Welcome to THOR!
To make it as easy as possible for our new THOR employees to get started with us, we have been inviting every new office and technical employee to the THOR Academy in Menteroda for a week since the beginning of this year.
During this time, we can get to know each other even better on site and prepare them both personally and professionally for their day-to-day tasks on the construction site.
The welcome week
During the welcome week, they are looked after by our trainers and instructors. Most of them worked as fitters for THOR throughout Germany for many years and know exactly what is important in everyday construction site work. In order to keep up to date with the latest developments in their specialist trade, they are also constantly training themselves.
At the heart of the THOR Academy are the training tracks for each specialist trade, where our trainers prepare various tasks typical for the respective applications and where we work, practice, teach and learn.
Our cooperation with renowned manufacturers enables us to integrate state-of-the-art equipment for training and further education.
A separate area has been created for each of our specialist trades in house, building and supply technology, in which the skills of our fitters are tested and trained under training conditions. In a further area, the tasks are then also implemented under realistic construction site conditions.
The knowledge gained here can be used to select suitable assignments for our employees from the outset and to recognize and promote further potential.
The equipment includes the latest condensing boilers from Vaillant (e.g. therme, boiler). We also use modern training stands for:
- Oil burner
- Heat pump
- Brainbox from Vaillant
- regenerative energy systems
Various situations are simulated at the training stands and built-in faults are removed. The necessary maintenance and regular service work can also be practiced. We use self-constructed installation walls to train compliant installations including standard-compliant fastenings. This includes the creation of connections with different materials. To achieve this, we teach the skills needed to use the different types of representation in drawings.
Our training rooms correspond to a welding course location. We have the following equipment available for the training courses:
- 3 MAG welding machines
- 1 water-cooled TIG welding machine
- Equipment for gas fusion welding (autogenous welding)
- 2 air-cooled TIG welding machines, combined as manual electric welding machines
- 1 socket welder for plastics
With these devices, we can reproduce all common welding processes that our course participants come into contact with on construction sites or in workshops. The program includes different types of seams, which are trained in a wide variety of situations. We use a self-constructed tunnel to teach welding for constrained positions and mirror welding. If they have not already completed it, participants receive a welder’s certificate after successfully passing the test.
The latest PC-supported training devices from leading manufacturers help participants to meet the requirements of modern systems. For example, we can simulate various situations on the PC-supported teaching desks and rectify specific errors.
At the heart of this training facility is a Viessmann cooling chamber for setting up test-compliant cooling circuits. Various cooling variants (e.g. normal and deep-freezing) can be set up on it. The training includes the installation of the thermo-dynamic components and the setup of the electrical controls.
In addition to the standard-compliant handling of refrigerants, we teach all the individual activities associated with refrigeration technology, such as making connections and leak detection.
Our learning islands and learning walls are used for the practical construction of various circuits according to specified drawings. The participants also carry out the installation on different building sites in accordance with the regulations. You will learn about the individual types of representation in the technical drawings in order to create material lists and build the circuits on this basis.
We use the following training stands for further specialization:
- SmartHome
- KNX control
- Building automation
- Lighting technology
- Hazard detection systems
- Communication technology
- E-check with VDE tests
With these PC-supported stands, real-time evaluation is possible. The evaluation takes place via a classroom manager, which also serves to consolidate and check the theoretical knowledge. Both the time required for individual work steps and the results are taken into account in the evaluation.
The concept of the training stands, which correspond to the highest technical level, allows the simulation of various initial situations (e.g. changes in the current weather conditions) as well as the installation and elimination of faults.
The THOR Academy has two functional training elevators: a hydraulic and a traction elevator. Differences and similarities are worked out using two separate control systems. Both types of elevator are set up as part of the training, with the starting situation being the empty shaft.
Reading technical drawings and selecting suitable fastening systems are part of the training.
We use an additional cabin to explain how the associated components work. In this way, course participants get to know the interaction of the parts in the best possible way.
The mode of operation and design of individual assemblies, for example brakes and drives, can be explained using the available visual aids.
Of course, the welcome week also gives our employees a deeper insight into their new employer and strengthens the connection and trust in THOR.
In addition to lots of important information on working with the commercial departments and training on theoretical knowledge, they also receive their work equipment during these days. This includes work clothing, personal protective equipment, an employee tablet and, optionally, a company car with tools. We take time for individual questions and a direct exchange with the specialist departments.
The welcome week is rounded off with getting to know the personal contact person at THOR and growing together with the new colleagues at a cozy barbecue evening. So our THORians set off on their first construction site assignment, strengthened and equipped.
The initial acquaintance during this week will be deepened by the constant support of the personal contact person from the scheduling department. By knowing our customers’ construction projects just as well as he knows his fitters, he can get them to do the best job for them.
The professional and personal designations are gender-independent. They are used exclusively for reasons of better readability.