The Furniture Industry Training Factory in Löhne, East Westphalia, officially opened today with a ceremonial event. After a construction period of 16 months, this cutting-edge training and development center for the furniture sector is now fully operational.
"The state-of-the-art training factory is a groundbreaking development for East Westphalia-Lippe. It serves as an attractive resource for both new and experienced professionals, bolstering the local furniture industry and strengthening the economy of East Westphalia-Lippe. The regional government of Detmold is proud to support this exemplary facility," said Jens Kronsbein, Head of Department at the Detmold District Government, during the opening ceremony. The innovative project received €22.5 million in funding from the German Federal Government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with total investments in the building and equipment reaching around €25 million. Speaking to an audience of about 150 guests, Bernd Poggemöller, Mayor of Löhne, emphasized, "The training factory is a landmark achievement for the furniture industry and its skilled labor needs—a beacon project for our established economic region and a model for other major industries locally and beyond."
Chairman of the Supervisory Board Andreas Wagner expressed gratitude for the broad support from local and regional policymakers, furniture manufacturers, and technology partners. "We are proud to bring this unique project to life. Through the Furniture Industry Training Factory, our sector is actively combating the skilled labor shortage by enhancing the appeal and professionalism of training programs," stated Wagner, who also serves as chairman of the Association of the Wood and Plastics Processing Industry of Westphalia-Lippe (VHK), one of the initiative's founding organizations.
A Pioneering Initiative to Secure Skilled Labor
"The Training Factory is a pioneering initiative to secure skilled labor for our manufacturers in East Westphalia-Lippe and beyond," said Jan Kurth, Managing Director of the German Furniture Industry Associations and Board Member of the Training Factory. The intensifying shortage of skilled workers poses significant challenges for the industry, with the average age of employees in the furniture sector at 46.4 years (2023)—higher than the 43 years average in sectors like metalworking and electrical engineering.
"The Furniture Industry Training Factory provides top-tier vocational training and professional development," explained Factory Manager Markus Kamann. Apprentices gain hands-on experience with advanced, complex machinery—a learning opportunity that may be limited within regular production environments. The training modules at the factory complement practical work at each training company and theoretical education at vocational schools.
Complete Industrial Furniture Production Chains
Spanning 3,700 square meters, the two-story Training Factory features complete industrial furniture production chains—from goods receipt and the production of assembled and flat-packed furniture to quality control and shipping. "We have created a realistic learning environment that offers cutting-edge training and development opportunities," said Kamann. The facility includes saws, computer-controlled machines for milling and drilling wood and other materials, and software-driven production control and planning systems. Topics such as digitalization and networking are integrated throughout, alongside sustainability. "We are preparing our apprentices for work in a digitalized environment and for the ecological challenges of the furniture industry," noted Kamann. Additionally, the center includes specialized labs for robotics, electronics, pneumatics, and logistics.
A Comprehensive Educational Offering
The Furniture Industry Training Factory offers a wide range of educational programs, from career orientation and traditional apprenticeships to professional development and specialized additional qualifications. Training is available for wood mechanics, mechatronics engineers, IT specialists, machine and plant operators, electronics technicians for operational technology, technical product designers, logistics specialists, and commercial roles. The factory is part of the BANG network (Professional Training Network in the Skilled Trades).
The center also provides technical upskilling and specialization courses for current professionals, covering topics such as industrial imaging systems and digitalization. Leadership training, retraining programs for careers in wood processing and electronics, trial internships for students, and career-preparation initiatives are part of the program. The center anticipates hosting up to 450 participants annually. Over recent months, the Training Factory team has established a network with schools in Löhne and surrounding areas to reach potential apprentices early. Special recruiting formats, such as summer camps and an "Open Night of Training" (December 12, 2024), are also planned.
Sustainable Building
The Training Factory building was constructed as an Efficiency House 55 (BEG) with autonomous energy supplied by rooftop photovoltaic panels and carport. It is heated by air-source heat pumps powered by the photovoltaic system. LED lighting is used throughout, and a solar thermal system on the roof provides hot water. Rainwater is used for external irrigation and toilet flushing, and charging stations for electric vehicles and e-bikes are available in the parking area.
Cooperative Ownership of the Training Factory
In response to the shortage of skilled labor, the furniture associations, led by the VHK Westfalen-Lippe and in collaboration with service partner Zeus GmbH, developed the Training Factory project. Numerous furniture manufacturers, municipalities, and other stakeholders partnered to form the Training Factory Furniture Industry Cooperative (Lehrfabrik Möbelindustrie eG) in July 2021. The cooperative, which now includes 16 members—such as the Herford district, the city of Löhne, the furniture associations, and local furniture manufacturers—acquired a 9,000-square-meter site in Löhne in November 2022, where the advanced training center for furniture manufacturers and their technology partners was built over 16 months.
More information:
Lehrfabrik Moebel
[email protected]
www.lehrfabrikmoebel.de