“Manufacturing in America is growing again, and we must invest in workforce training to support that growth over the long term,” says Ambassador Grenell. “The German model for workforce development, especially in manufacturing, is second to none. German manufacturers have invested heavily in the United States and their world-class apprenticeship programs have helped prepare U.S. workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow.  More U.S. companies should adopt similar programs to address their workforce needs.”

The ICATT Apprenticeship Program works with companies to develop custom company training plans, vet and recruit apprentices, collaborate with community colleges on classroom training, and provide on-going management. It is the only apprenticeship program in the Midwest fully benchmarked on the German Dual Education System.  

The U.S. Departments of State and Commerce are supporting the tour as part of the federal government’s commitment to preparing U.S. workers for modern jobs in manufacturing and other key sectors. 

Peter Riehle, President and CEO, WITTENSTEIN holdings Corporation notes, “Our Company’s claim is to be ‘One with the Future.’ We know we have a strong future in America, and our investment in apprentices, on-the-job training and career development for our American employees reflects this commitment." 
 

About WITTENSTEIN in North America
Since 1992 WITTENSTEIN has supported the U.S., Canada and Mexico with solutions that embody the excellence and integrity that define WITTENSTEIN motion control and mechatronic systems, including servo gearboxes, motors, actuators, drive systems, linear systems, and solutions for specialized applications.  From its North American headquarters in Bartlett, Illinois, WITTENSTEIN supports its customers with sales, engineering, customer service and inventory of products. The North American headquarters is also the location of the Company’s “Center for Simulation Excellence”, dedicated to providing electric control loading systems for fixed and rotary-wing training systems. WITTENSTEIN Inc. is certified to the latest ISO 9001-2015 standard.