The Swiss Championships for Refrigeration Engineers and Building Services Planners were held in Landquart, in the canton of Graubünden, on 20 September 2008.

Alpiq InTec AG organises Vocational Championships

Twenty 4th-year apprentices got together to compete for the title of champion in their respective professions. Sponsored by the Swiss Association for Refrigeration Technology, the Swiss Championships for Refrigeration Engineers and Building Service Planners were organised by Alpiq InTec Ost AG of Landquart.

In the Refrigeration Engineer category, 17 apprentices accompanied by their instructors came under the jury's close scrutiny. The tasks they were set consisted of exchanging a magnetic valve on a "refrigeration trainer" and demonstrating their soldering skills. The three building services planners had to design a plan for a refrigeration system with the aid of a computer. Two young people from Alpiq InTec Ost AG won fourth place in the Refrigeration Engineer category.

The order situation for refrigeration technology is exceptionally good at present. "Due to the high demand for air conditioning, refrigerated rooms and environmentally friendly heating systems, there is a high demand for skilled technicians right now. However we are unable to keep pace with the growth in demand at present, because we don't have enough qualified tradesmen," says Peter Borchardt, Head of Alpiq InTec Ost AG, South Eastern Switzerland Region, Landquart. The Vocational Championships were therefore a good opportunity to draw attention to the advantages of the refrigeration engineering and building services planning professions.

Two young people from Alpiq InTec Ost AG won fourth place in the Refrigeration Engineer category.