At ROHDE, supporting young talent in the ceramics industry has always been a core part of our company philosophy. For many years, we have been committed to nurturing emerging artists and have sponsored awards such as the Young Talents Award at the Iznang Pottery Market. But at ROHDE, we take a holistic approach to fostering young people — not only within the ceramics scene, but also on the production and innovation side of our business. That’s why we’re now taking the next step internally and focusing even more on developing future professionals: since September 2025, Leopold “Leo” Stöttner has been training as a Technical Product Designer for Machine and Plant Design at our Prutting site.
For Managing Director Manuel Rohde, becoming a training company is a key milestone — especially in times when it’s increasingly difficult to find qualified professionals. “We’re delighted to give Leo this opportunity,” says Rohde. “We firmly believe that by offering in-house training, we can develop future specialists who truly identify with our company, the region, and the industry.”
For Leo Stöttner, this alignment is equally important. Beyond his desire to deepen his technical understanding and apply theoretical knowledge in practice, he particularly values the company culture:
“I immediately noticed how much ROHDE genuinely cares about the well-being of its employees and that the working atmosphere is great. That was a decisive factor for me to start my training here,” he explains.
Becoming a certified training company was only possible because ROHDE invested in expanding its team capacities and internal support structures over recent months. As Manuel Rohde emphasizes: “Training a young person like Leo and giving him the opportunity to take his first steps into professional life can only be truly sustainable if it comes with proper support.”
Training with Practice and Perspective
Responsible for Leo’s technical training is instructor Christoph Linner, for whom this role marks a first.
“I learned the profession myself nine years ago,” says Linner. “Unfortunately, I missed having good guidance during my own apprenticeship. So when I had the chance, it was clear I wanted to earn my trainer certification. Now I want to support Leo both professionally and personally in the best possible way.”
The profession — once known as Technical Draftsman — has evolved significantly in recent years. Today, the focus is increasingly on conducting physical analyses, measurements, and simulations using CAD software (Computer-Aided Design). Even AI-assisted features have become part of the modern workflow.
“The traditional drawing board no longer really exists,” explains Linner. “While 2D drawings remain essential from a manufacturing perspective, we’re sure to see further technical progress in the coming years. I’m personally curious to see what new content the vocational school will introduce.” For Linner, exchange and collaboration with Leo are particularly valuable: they often spark fresh ideas and new perspectives on technical topics.
The training program for Technical Product Designers typically lasts 3.5 years, but can be shortened to three years for high-performing apprentices. Alongside his work at ROHDE in Prutting, Leo attends the State Vocational School in Wasserburg am Inn, where he gains the necessary theoretical knowledge. His hands-on training is complemented by visits to the ROHDE production site in Dyjákovice, Czech Republic, and participation in inter-company training programs.
A Familiar Face
Leo isn’t entirely new to the company: since February 2024, he has supported various teams in Research and Development — initially handling product data management, later assisting in the technical department, and most recently working full time.
“Through my student job, I got to know the profession and, more importantly, the people behind it. Everyone here is open, kind, and supportive — it’s simply fun to work at ROHDE,” says Stöttner.
With the official start of his apprenticeship, a meaningful chapter now comes full circle. The entire ROHDE team wishes Leo every success and looks forward to the journey ahead.
Promoting Young Talent in the Czech Republic
Offering young people career opportunities — especially in today’s world — is a clear statement of our values: supporting the next generation is close to our heart. And this commitment goes beyond our headquarters in Prutting. At our production site in the Czech Republic, we also provide young people with internships and entry-level opportunities in cooperation with local educational institutions.
In recent weeks, we’ve welcomed around one hundred students from grades eight and nine to tour our facility. They gained fascinating insights into our wide range of professions and production processes — often discovering areas that were entirely new to them. We also introduced our internship programs for secondary school students and shared information about our social initiatives in the region.
The visitors were particularly impressed by the modern, clean working environment and the openness of our on-site team.
