Young talents visit premium automaker

Eighty-one Fill apprentices gained exclusive insights into the working world at BMW and had the chance to see many a Fill system live in action.

At the end of January 2023, 81 Fill apprentices, accompanied by their trainers and the three managing directors Andreas Fill, Günter Redhammer, and Martin Reiter, were offered a look behind the scenes at BMW’s production sites in Dingolfing and Landshut. A wide range of vehicles are built at the Dingolfing plant – from models in the 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Series through to the fully electric BMW iX. The group then gained exclusive insights into the world of aluminum casting at the Landshut plant. The excursion also focused on the apprentice training program at the premium automaker, and the young Fill employees had the chance to chat with their counterparts at BMW.

Gurten, February 22, 2023 – Upper Austrian machine engineering company Fill and Bavarian car manufacturer BMW are linked by many years of close, mutually beneficial collaboration. Fill production systems are used at the BMW plants in Landshut, Munich, Dingolfing, Steyr, Berlin, and China. “We are particularly happy about the development partnership with BMW in the field of CFRP body parts, which are installed in the i3 and i8 electric models. All the systems for producing these CFRP body parts were developed and supplied by our engineers,” reports Fill CEO and proprietor Andreas Fill.

Lasting impressions
At the huge BMW Dingolfing plant, where some 17,000 employees (including 900 apprentices) work, the visitors from Gurten gained exclusive insights into the complex process of assembling vehicles – from the painted body through to the finished vehicle. A wide range of passenger cars are produced in Dingolfing. Currently, these are models in the 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Series, as well as the new, fully electric BMW iX. Perfectly synchronized logistics keep the whole production system running in the factory. In 2021, around 245,000 vehicles left the assembly lines at the BMW Dingolfing plant – that’s about 1,500 cars a day. The excursion then proceeded to the BMW Landshut plant, where the visitors were immersed in the world of aluminum casting. Casting lines developed and supplied by Fill make an important contribution to e-mobility at BMW. To see these systems live at work was an impressive experience for all the participants.

Interesting discussions among colleagues
The apprentice training program at BMW was also presented in the course of both plant visits. At the education and training center in Dingolfing, visitors were treated to a tour of the huge apprentice workshop. Over lunch, the apprentices took advantage of the opportunity to chat with their counterparts at BMW directly. After this excursion full of exciting impressions, the group embarked on their journey home, stopping to review the eventful day together over dinner at the Alte Schmiede in Obernberg.

Corporate data
Fill is a leading international machine engineering company based in Gurten, Upper Austria. With sophisticated high-tech systems and custom manufacturing solutions for metal, plastics and wood, Fill makes its customers the best in their fields. The automotive, aviation, sports, and building industries all benefit from Fill’s expertise. Since it was founded in 1966, the company has distinguished itself through enormous innovative strength, strong values and the best jobs. “If you are seeking the best solution, shape your future with Fill” is the guiding principle of the company’s more than 975 employees. “Wir sind 1! We are one!” is their vision and stands for togetherness not only with the team, but also with customers, suppliers and partners. The company is 100 percent family-owned and managed by Andreas Fill (CEO), Martin Reiter (CFO), Alois Wiesinger (CTO), and Günter Redhammer (COO). In 2022, Fill recorded sales of around 187 million euros.

Further information can be found at: www.fill.co.at