Practice-oriented training in focus

Hanover, November 6, 2025 – A delegation from the US state of Oklahoma visited the aluminum specialty foundry EGA Leichtmetall in Hanover last week. The visit focused on international exchange around practice-oriented workforce development. The delegation visit comes as EGA’s plan to build a new aluminum primary production plant in Oklahoma. The planned facility is expected to almost double the United States’ aluminium production capacity and create up to 1,000 new jobs.

The practice-based qualification model implemented in Hanover was identified by the delegation as a directly transferable approach for industrial development in Oklahoma: on-the-job training with clear quality standards; job rotation to broaden skills and ensure workforce flexibility; and structured continuing education to enable targeted specialisation and long-term retention.

Knowledge transfer from lower saxony
“The visit showed how practical know-how from Hanover has international impact while we simultaneously receive new impulses,” emphasizes Thomas Witte, CEO of EGA Leichtmetall. The company’s on-the-job learning procedure was a particular focus of the exchange: new employees learn production methods directly in the process to understand work steps immediately. This form of training develops talents into recognised specialists: an essential factor, especially in a highly specialised industry. “Our model combines learning in the flow of work, clear accountability, and rigorous quality discipline. That’s precisely what makes it internationally compatible – also for Oklahoma,” says Thomas Witte.

German training system as a role model
The exchange on German vocational training and continuing education models resonated strongly with the delegation, which included ten representatives from the fields of energy and environment, education and talent development, as well as business and industry.

“It was such an honor visiting EGA Leichtmetall in Hanover and learning about the apprenticeship training model. We are inspired by the time and commitment that German employers like EGA Leichtmetall have made in training their workforce,” says Rue Ramsey, Vice President of Workforce & Talent Strategies at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “We would like to bring components of the German apprenticeship system to Oklahoma to provide students a deeper varied training experience in preparation for a dynamic long term career pathway.”

“The visit to EGA Leichtmetall showed how effective hands-on training and education can be when business, education and government work together,” said Heather Turner, Deputy CEO of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Executive Director of CORE. “We are bringing back valuable insights to strengthen Oklahoma’s workforce programs and continue building partnerships that prepare Oklahomans for the jobs of tomorrow and our future EGA facility.”

The delegation’s visit underscores Hanover’s role as a competence centre for the aluminum industry in the highest quality segment. The training and development mindset practised at EGA Leichtmetall shows how practical qualification sustainably strengthens skilled workers and future-proof companies.