Herrenknecht Expands with New Plant in India and More TraineesHerrenknecht is the technology and market leader in mechanized tunnelling and the only company on the market that supplies tunnelling machines for all construction grounds and with all diameters, ranging from 0.10 to 19 metres. The Herrenknecht product range includes large machines for traffic and transport tunnels (business unit traffic tunnelling), with diameters larger than 4.2 metres, as well as tunnelling machines for supply and disposal tunnels (business unit utility tunnelling), with diameters of up to 4.2 metres. Since 2005, Herrenknecht Vertical has developed and sold innovative deep drilling rigs, which bore drill holes down to a depth of 6,000 metres.750 Herrenknecht machines are currently in operation around the world. More than 600 utility tunnelling machines are laying underground new water and wastewater systems, gas and oil pipelines, and electricity, internet and telephone lines.The Herrenknecht Group employs more than 2,000 staff and 137 trainees (as of September 2007). Thirty subsidiaries in Germany and abroad form part of the Herrenknecht Group, as well as seven associated companies in related sectors. In 2006, the Herrenknecht Group achieved sales of EUR646 million. As of end of August 2007, Herrenknecht AG, including Maschinen- und Stahlbau Dresden (MSD), had 1,500 staff members, Herrenknecht Vertical: 73, Herrenknecht Formwork Technology: 38, H+E Logistik: 48, subsidiaries Europe: 203, subsidiaries USA: 29, subsidiaries China: 347 andsubsidiaries Southeast Asia: 57. New production facility in IndiaThere is massive demand in India for new and efficient tunnels and pipelines, in order to guarantee the mobility of people, goods and resources in the large cities and all over the country. Herrenknecht is part of the subway extension scheme in New Delhi, large water supply projects, pipeline construction and other projects. India is among the key markets for the future in the Asia-Pacific region, due to its enormous demand. Thus, like in China, Herrenknecht is building up modern assembly and steel production capacities in India to provide projects and customers with high quality and reliable tunnelling technology according to schedules.In a first step, Herrenknecht founded Herrenknecht India Pvt. Ltd. in spring 2007. This 100% subsidiary has its headquarters in Chennai (formerly Madras) on the eastern coast of Southern India. The decision in favour of this location and investment was based on Chennai's excellent transport links via the seaport into the mainland, an ideal pattern of industrial settlement in the surroundings, and the availability of excellently trained specialist personnel. In the first construction phase, Herrenknecht is investing a total of EUR6 million, which will be spent mainly on an efficient plant for the assembly of tunnelling machines, as well as production capacities for components and tools. This includes an assembly hall with a size of 3,000 square metres, a production plant for the manufacture of cutter discs (for hard rock excavation) and a storage warehouse for spare parts.Construction work on the assembly hall will start in autumn, the commissioning of the new plant is planned for spring 2008. The subsidiary will employ 100 staff members. This includes a service team, which will support the Herrenknecht TBMs operating in India. Education at the Herrenknecht training workshop Group picture of new trainees and cooperative education students in front of the 5.85 m-diameter EPB shield S-406 for Line 2 of Los Teques metro in Caracas In winter 2007-2008, the first Herrenknecht double shield machine with a diameter of 7.96 metres will begin excavating a water supply tunnel near Hyderabad. With a length of 18.8 kilometres, the route will lead through hard rock beneath a nature reserve, among other things. In addition to the tunnel boring machine, Herrenknecht is supplying a lining segment production facility (concrete segments for the lining of the tunnel) as well as comprehensive technical service. This year, Herrenknecht has received orders to supply eight earth pressure balance shields to create 18 kilometres of new tunnels in downtown New Delhi, as part of the city's subway extension scheme.Employing more traineesIn September and October 2007, 57 new trainees and cooperative education students, both female and male, start their careers doing an apprenticeship or cooperative education programme with Herrenknecht. Currently, Herrenknecht trains a total of 137 junior employees, including 91 trainees in the industrial and 31 in the administrative and technical division. Compared with last year, this represents an increase of more than 20% (23 more). For Herrenknecht, recruiting trainees and cooperative education students has proven to be a reliable solution in order to shape prospective qualified labour for the industrial, technical and administrative divisions of the company.Herrenknecht offers interesting perspectives to the junior employees in an innovative and future-proof technological environment. Twelve high school seniors are participating in the cooperative educational programme at Herrenknecht, most of them majoring in business administration. Three other junior employees obtained training positions in the industrial division of the recently founded subsidiary Herrenknecht Formwork Technology. The educational programme in the industrial division is based on four pillars. Vocational schools provide theoretical knowledge. At the state-of-the-art training workshop, four experienced educational specialists and foremen are in charge of the practical training at Herrenknecht, aiming to bring the future electro-mechanics, electricians, industrial or construction mechanics to a top level in mechanical engineering. During every business day in the various departments, acquired knowledge can be deepened and expanded.During the educational year 2007-2008, in-house classes are offered for the first time. In addition to the expansion of academic knowledge in the field of mathematics or economics, the curriculum also includes subjects such as work safety. Additional English classes contribute to train junior employees on the requirements of a globally operating business.The prospective industrial sales management assistants and cooperative education students work in the most diverse divisions of the company, including supply management, finance and accounting, project management and marketing. Technical draftsmen and IT specialists are exclusively trained in the design and IT departments. Training junior employees is a key element for Herrenknecht in order to meet the increasing demand for highly qualified staff. A specially developed bonus system offers additional motivation, awarding good to very good educational performances with up to two additional monthly salaries per year.Trainees and cooperative students, achieving positive results, always stand a good chance of being re-employed by Herrenknecht after completion of their professional training. Re-employing junior employees allowed the company to cover the dramatically increasing demand for personnel of the last few years. Interesting advanced educational programmes are offered to junior employees, which include language courses, foreman / technician and draftsman programmes or graduate engineering programmes. Fourteen former trainees and cooperative students are currently participating in programmes in order to obtain a substantial further education. Visit www.herrenknecht.com 40/07.