Advanced Chemistry Course Explores Surface Technology
Students in an advanced chemistry course gained hands-on insights into electroplating at the Zwickau Vocational Training Center. Together with apprentices, they learned about coating processes and the profession of surface coater.
On September 10, 2026, the 12th-grade advanced chemistry class at Goethe-Gymnasium Reichenbach traded the chemistry lab for the workshops and specialized classrooms at the Zwickau District Vocational Training Center for Construction and Surface Technology in Limbach-Oberfrohna. For the first time, students from the high school worked directly alongside apprentices in surface technology. After a technical introduction, the students fabricated simple mounting brackets for test specimens, prepared the next steps in the process, and, wearing protective gear, gained insights into electroplating equipment. It became clear that, in addition to chemical fundamentals, careful preparation and handling of the workpieces, controlled process conditions, quality awareness, and occupational safety are crucial for reproducible coating processes.
Gaining Hands-On Experience with Electroplating
The apprentices from the vocational training center played a central role. They explained work procedures, accompanied the guests to the individual stations, and shared stories from their daily training lives. This allowed questions about technical requirements, vocational school, and on-the-job training to be discussed directly with young people who are learning the trade themselves. At the same time, the trainees had to reflect on their own approaches and convey their technical knowledge in an understandable way.
Attracting the Next Generation to Surface Technology
Despite its importance to numerous industrial sectors, the apprenticeship program for surface coaters is virtually unknown to many young people. According to figures from the DIHK and ZDH published in the ZVO annual report, 387 young people nationwide were trained in this profession in 2024—more than 11 percent fewer than in the previous year. The Zwickau Vocational Training Center is one of the few vocational schools in Germany where surface coaters are trained. Both schools gave positive feedback on the project day, which was held for the first time, and intend to continue their collaboration.
Contact details and information on the companies and institutions presented here can be found in our interactive surface technology industry directory.