In this article, Festo introduces a social media campaign called Didactive Unpacked to help customers to ‘unbox’ its online training courses and webinars. Hannes Otto, Automation Skills Consultant, gives an overview of Festo’s modular training courses and how they have been designed to create successful pneumatics, hydraulics and automation professionals.
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Technological changes are continually transforming tasks in today’s companies. Investment in technologies and machines alone is not enough to ensure success. Festo recognises that skilled employees are the key factor in productivity. It is pivotal for professionals to be able to contend with continuous technological changes, which require unprecedented levels of adaptability.
As a global provider of technical education, Festo Didactic has developed an extensive range of CPD accredited face-to-face training. Festo has been expanding this training offering to include online training courses and webinars, which enable customers to access training from anywhere in the world without geographical barriers. This means that customers can attend practical training courses in the safety and comfort of their homes or workplaces. Using the right software and methods, the company’s trained experts convey the latest industrial learning content. Furthermore, online courses prepare customers and form a foundation for hands-on, face-to-face courses.
Didactic Unpacked
In its latest unique campaign: Didactic Unpacked, Festo is giving its customers the opportunity to unbox these training courses, through fun and interactive games.
Each week, Festo releases a game on its Facebook and LinkedIn pages. To participate, interested individuals simply need to watch the associated Festo Didactic Unpacked video and unlock the different informative games. Prizes are up for grabs at each game level and, furthermore, participants that play all three levels will be entered into a lucky draw worth R10 000!
As with all Festo face-to-face courses and webinars, the Festo Didactic Unpacked videos that participants unbox have been designed to train industry professionals to perform in highly dynamic and complex environments. The campaign games are available until the 31st January 2022 and anyone can start to participate and stand a chance to win by visiting Festo’s South African website: www.festo.co.za.
Face-to-face courses with state-of-the-art equipment
Although the world is advancing to online learning, Festo still understands the importance of online and face-to-face blended learning. Their hands-on, face-to-face practical training allows direct interaction and ensures that every participant receives personal attention. Participants also have the opportunity to apply their newfound skills using industrial equipment during the practical sessions.
Festo makes every effort to commit time and resources to educate and empower industry professionals in Africa for productivity and employability. Festo Didactic therefore offers training courses in key areas of everyday industrial life. Hannes Otto, Automation Skills Consultant, gives an overview of the company’s modular training courses:
- Pneumatics training courses: “In recognition of the demand for advanced skills levels within the pneumatics industry, Festo Didactic helps customers understand and operate complex pneumatic machines,” says Hannes Otto. The range of pneumatic courses covers modern industrial pneumatic concepts and applications necessary to understand, install and maintain pneumatic automation systems and machines.
- Hydraulics courses for seamless flow: “Our hydraulic courses provide insight into hydraulic hardware technology and its functions,” he continues. From its Hydraulics course, attendees get to learn how to design circuits, read circuit diagrams and to control the speed, pressure and position of cylinders and actuators using hydraulic drives. More advanced topics are covered in follow-up hydraulic courses.
- Electrics/electronics courses: The increasing use of electrical drives in the industry has led to a skills gap that can have a negative impact on productivity. “With the skills and knowledge that is gained on their electric courses, customers can make informed decisions on the best technology option for their applications,” adds Otto.
- Digitalisation/Industry 4.0: To establish Industry 4.0 in a company, the training and qualifications of its skilled workers must be adapted to meet the new requirements of this interdisciplinary approach. “Festo Didactic prepares industry professionals for these rapid changes through an intuitive training curriculum and hands-on exposure to I4.0 applications and equipment,” Otto explains.
- Customised training courses: Festo also focuses on customer needs and requirements. “Our experienced trainers pride themselves on developing and presenting customised training that is designed to address specific customer needs and to improve skill sets ranging from basic through to advanced levels,” he adds.
Festo Learning Experience (LX)
Festo believes that every person is unique, therefore learning should be adapted to the individual needs of the learner. That’s why the company has developed Festo LX: the Festo Learning Experience. The digital learning portal for technical education and training picks up current and future learning trends at an early stage and offers comprehensive learning content for many areas of technical education and training. Festo LX combines industry expertise with didactic know-how.
Skills shortages can slow down the entire operating cycle, negatively impacting productivity and competitiveness. Ongoing industry training from Festo Didactic can help individuals, employees, and managers meet the changing requirements that today’s automation environment demands from them. Years of experience have familiarised Festo trainers with the industrial work environment and its challenges – making Festo the ideal training partner.
