Leipzig was the venue for the 42nd WorldSkills, the world’s largest and longest-standing international skills competition. 1,100 young skilled workers and trainees from 56 countries competed in 46 disciplines.
With 2,000 experts and around 200,000 visitors, the WorldSkills 2013 in Leipzig surpassed even the competition held in London two years ago. As co-sponsor, Bitzer ensured that the event for the promotion of international training and further education was a resounding success.

Together with the BIV (National Federation of Refrigeration Engineering Contractors), Bitzer sponsored the competition category 'Refrigeration and air-conditioning', in which 23 competitors from just as many countries took part. The most challenging of the three tasks set was the construction of a refrigeration system within a time limit of 16 hours. Bitzer was also represented at the event by a team of experts with information material at the BIV stand on the trade fair site - amongst other things, with a cross-sectional view of a compressor.

Seventh place in the medallist rankings and the enormous enthusiasm at the event made the WorldSkills 2013 a complete success for the German team and everyone involved. Bitzer is very pleased to report that young visitors in particular took advantage of the event to familiarise themselves with practical aspects of the many different careers that can be begun with vocational training courses. Numerous industry-related lectures offered opportunities to gather first-hand information and question experts on the spot.

Bitzer also invited 31 visitors from various different countries to a tour of the company's competence centre for reciprocating compressors in Schkeuditz. Several Bitzer specialists accompanied the tour to answer the visitors' questions.

Frank Fuhlbrück, director of the facilities in Schkeuditz, summarised his impressions of the tour: 'The international experts for refrigeration and air-conditioning who took part were all highly delighted about the tour. They were particularly fascinated by the production of the new Ecoline reciprocating compressors. This new generation of the proven Ecoline series of refrigerant compressors is employed, for instance, in cooling cabinets and freezers in supermarkets, in cold stores, condensing units and in the chemical industry, as well is in canteen kitchens, the pharmaceuticals segment and in high-temperature heat pumps.'