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Training with responsibility

Asphalt mixing plant viewed from below at an angle. Five apprentices stand high up behind the guardrails.

September 2026 | Reading time: 7 min.

CORE setup: Apprentice-led, from start to finish

Our apprentices show what they’re capable of. In no time at all, the apprentices successfully assembled the prototype for the new CORE asphalt mixing plant at Benninghoven’s facilities in Wittlich. Learning by doing under real-world conditions – with all the complexities involved in completing the mechanical and electrical assembly work required for a project of this kind.

This was an unusual assignment and an impressive example of how Wirtgen Group challenges and supports its apprentices. Four apprentices in industrial mechanics and mechanical design engineering joined five industrial electronics technician apprentices to take full responsibility for assembling an asphalt mixing plant. This assignment marked the launch of the new CORE product at the Benninghoven facility in June 2026. To give invited guests from around the world a close-up demonstration of the new plant’s functions and benefits, the entire plant was assembled on the company site – a first in the company’s history.

View of CORE with wooded hills and a lake in the background.

CORE – rethought from the ground up

This next-generation plant breaks with conventional thinking and focuses squarely on the demands of plant operators: long-term cost-effectiveness, planning certainty, and return on investment. The design engineers took a close look at the entire plant manufacturing process, including transport, assembly, and commissioning, and made key adjustments throughout. The result is an optimized solution that combines reliable performance with lower overall operating costs. A plant with a clearly defined – and generous – range of options, state-of-the-art technologies, and pioneering design, transport, and assembly concepts.

Our apprentices are very proud to have been entrusted with this exciting project.

A sound, hands-on apprenticeship is also a key part of career development at Benninghoven.

Keeping an eye on things: Our experienced assembly supervisors took turns supporting the apprentices, providing advice and hands-on assistance.

Group portrait of the apprentices, with an assembly supervisor in the center.

Apprentice performing installation work on the CORE.

Group photo: Apprentice and assembly supervisor smile for the camera.

Get involved, take charge, and grow with your responsibilities

Guided by experienced assembly supervisors who took turns supporting them, our apprentices completed all assembly and installation work independently, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the process. “I was given a lot of responsibility on this project,” Colin says. Together with colleagues Philipp and Niklas, Colin is completing an industrial electronics technician apprenticeship at Benninghoven and was thrilled to work on the new project. “We’re very independent here and complete most of the work on our own. This project is giving me plenty of insights that I can use in my career.” Nico, who is in the third year of his industrial mechanic apprenticeship at Benninghoven, adds: “It’s really special for me to have the opportunity to work on a project like this. It gives you a real feel for assembly work and lets you see whether you’re a good fit for the department.”

“The amount of know-how you gain here is amazing. I can’t think of anywhere else that teaches you this way.”

Colin Mieth, industrial electronics technician apprentice at Benninghoven

Involve early and benefit together

The project is a win-win for everyone involved. The apprentices were able to apply what they had learned under real-world conditions and actively contribute to an exciting project. Early involvement in complex projects helps them acquire key skills for future assembly assignments while building valuable know-how that remains within the company for the long term.

Two apprentices on a crane amid the CORE plant, with the burner on the right.

An apprentice climbs the guardrail-protected accessway to the CORE mixing tower.

An apprentice hard at work on the CORE, with a signal light in the foreground.

Assembly: Easy as pie – even for apprentices

CORE’s newly conceived assembly concept enables especially fast and safe setup and dismantling of the plant.

Aerial work platform with apprentices in the CORE plant

The apprentices’ work on the plant demonstrated just how user-friendly the concept is in practice. Even with assembly supervisors on hand to provide advice and assistance, a project of this scale presents a particular challenge. The plant also had to be completed on time.

Apprentice working on an electrical enclosure at the top level of the CORE.

The fact that the apprentices completed their tasks quickly and safely despite the tight schedule highlights the strengths of the assembly concept. The well-structured assembly manual was also a major help, providing clear, detailed instructions for every step of the process.

Apprentice on an aerial work platform at the CORE.

“Because we are still apprentices rather than seasoned professionals, the idea was for us to put ourselves in the position of a customer or an assembly team from outside the industry and see whether we could assemble the plant using only the assembly instructions provided. That allowed us to demonstrate just how easy assembly really is,” Philipp explains.

Niklas Koble, industrial electronics technician apprentice, stands in front of the CORE.

“It’s a really unusual approach. I don’t know of any company that gives its apprentices an opportunity like this.”

Niklas Koble, industrial electronics technician apprentice in his third year of training at Benninghoven.

Among cables and cranes – a new challenge every day

Colin and Niklas describe their daily routine. “Every morning, the whole team meets in our site container. We discuss the goals for the day and distribute the assembly drawings. Then we start preparing, usually in pairs: pulling, routing, identifying, and assembling cables, and so on. Then we have breakfast together before getting started on the main tasks for the day.” Typical tasks for the industrial electronics technicians include connecting electrical enclosures and routing new cables, while the industrial mechanics install the foundations and use a crane to lift components into position for assembly.

Two young men stand on the CORE plant – the one on the left points to something.

“I was thinking about working as an installer after completing my apprenticeship, and the CORE project has confirmed that this is a good fit for me.”

Niklas Koble, industrial electronics technician apprentice at Benninghoven

Investing in the future through apprenticeship programs

As throughout the Wirtgen Group, Benninghoven places a high value on vocational training as a foundation for a career. The programs provide a solid, hands-on foundation, help apprentices develop their skills, and give them opportunities to take responsibility and grow personally. At the same time, this creates an opportunity to retain the next generation of skilled employees over the long term.

Benninghoven offers apprenticeships in technical and commercial occupations as well as work-study degree programs. A comprehensive training concept combines close mentoring and theoretical fundamentals with opportunities to participate in exciting hands-on projects and develop professionally. Niklas is enthusiastic: “In my second year of training, I even had the opportunity to fly to Norway and help assemble a plant there.”

The opportunity to broaden one’s horizons is another valuable aspect of the CORE project: it gives participants the chance to make connections and grow together as a team. “Working with people from different apprenticeship programs is always interesting,” Colin says. “You learn a lot about the other professions – things I didn’t know before.” Beyond the pride of contributing to such a project, the plant assembly work also helped shape their future career plans. Niklas confirms: “I was thinking about working as an installer after completing my apprenticeship, and the CORE project has confirmed that this is a good fit for me.”