Master maker
Harley-Davidson Germany and Harley-Davidson Cologne are donating three motorcycles and five engines to the Cologne Chamber of Crafts
- Harley-Davidson is improving the equipment at German training centers
- Last year, 13 motorcycles and 17 engines were given away
- Grand finale of the current fundraising campaign on January 31st
(Neu-Isenburg, January 31, 2019) Many German motorcycle dealers are currently facing a challenge: qualified specialists are rare and there is a lack of young talent. Harley-Davidson Germany and its authorized dealers wanted to change that – by improving the equipment in German training and further education centers for two-wheel mechanics and mechatronics engineers. Unfortunately, teaching materials in the area of motorcycles are often in short supply and Harleys are almost non-existent. But no theory, no matter how good it is, can replace practice and practice on real objects. And if this object is a Harley-Davidson, it makes the eyes of many trainees and aspiring masters light up intensely.
That's why Harley-Davidson Germany, together with its dealers, gave away 13 Harley motorcycles and 17 separate Harley engines as training objects to training centers across the country over the past two years. Vocational training centers, trade schools, vocational schools and chambers of crafts in Berlin, Breisach, Coburg, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Kassel, Leipzig, Mölln, Münster, Straubing and Stuttgart were pleased to receive such donations. Now the German branch of the US company started the grand finale of the current fundraising campaign together with Harley-Davidson Cologne. On January 31st, André Jäger, District Manager of Harley-Davidson Germany, and Daniela Denz, Managing Director of the Cologne Harley-Davidson representative, handed over three motorcycles to the Chamber of Crafts (HWK) in Cologne: a classically styled Sportster 883, a V-Rod liquid-cooled engine and an 1125R from Harley's sporty subsidiary brand Buell. The Chamber of Crafts also received five Harley-Davidson engines: two Buell engines, a Revolution engine, a Big Twin including transmission and a Sportster V2.
“We are really happy about the donation,” beamed Peter Kautz, head of the master school for two-wheel mechanics at the HWK in Cologne, “the machines and engines will be used as quickly as possible.” Together with the deputy general manager of the HWK, Peter Panzer, the director of the Butzweilerhof training center, Ralph Elbert, and automotive department manager Michael Schuster, he received his new training objects at the Cologne dealer. “Not only our two trainees Gernot Serrer and Onurcan Demirci are currently studying at the Cologne Chamber of Crafts,” explained managing director Daniela Denz, “a total of four of our masters were also trained there. This includes our current champion Nadja Tillmanns, national winner of her year and one of the few champions who are certified in the specialist field of high-voltage technology.” So the Cologne Harley-Davidson team made the decision to thank the HWK in Cologne in this extraordinary way an easy one.
The German branch of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in Neu-Isenburg is already looking forward to many new trainees and aspiring masters in the German dealerships.
“We will continue to do everything we can to support the training and further education of two-wheeler mechanics and mechatronics engineers,” promises District Manager André Jäger. “Anyone who starts at Harley-Davidson enjoys their job and becomes part of a big family. We are believers and work just as well with a wrench as we do with a laptop. We ride motorcycles together, rebuild machines individually and meet at bike events. Quite a few of us have the Harley logo under our skin.” One thing is certain: the new school bikes from the Cologne Chamber of Crafts will undoubtedly contribute to the fascination and appeal of the US brand.
(Image credit: Weihs Media Production for Harley-Davidson Cologne)
