Arburg: VDMA women\'s network event in Lossburg

09.06.2025

As part of a women's network meeting, ten female students visited Lossburg on 15 May 2025 to find out more about the innovative family business and technical professions at Arburg. Dedicated female employees introduced the participants to the “Frauen@arburg” network and their predominantly technical professions, backgrounds and career opportunities at Arburg. An exciting panel discussion concluded the excursion organised by the Association of German Machine and Plant Manufacturers (VDMA), for which the participants had to apply in advance.

Photo: ARBURG

"We are delighted that so many young people with an interest in technology come to us. Women in technical professions and management positions are an important prospect for us. With talent and commitment, you can help shape the future of our family-owned company, which has been successful for over 100 years," emphasised Guido Frohnhaus, Managing Director Technology and Engineering, as he welcomed the guests and wished them an exciting day at Arburg. Dr Christoph Schumacher, Vice President Global Marketing, then presented the company and Miriam Lauble, responsible for product management in Business Development, introduced Arburg's internal women's network. Carina Heinzelmann, the main organiser of the VDMA excursion in Lossburg who works in finance at Arburg, cited the following goals: "Many potential female applicants don't even realise what great prospects we offer. Today, we are showing by and for women how diverse the range of activities at Arburg is and why our company is an attractive employer for students specialising in mechanical engineering, but also in the fields of computer science and electrical engineering, for example."

Multifaceted impressions at Arburg

Arburg is one of seven VDMA member companies across Germany that are providing exclusive insights into professional practice during the current series of excursions. During the company tour, female Arburg employees presented their careers and areas of activity at nine stations. The spectrum ranged from key accounts, application technology and sustainability to component assembly, lean management and testing through to additive manufacturing, development and product management.

"It is important to us that the students stay in our industry and make positive contacts as early as possible. Competent women attract other women to the company. In-depth insights and communication at eye level like this is exactly what we want to achieve with our new series of events," said a delighted Dr Franziska Seimys, Consultant Educational Policy at VDMA, who accompanied the excursion on 15 May.

Lively panel discussion

After the tour, participants worked on questions on topics such as machines, sustainability, employers and the women's network, which were answered by the experts during a panel discussion. They explained how robotic systems automate the injection moulding process and how Arburg machines are also integrated into complete production cells. The topic of sustainability centred on the increasing importance of social aspects such as equality, ergonomics and inclusion. In conclusion, the female students received the following advice from the experts for the future: "Be open and communicate, believe in yourselves and your talents, stick to your wishes and keep at it!"

Reunion at the K 2025 trade fair

The excursions organised by the VDMA take place from April to September. The crowning finale is the K 2025 world's leading plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, where all the female students will meet again and take part in an exclusive VDMA supporting programme. As part of the special show "Plastics Shape the Future", there will also be an event for women in the industry for the first time on 12 October 2025 under the title "Women in Plastics", organised by Plastics Europe Germany. Sustainability Manager Samira Uharek from Arburg will give a presentation on the topic of "Design for Recycling".

Networked: “Frauen@arburg”

The "Frauen@arburg" (women at Arburg) network has been in place at Arburg since June 2023 and has a Teams channel with over 200 interested female colleagues and some male colleagues. Regular after-work events and functions are organised to encourage the exchange of ideas. The programme ranges from informal meetings in their free time to selected events with a wide range of topics and in-depth guided tours and discussion rounds within the company.