Claudia Bauer, Austria’s Minister for Europe, Integration and Family, toured Trench Austria alongside Upper Austrian State Parliament representative Helena Kirchmayr. The visit, organized by Zukunft.Lehre.Österreich, spotlighted companies excelling in vocational training and fostered dialogue between political leaders and industry. Following a comprehensive facility walkthrough, apprentices engaged in a direct exchange with the visiting officials. Trench Austria has committed to expanding its apprenticeship intake to approximately 20 percent of its production staff in the near future—an initiative reflecting its strategic investment in the next generation of skilled workers at its fast-expanding site.

Apprenticeship Excellence in Focus During Minister’s Visit

On April 9, 2026, Trench Austria GmbH—part of the global Trench Group and a key player in high-voltage component manufacturing—hosted Claudia Bauer, Austria’s Minister for Europe, Integration and Family. The event in Leonding also welcomed Helena Kirchmayr, Member of the Upper Austrian State Parliament, as well as Monika Sandberger and Niklas Hager from Zukunft.Lehre.Österreich.

The visit aimed to highlight successful apprenticeship models and strengthen collaboration between political decision-makers and industrial training leaders.

During her tour, Minister Bauer observed hands-on apprentice training and gained firsthand insight into Trench Austria’s dual education approach. A follow-up discussion gave apprentices the chance to interact directly with the Minister. Bauer encouraged them to be proactive in their roles and to embrace innovative thinking when tackling technical challenges.

Trench Austria offers apprenticeships across various technical and commercial fields, combining classroom learning with real-world application. At its Leonding facility, around 250 employees are currently engaged in production activities.

The company’s goal is to raise the proportion of apprentices to about 20 percent of its production workforce in the coming years, reinforcing its role in securing skilled labor for the region’s industrial future.

“Training young professionals is one of the most important investments we can make for our growing site,” said Ronald Schmid, Managing Director of Trench Austria. “We place equal emphasis on technical excellence, personal development, and equal opportunity for all trainees.”

Minister Claudia Bauer commended Trench Austria’s training initiatives, emphasizing apprenticeships as a cornerstone of both economic strength and social cohesion.

I’m truly impressed by the level of commitment shown in training young people here. Apprenticeships are a proven Austrian success story and deserve greater recognition in conversations about youth development and career pathways.

Claudia Bauer, Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Family

This visit underscored the vital role played by companies like Trench Austria GmbH in driving vocational training and sustainable regional growth—contributing significantly to Austria’s long-term economic resilience and social stability.

About Trench Group

Trench Group is a leading global supplier of high-voltage grid components and systems, with a presence in power transmission networks across the world. Based in Berlin, the company brings over a century of engineering expertise to modern energy infrastructure, developing solutions for grid connectivity, performance monitoring, and system reliability. As global electricity demand grows and grids evolve, Trench Group delivers critical technologies including bushings, cable terminations, instrument transformers, coils, and reactors. Since becoming independent in April 2024, the company has achieved a doubling of annual revenue, surpassing 1 billion Euro. Operating 11 manufacturing sites across 8 countries on 4 continents, Trench Group currently employs more than 3,000 people, with plans to expand its workforce to 4,000 by 2030.

About Trench Austria

Trench Austria GmbH is a key subsidiary of the international Trench Group and a leading producer of high-voltage components for power transmission systems. The Leonding facility is recognized for innovation, high-quality manufacturing, and a strong commitment to local workforce development through apprenticeships and long-term employment.

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