GERMANY – The Furniture Industry Training Factory in Löhne officially opened on November 5, 2024, after 16 months of construction.

This state-of-the-art facility, funded with EUR 22.5 million from the German Federal Government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, offers hands-on training for the furniture industry. The total investment in the building and equipment is EUR 25 million.

The 3,700-square-meter center is equipped with full industrial production lines, from goods receipt to assembly, quality control, and shipping.

It provides a range of educational programs, including apprenticeships and professional development for careers in wood mechanics, mechatronics, IT, logistics, and management. Specialized courses in digitalization and sustainability are also available.

The facility expects to train up to 450 participants per year, working with local schools and offering special recruitment events. It aims to address the shortage of skilled labor in the furniture industry, where the average worker age is 46.4 years.

The project was developed by the VHK Westfalen-Lippe and several industry partners, forming the Lehrfabrik Möbelindustrie eG cooperative.

The training center was completed on a 9,000-square-meter site and incorporates eco-friendly technologies like rooftop solar panels and rainwater harvesting.