We train 18 young people simultaneously across various vocational training programmes and degree courses. In doing so, we not only challenge our young talent, but also nurture it. You will get to know all areas of the company and will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge you have gained directly in practice. Throughout this process, you will receive personalised and expert support. It goes without saying that your new colleagues will be on hand to offer you advice and assistance with any questions you may have. It is also important to us that our trainees develop their social skills alongside their technical expertise. That is why the ‘Social Learning’ project, combined with a stay at the ‘Werkstatt am Neckar’ in Wendlingen, is an integral part of the training programme – and an experience that none of our trainees would want to miss.
To give you an idea of the wide range of opportunities we offer, we’ve provided a more detailed overview of our apprenticeship programmes on the following pages. Our apprentices share first-hand accounts of their day-to-day training, joint projects and special experiences with us. This will give you an authentic insight into what to expect during your apprenticeship with us – professionally, personally and as part of a team.
As a Technical Product Designer at IST Metz, you can look forward to a varied and forward-looking apprenticeship, during which you will design and develop components and assemblies for our innovative systems. You will work at the interface between design, production and quality assurance – and turn ideas into precise technical solutions.
Duration of training: 3.5 years
Vocational school: 1.5 days per week at the Friedrich-Ebert-Schule in Esslingen
What to expect at vocational school
At vocational school, you will gain both theoretical and practical specialist knowledge. Subjects include:
Vocational theory
Vocational theory laboratory (CAD on computer)
Vocational theory workshop
Business skills
German, English, Social Studies (Religion)
You will learn to produce technical drawings, design components and use modern CAD programmes with confidence.
Your practical training at IST Metz
The training begins with a 3-month basic training course at Nagel. There, you will learn basic skills such as filing, milling, turning and drilling.
In addition, you will complete further courses (e.g. pneumatics, electrics, electro-pneumatics) and deepen your knowledge through practical exercises – both on CAD and by hand.
Within the company, you will spend time in the work planning and quality assurance departments, as well as several months in the workshops (mechanical and electrical). You will then get to know the various design departments and actively work on projects
A practical alternative to university – an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk specialising in international business management at IST METZ.
After finishing school, I was faced with the question of which career path would offer me real-world experience whilst also providing a meaningful alternative to a purely theoretical degree course. Following some research and interesting discussions at the ‘Durchstarter’ fair in Nürtingen, it quickly became clear to me that only one apprenticeship was the right choice for me: Industrial Clerk with International Business Management at IST METZ GmbH & Co. KG.
The 2.5-year apprenticeship combines practical work at the company’s site in Zizishausen with theoretical block teaching at the John F. Kennedy Vocational School in Esslingen Zell. During your time at the company, you rotate through all relevant departments – from the warehouse and workshop to marketing and controlling. The focus is clearly on the commercial departments such as accounting, purchasing, sales, human resources and commercial processing. This gives you a comprehensive insight into operational processes and teaches you how the various departments work together. You can apply the knowledge gained at vocational school directly in your day-to-day work.
The additional qualification in ‘International Business Management’ expands the commercial training to include Business English, Business Spanish, International Trade and Management Accounting. This provides students with the best possible preparation for international roles and allows for an in-depth exploration of many fascinating topics relating to the global market, making this vocational training programme both varied and highly engaging.
A particular highlight is the two study abroad placements during the training period. At the start of the second year of training, our vocational school class spends two weeks in Dublin, attending a college there. This is followed the following spring by a four-week stay in Madrid. Both trips abroad offer the opportunity to improve language skills, get to know new cultures and grow personally.
For me, the training programme at IST METZ is the perfect combination of practical experience, international exposure and personal development – and a compelling alternative to university studies.
Selina Hanika
External training placement at Nagel
We began our apprenticeship at IST METZ. As it is important to acquire a basic understanding of various manufacturing processes, we spent five months of our apprenticeship at Nagel. The focus was on practical work with industrial machine tools. We learnt how to use lathes, milling machines, drill presses and metal band saws correctly. In addition, we honed our basic manual skills through manual filing and sawing. We also spent one month each in the Quality Assurance and Work Planning departments. Following our mechanical training, we completed specialist courses in the fields of electrical engineering, pneumatics and electro-pneumatics.
In-house specialisation
After completing the external phase, we returned to our company. There, the focus was on expanding our knowledge of common CAD programmes and applying our theoretical expertise to practical work. Through assignments in our own workshop, we gained detailed insight into the manufacturing processes of our in-house products.
Team building and outlook
In addition to the technical content, we took part in various team-building activities. Particularly noteworthy were the trainee outing, as well as our participation in the dragon boat race and the football tournament, which helped to strengthen team spirit.
Team-building and future prospects
In addition to the technical content, we took part in various team-building activities. Particularly noteworthy were the trainee outing and our participation in the dragon boat race and the football tournament, which helped to strengthen team spirit. Going forward, we will be prepared for our upcoming tasks through targeted training, so that we can actively support the work in the various specialist departments in the next phase.
Amely Schweizer and Joel Mormone
We are electronics technicians specialising in automation technology. We attend the Max-Eyth-Schule in Kirchheim for 1.5 days a week. Our role involves wiring systems according to circuit diagrams, assembling systems, and identifying and rectifying faults in systems. In addition, all systems are tested during a trial run, which we carry out together with a qualified technician. After numerous tests, we dismantle the system and it is sent to the customer.
Day-to-day work:
The first 4 months:
During the first 4 months, you’ll receive a basic mechanics course where you’ll work with metal using various tools and machines. This takes place at Nagel, a company you’ll visit frequently during your training, for example for pneumatics courses. After that, you’ll be based at IST for the time being.
Training to become a mechatronics technician is very varied and combines the fields of mechanics, electrical engineering and computer science. During the 3.5-year training period, trainees acquire both theoretical knowledge at vocational college and practical experience at the training company. In our case, the training takes place in collaboration with the company Nagel and the Max-Eyth-Schule in Kirchheim unter Teck.
Vocational school lessons take place for around one and a half days a week and offer a good mix of theory and practice. The most important subjects include electrical engineering and metalworking, but economics and project work also play a role. This is complemented by English, social studies and German. Right from the first year of the apprenticeship, you start straight away with practical training at Nagel in Zizishausen. There, during the first few months, you learn the most important basics of mechanics, such as filing, sawing, drilling and turning. What makes this special is that you get stuck in right from the start and produce your own workpieces. After that, you move on to electrical engineering, where you build basic circuits, learn to solder and carry out your first measurements. You then move to IST Metz and gain an insight into real-life working conditions. There, you work with contactor circuits, amongst other things, and learn how systems are set up, commissioned and tested. This helps you quickly understand how theory and practice are linked.
Back at Nagel, you’ll deepen your knowledge on a course in pneumatics and GRAFCET. The main focus here is on planning processes and understanding control systems – a key part of the job. In the second year of the apprenticeship, you’ll take a PLC course at IST Metz, where you’ll learn the basics of programming industrial systems. Afterwards, you continue to work in various departments and gradually become more confident in handling the tasks. You are also specifically prepared for the intermediate examination. A particular highlight is the social project at the Neckar workshop, where you also gain personal experience in interacting with others. In the third year of the apprenticeship, you are based entirely at IST Metz and work on real-world projects. In doing so, you take on increasing responsibility and can demonstrate what you have already learnt.
Training as a mechatronics engineer is ideal for anyone who enjoys practical work and is interested in technology. It is varied, exciting and offers plenty of opportunities for further development. Thanks to the combination of mechanics, electronics and programming, it never gets boring. Anyone who is motivated and keen to learn new things will find a future-proof and versatile career here with good prospects.
Experience a genuine working environment and atmosphere first-hand – you can do that with us for a day.
As part of the Esslingen district's ‘Company Holidays’ campaign, IST also opened its doors during the summer holidays. This gave young people the opportunity to see first-hand how and where we work. Fifteen school pupils took advantage of the opportunity and swapped a day of their holidays for a ‘day at work at IST’ – gaining lots of new impressions and experiences in the process.
The day began with a short presentation about our company and our training programmes. This was followed by a tour of the company, taking in plants 1 and 2 as well as various departments. This gave the participants a real insight into everyday working life – and perhaps even brought them a step closer to their dream job.
Perhaps we will see one or two of these faces again at some point?
A big thank you to everyone who took part!
From Jannik Wild
During our two-week stay at the Samariterstiftung’s workshop on the Neckar, we were able to gain valuable insights into the working lives of people who, due to mental health issues or difficult life circumstances, are currently unable to work in the mainstream labour market. The aim of the workshop is to offer these people a supported workplace, a fixed daily routine and new prospects. The focus is on individual support, a sense of community and regaining self-confidence.
Right from the first day, we were warmly welcomed and quickly integrated into the team. The staff took the time to introduce us to the various work areas
and familiarise us with the processes. We were able to work hard in several areas of the workshop, mainly in assembly. This allowed us not only to gain practical experience but also to get to know the different strengths, skills and personalities of the staff. We were particularly impressed by the care, perseverance and joy with which the employees carried out their tasks – and how much they appreciated praise or small shared successes.
We were deeply impressed by the positive atmosphere in the workshop. Despite the often difficult life stories, there was an atmosphere of openness, mutual respect and genuine warmth. There was plenty of laughter, conversation and mutual support. These encounters showed us just how important community, recognition and a sense of purpose are in everyday working life. Everyone wants to feel needed and to make a contribution – and that is exactly what is made possible in such an impressive way at the Neckar workshop.
As well as getting hands-on experience, we also gained interesting insights into the work of the Samariterstiftung staff. In our conversations with them, it became clear how the needs of each individual are addressed on a personal level and how much dedication goes into it. We realised just how demanding,
but also how fulfilling this work can be.
Overall, the visit was an extremely valuable and enriching experience. Not only did we gain new professional insights, but we also learnt a great deal about ourselves and our perspectives on work, inclusion and social participation. The time spent at the Werkstatt am Neckar has, above all, left a lasting impression, broadened our horizons and shown that work means far more than just performance and efficiency – namely, community, appreciation and humanity.
Nicole Güttler, Clemens Höring and Frederik Reich
On Friday, 18 July 2025, the Nürtingen Rowing Club hosted a dragon boat race for trainees, with numerous companies from the region taking part. Each company provided its own boat – including IST. Under the name ‘OptimISTen’ (the Optimists), we even paddled our way into the semi-finals.
After a difficult first race, in which we came last, the motto for the second race was: all or nothing. Only a victory would take us to the semi-finals. With a magnificent team performance, we prevailed and advanced to the semi-finals. There, we fought an exciting and exhausting race, but were narrowly defeated.
Even though we didn't win in the end, everyone involved had a lot of fun – and we are highly motivated to go all out again next year!
Jannik Wild
From Monday 24 February to Tuesday 25 February, I had the opportunity to take part in a business trip to Liverpool as part of my training.
The aim of the trip was to hold talks with our customer.
The first meeting was for both parties to get to know each other and to introduce IST's products.
The second meeting was about current research and how the colours can be adapted to UV and excimer technology. We also presented our FREEcure technology, which could be of interest to both parties.
Overall, the trip was a valuable experience that gave me very practical insights into the industry and generally into sales and dealing with customers.
Many thanks to everyone who made this trip possible!
On Friday, it was time again for our trainees to take part in the 9th integrative football tournament!
Here, trainees and pupils from the Nürtingen area play together with people with disabilities. The focus here is not just on winning, but on togetherness and bringing people with and without disabilities together.
Together with Leben Inklusiv, an organisation that offers various services to support people with disabilities in their everyday lives, we formed a great team and had a lot of fun on the pitch.
We hope to be back again next year for the 10th anniversary of the tournament and are already looking forward to it!
What exactly does the IST do? How do you get started with an internship? What apprenticeships does the company offer - and is there also the option of a dual study programme?
Interested visitors were able to ask these and many other questions directly and personally to our team in February - at what is now the third Durchstartermesse at K3N in Nürtingen.
Simply taking a look around in a relaxed atmosphere, gathering impressions and hearing real first-hand experiences - this uncomplicated exchange at eye level is often the first step towards a career and a possible future with us at the company.
Whether whole school classes or individual inquisitive minds - our team was on hand to help and advise everyone. To make it easier for future trainees and suitable training companies to find each other, the organisers had come up with something special: Coloured stickers on clothing and name badges made it immediately clear which professional fields the participants were interested in - and which of these we at IST cover. A quick glance was all it took to find the right contact person: Our stand was all about technical and commercial training programmes.
For prospective skilled workers, the Durchstartermesse is one of the largest formats in the region for gaining a comprehensive overview of various professions and companies in the area. This year, the IST was once again part of a strong exhibitor community - over 90 companies from Nürtingen and the surrounding area took the opportunity to attract young talent.
