We train 18 young people simultaneously across various vocational training programmes and degree courses. In doing so, we not only challenge our young talent, but also nurture it. You will get to know all areas of the company and will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge you have gained directly in practice. Throughout this process, you will receive personalised and expert support. It goes without saying that your new colleagues will be on hand to offer you advice and assistance with any questions you may have. It is also important to us that our trainees develop their social skills alongside their technical expertise. That is why the ‘Social Learning’ project, combined with a stay at the ‘Werkstatt am Neckar’ in Wendlingen, is an integral part of the training programme – and an experience that none of our trainees would want to miss.
As a Technical Product Designer at IST Metz, you can look forward to a varied and forward-looking apprenticeship, during which you will design and develop components and assemblies for our innovative systems. You will work at the interface between design, production and quality assurance – and turn ideas into precise technical solutions.
Duration of training: 3.5 years
Vocational school: 1.5 days per week at the Friedrich-Ebert-Schule in Esslingen
What to expect at vocational school
At vocational school, you will gain both theoretical and practical specialist knowledge. Subjects include:
Vocational theory
Vocational theory laboratory (CAD on computer)
Vocational theory workshop
Business skills
German, English, Social Studies (Religion)
You will learn to produce technical drawings, design components and use modern CAD programmes with confidence.
Your practical training at IST Metz
The training begins with a 3-month basic training course at Nagel. There, you will learn basic skills such as filing, milling, turning and drilling.
In addition, you will complete further courses (e.g. pneumatics, electrics, electro-pneumatics) and deepen your knowledge through practical exercises – both on CAD and by hand.
Within the company, you will spend time in the work planning and quality assurance departments, as well as several months in the workshops (mechanical and electrical). You will then get to know the various design departments and actively work on projects
Experience a genuine working environment and atmosphere first-hand – you can do that with us for a day.
As part of the Esslingen district's ‘Company Holidays’ campaign, IST also opened its doors during the summer holidays. This gave young people the opportunity to see first-hand how and where we work. Fifteen school pupils took advantage of the opportunity and swapped a day of their holidays for a ‘day at work at IST’ – gaining lots of new impressions and experiences in the process.
The day began with a short presentation about our company and our training programmes. This was followed by a tour of the company, taking in plants 1 and 2 as well as various departments. This gave the participants a real insight into everyday working life – and perhaps even brought them a step closer to their dream job.
Perhaps we will see one or two of these faces again at some point?
A big thank you to everyone who took part!
From Jannik Wild
On Friday, 18 July 2025, the Nürtingen Rowing Club hosted a dragon boat race for trainees, with numerous companies from the region taking part. Each company provided its own boat – including IST. Under the name ‘OptimISTen’ (the Optimists), we even paddled our way into the semi-finals.
After a difficult first race, in which we came last, the motto for the second race was: all or nothing. Only a victory would take us to the semi-finals. With a magnificent team performance, we prevailed and advanced to the semi-finals. There, we fought an exciting and exhausting race, but were narrowly defeated.
Even though we didn't win in the end, everyone involved had a lot of fun – and we are highly motivated to go all out again next year!
Jannik Wild
From Monday 24 February to Tuesday 25 February, I had the opportunity to take part in a business trip to Liverpool as part of my training.
The aim of the trip was to hold talks with our customer.
The first meeting was for both parties to get to know each other and to introduce IST's products.
The second meeting was about current research and how the colours can be adapted to UV and excimer technology. We also presented our FREEcure technology, which could be of interest to both parties.
Overall, the trip was a valuable experience that gave me very practical insights into the industry and generally into sales and dealing with customers.
Many thanks to everyone who made this trip possible!
On Friday, it was time again for our trainees to take part in the 9th integrative football tournament!
Here, trainees and pupils from the Nürtingen area play together with people with disabilities. The focus here is not just on winning, but on togetherness and bringing people with and without disabilities together.
Together with Leben Inklusiv, an organisation that offers various services to support people with disabilities in their everyday lives, we formed a great team and had a lot of fun on the pitch.
We hope to be back again next year for the 10th anniversary of the tournament and are already looking forward to it!
What exactly does the IST do? How do you get started with an internship? What apprenticeships does the company offer - and is there also the option of a dual study programme?
Interested visitors were able to ask these and many other questions directly and personally to our team in February - at what is now the third Durchstartermesse at K3N in Nürtingen.
Simply taking a look around in a relaxed atmosphere, gathering impressions and hearing real first-hand experiences - this uncomplicated exchange at eye level is often the first step towards a career and a possible future with us at the company.
Whether whole school classes or individual inquisitive minds - our team was on hand to help and advise everyone. To make it easier for future trainees and suitable training companies to find each other, the organisers had come up with something special: Coloured stickers on clothing and name badges made it immediately clear which professional fields the participants were interested in - and which of these we at IST cover. A quick glance was all it took to find the right contact person: Our stand was all about technical and commercial training programmes.
For prospective skilled workers, the Durchstartermesse is one of the largest formats in the region for gaining a comprehensive overview of various professions and companies in the area. This year, the IST was once again part of a strong exhibitor community - over 90 companies from Nürtingen and the surrounding area took the opportunity to attract young talent.
At the beginning of November this year, we second-year apprentices spent two weeks in Wendlingen at the Werkstatt am Neckar for social learning. The Werkstatt am Neckar is a facility run by the Samaritan Foundation. It offers people with a mental illness well-equipped workplaces that are similar to a production facility. The aim of the Werkstatt am Neckar is to reintegrate people with mental illness into working life.
The workers there have tasks such as counting out cable ties and packing them in a plastic bag or cutting cables to a certain length, then stripping them and connecting them to a plug. Our tasks were the same as those of the employees. However, the focus was on liaising with them and talking to them.
Even though the work was a little monotonous, we all enjoyed the two weeks. The work also made it easier to talk to the employees. The conversations were often very entertaining and interesting. The conversations gave us different insights into different personalities and trains of thought that you would never get otherwise.
