Sachtler provides job know-how

For college graduates and the industry curious, Sachtler has different traineeships to offer. Seeing the Sachtler world is easily come by. First job experience is undertakenbecause those who show commitment and dedication, can take hold of this opportunity. Through the viewfinder of a photo camera, Andy Pohmer became acquainted with the entire Sachtler product range. After a voluntary camera traineeship and its following completion at the Lazi Academy for photo design, he undertook a traineeship with Sachtler, from October to December 2006.

SACHTLER: Why does one undertake still another traineeship with Sachtler after the completion at an academy for photo design?
Andy Pohmer: „Sachtler has simply everything to offer, from tripods and fluid heads, film and television lighting up to camera stabilisation systems. For me that was the chance to collect new product knowledge."

Is Sachtler prepared for young trainees and their questions?
A.P: The beginning was super: The retired Sachtler employee Peter Steffens, who still knew Wendelin Sachtler personally, took the time to introduce me to the full product range. During my traineeship, Marion Ahrensfeld – the contact person for the Academy and the trainees – was always available to answer my questions and organise my visits to the different departments.

Can you tell more about the individual stages of the traineeship?
A.P.: With the workshop basic HDTV workflow at the Academy, I saw the products in action. The workshop quickly showed me, as a photo designer, that current HD cameras and digital cameras have similar possibilities in their picture adjustment and the following editing process. Due to these similarities, the relatively unfamiliar topic HD was no longer a stranger to me.

How does one get an overview of the extensive and varied product range?
A.P.: Under the guidance of the manager and logistics expert Gregor Ksiezyk, I gained an extensive insight of the demo warehouse. The equipment accommodated there is mainly used at trade shows and for promotional tours. He also showed me around the repairs department and what matters in the individual products then explained to me the differences between the individual systems as well as their components and answered all my questions during our daily work together.
After my time in the demo warehouse I was introduced to the absolute specialist for fluid heads: Franz Eibel. I was lucky being able to visit a training session in the service department, led by him, and could look over the shoulders of the participants who were disassembling the heads. Thus I experienced, what ingenious technology a tripod head requires, to function so precisely for everyday filming

Was the traineeship limited to theory and observation?
A.P.: Apart from the immense specialised knowledge, the commitment of the employees also enriched my traineeship: All the employees from the different departments dealt with my questions patiently.  
The absolute highlight however was the possibility of photographing some of the Sachtler workshops and products. Some of those pictures now appear on the Sachtler homepage or are in the current Sachtler catalogue to see  – an indication of the fact, that my work as a trainee was met with approval and that Sachtler also gives industry beginners the chance to prove themselves.