PALFINGER APPRENTICES WIN GOLD

"Apprentice of the Year", "Woman in Technology" and six medals, including two gold medals: PALFINGER’s young talents impressed with outstanding performances at the Upper Austrian apprenticeship competition organized by the WKOÖ (Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce). In four technical apprenticeships, they achieved top placements and also won two special awards that were presented across all occupational groups. These competitions are among the most important platforms for young professionals in Austria. The awards were presented yesterday in Linz.

715 apprentices from 69 companies, 22 venues and plenty of talent – that was the Upper Austrian Apprenticeship Competition 2026. This year, 29 skilled young workers from PALFINGER took part to showcase their knowledge and abilities, and they impressed across the board.

Particularly impressive was the demonstration of the mechanical engineering technicians. In this category, PALFINGER apprentices dominated, securing all three podium places: Matthias Scheinast won gold and received the special honor of "Apprentice of the Year", Oliver Pichler took silver and Benedict Rabl bronze. With her outstanding performance, constructor Lisa Baumeister secured gold and was named "Woman in Technology". Silver medals were awarded to process technician Dominik Lämmerer and automotive technician Julian Feichtenschlager.

Andreas Klauser, CEO of PALFINGER, honored the award winners at this year’s ceremony and emphasized in his speech: "Our apprentices have impressively demonstrated what is possible when talent meets dedication and high-quality training. The fact that we have the best apprentice of the year and the best woman in technology among our ranks makes me incredibly proud and is a testament to the outstanding achievements of all our young talents and our training team. There is great potential in our young professionals. They are the ones who will ensure the long-term innovative strength of Austria and Europe."

Showcasing skills for the next generation of professionals

The competitions organized by the industrial sector provide second-year apprentices with the opportunity to demonstrate their technical knowledge and practical skills under real-life conditions. At the PALFINGER Campus in Lengau, the young participants faced challenging tasks over the course of a full day – from filing and milling to proper wiring and creating standard-compliant technical drawings.

"The competition was a real challenge because we had to demonstrate our skills under significant time pressure. The intensive preparation definitely paid off," says Matthias Scheinast, gold medalist in mechanical engineering. "Being awarded as well with the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ was a big surprise for me - I honestly hadn’t expected it". Lisa Baumeister, winner in the constructor category and "Woman in Technology", adds: "Receiving two awards at once was an incredible moment. It encourages me to keep moving forward on my path. I also want to show other girls and young women that technology is exactly the right field for us – just go for it!"

Currently, around 120 apprentices are training at PALFINGER. Since the establishment of the training facility in Lengau in 1970, PALFINGER has focused on hands-on training with a strong link to industrial applications. The campus prepares young talents in the best possible way for the demands of the skilled workforce of tomorrow.

Inspiring and promoting interest in technology

PALFINGER also demonstrates how hands-on talent development can work through the MINTality corporate school year, in which the company participated together with Köstendorf secondary school. Students worked on a real task: building a bridge for the goat enclosure at Salzburg Zoo. The project was recognized by both the jury and the public vote and won the main prize of the MINTality corporate school year. The winners were celebrated at the MINTality summer festival in Vienna – held at the same time as the apprenticeship awards in Linz. This initiative brings together schools, companies, and public institutions and provides young people – especially girls – with early insights into technical professions and new opportunities for the future.