Skills Austria apprentice competition: motors from MOLL-MOTOR for a paint mixing plant

The Austrian Skills 2025 state apprenticeship championships took place in Salzburg from 20 to 23 November 2025 – a milestone for young talents to demonstrate their technical skills. Among them: seven dedicated plant electricians who had to set up and commission an automatic paint mixing plant for paints – under realistic conditions, as required in the industry. This was also made possible thanks to support from industry: MOLL-MOTOR provided high-quality IE3 three-phase AC motors and thus contributed significantly to the success of the competition station.

Robust industrial motors for realistic training

Compact motors of type Y3PE63B4 were used – 0.18 kW power, 1320 rpm, in B3 base design, with 230/400 V winding, designed in the efficient IE3 class. Our three-phase AC motors are also used in real paint mixing systems, in pumps and mixing units. They fulfill tasks that place high demands on operational reliability and controllability. The fact that the candidates worked with real industrial motors is no coincidence: Austrian Skills attaches great importance to practical relevance, as many of the participants will soon be working in positions of responsibility in automation and drive technology companies.

Silver for Daniel Starzengruber, voestalpine Stahl GmbH
© SkillsAustria/MaxSlovencik/Florian Wieser

Congratulations to the winners – and to all those who dared!

MOLL-MOTOR congratulates all participants – and especially the three best:

Gold: Janick Gehrer – Julius Blum GmbH (Vorarlberg)
Silver: Daniel Starzengruber – voestalpine Stahl GmbH (Upper Austria)
Bronze: Niels Plöchl – voestalpine Stahl GmbH (Upper Austria)

The competition is part of a multi-stage qualification system for the international vocational championships – EuroSkills and WorldSkills. MOLL-MOTOR had already supported the Austrian participants in the 2022 WorldSkills with special drive material. The provision of materials for this year’s competition was also logistically well timed for the organizers, as there is a tight time window for delivery to the exhibition grounds. The machine assembly and electrical commissioning took place under great time pressure – a situation that is very similar to the real project dynamics in industrial plants.

Promoting young talent is part of our DNA

MOLL-MOTOR is actively involved in promoting the next generation of skilled workers, not only with products but also with apprenticeships. Pupils from the Weinviertel region who are not afraid of electricity or gears are welcome to apply for an apprenticeship in mechatronics with us. With over 100 trained apprentices, MOLL-MOTOR is one of the most important training companies in the district.

You can find out more about apprenticeships at MOLL-MOTOR here