More than ten million euros are being invested in a new training centre and state-of-the-art production facilities in Ennepetal

With an investment of more than ten million euros, dormakaba is sending a clear signal in support of Germany as an industrial location. The global provider of access solutions and automated locking systems has opened a new training centre at its Ennepetal site and, at the same time, expanded its production capacity with a state-of-the-art enclosure manufacturing facility. These investments are part of a two-pronged strategy: they are intended to meet the growing demand for skilled workers whilst simultaneously strengthening the competitiveness of production.

Securing a skilled workforce as a strategic investment

For many industrial companies, the shortage of qualified skilled workers is one of the greatest barriers to growth. Against this backdrop, in-company training is becoming increasingly important from a strategic perspective. dormakaba is taking a long-term approach and investing specifically in the training of its own young talent.

“These investments are in our own best interests, as we are training the skilled workers who will also strengthen our company’s competitiveness in national and international markets. At the same time, dormakaba is demonstrating its social responsibility, as training and knowledge are key pillars of stability in society,” explains Till Reuter, CEO of dormakaba.

The new training centre will enable young skilled workers to be trained directly at the Ennepetal site in mechanical and electrical engineering trades. Covering an area of more than 660 square metres, the centre features modern training rooms and workshops equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, including milling and turning machines as well as mechatronic systems.

Particular emphasis is placed on the close integration of theory and practice. Trainees acquire their knowledge directly within the production environment and gain experience at an early stage in areas such as hydraulics, pneumatics and welding technology. Thanks to the direct link to production, they learn about operational processes under real-world conditions.

Apprenticeships are also gaining social significance

The investment takes on additional significance against the backdrop of current developments in the region. After Bharat Forge CDP announced the closure of its site in Ennepetal, dormakaba took on all twelve apprentices in their first and second years of training.

At the same time, as things stand, a further twelve young people are set to begin their apprenticeships at the Ennepetal and Wuppertal sites. By the start of the new intake in August 2026, a total of 86 young people will therefore be completing their apprenticeships at the Ennepetal site – the vast majority in technical trades. Across Germany, the company is currently training 112 apprentices.

The recruitment of these apprentices also underlines the importance of regional training structures for the industrial location. Whilst many companies complain of a shortage of skilled workers, dormakaba has made a conscious decision to expand existing training capacities and to recruit young talent from other companies as well.

Modern manufacturing to boost delivery capacity

In parallel with the expansion of its training programme, dormakaba is also investing in the modernisation of its production facilities. At the Ennepetal site, a new housing production line for the TS 98 XEA and ITS 96 door closer series has been commissioned.

The new production facility is intended to expand production capacity and speed up manufacturing processes. At the same time, the company is responding to the rising demand for its products.

“With this and other investments, we are deliberately strengthening Germany as a business location and our ability to deliver. The modernised production facility enables us to improve our processes and respond to the growing demand for our products,” explains Torsten Stolte, Managing Director of dormakaba Germany.

Modernising European production sites is becoming increasingly important, particularly in times of international supply chain risks. Companies are investing more heavily in automated manufacturing processes to shorten delivery times and increase their resilience to global disruptions.

Commitment to Germany as an industrial location

These investments demonstrate that many industrial companies continue to invest specifically in German production sites despite challenging economic conditions. Increasingly, this is not just about new machinery or production capacity, but about combining manufacturing, digitalisation and the development of skilled workers.

By expanding its apprenticeship programme, dormakaba is laying the personnel foundations for future growth, whilst the modernisation of production strengthens its technological competitiveness. Both measures complement each other and pursue a common goal: to ensure the site’s long-term performance.

Apprenticeships and production as a joint strategy for the future

The shortage of skilled workers and the increasing pressure to innovate are among the key challenges facing German industry. Companies are increasingly faced with the task of training qualified staff themselves whilst simultaneously continuing to develop their production processes.

dormakaba’s investments demonstrate that these two issues cannot be viewed in isolation. Modern manufacturing technologies require suitably qualified staff, whilst high-quality training benefits from practical production environments.

With the combination of a new training centre and modernised production facilities, dormakaba is therefore pursuing an integrated approach designed to strengthen both the company’s short-term production capacity and its long-term competitiveness. At the same time, the company is sending a strong signal regarding Ennepetal as an industrial location and emphasising the role of in-company training as a key factor for sustainable growth in German industry.