STANLEY, NC -- Five Blum apprentices were among the 13 graduating from the Apprenticeship 2000 program.

Each of the graduates received an Associates Degree from Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), a Journeyman’s Certificate from the state of North Carolina and a full-time position at their sponsor company.

For these Apprentices, this graduation is the culmination of four years of hard work in class and on the job. The Apprenticeship 2000 program is run by a group of partner companies to create the technically skilled workers needed by modern manufacturers.

Apprentice 2000 company partners include: Ameritech Die & Mold, Inc., Blum Inc., Max Daetwyler Corp., Pfaff Molds, Sarstedt and Timken, plus CPCC and the North Carolina Department of Labor.

“Apprenticeships are extremely common in Europe,” said Andreas Thurner, manager of the Apprenticeship Program at Blum Inc. “The European model offers students the opportunity to learn a trade under the guidance of a skilled mentor. We then offer our students the opportunity to work for the company that has taught and supported them throughout their studies. The success of the program speaks for itself. We have an approximate 80% retention rate of graduates after five years.”

Karl Ruedisser, president of Blum Inc., added, “Without the skilled workforce that we have developed through Apprenticeship 2000, we would not be able to maintain and expand our highly automated production facility.”

With these thirteen graduates, the Apprenticeship 2000 program reached 100 total graduates in the last 15 years.

The 2010 graduates include:

Luke Dellinger Electrician
Phillip Dwayne Gilbert Plastics / Mold Technician
Thomas Martin Fischer Tool and Die Maker
Jesse Ernst Tool and Die Maker
Kai Rumswinkle CNC Machinist


Read Blum's press release.