EuroSkills 2021: Swiss national vocational team with medal blessing

The results of the EuroSkills 2021 in Graz are once again the best proof of what excellent and, in international comparison, outstanding skilled workers the Swiss vocational training system produces. The foundation for their successes was laid by the 17 Swiss nationals competing in Graz with their EFZ training as part of their vocational apprenticeship. This was the basis for the intensive preparation that the members of the Swiss national vocational team put in together with their experts and the support of their employers to achieve success. The six European champion titles were won by Leandra Schweizer (meat specialist from Rafz/ZH), Sandro Weber (agricultural machinery mechanic from Zuzwil/SG), Simon Koch (electrician from Boswil/AG), Michael Schranz (plant electrician from Adelboden/BE), Damian Schmid (automotive mechatronics specialist for commercial vehicles from Nesslau/SG) and the duo Yunus Ruff and Silvan Wiedmer (automation technicians from Winterthur/ZH, victorious in the Industry 4.0 competition). With another top result, the SwissSkills National Team once again underlined its supremacy among the top European nations at international vocational championships.

Previous record clearly surpassed

Due to the Corona pandemic, the young professionals were doubly challenged in their preparations. Originally scheduled for September 2020, the EuroSkills had to be postponed twice. "Our team and the environment of each individual went the necessary extra mile so that we could celebrate these successes tonight," Martin Erlacher, the technical delegate of SwissSkills, was pleased to say after the award ceremony in Graz. "We can all be very proud and have clearly exceeded the already high expectations."

Switzerland was at the start of the 7th EuroSkills with the largest team in history. The previous record in terms of medals won was 8 medals from 2012. The declared goal in the run-up was to improve this record. In total, more than 400 young professionals from 19 nations took part in the EuroSkills in Graz.

The Swiss results of EuroSkills 2021

Gold:

• Leandra Schweizer (EFZ meat specialist), Rafz/ZH, employer: Metzgerei Sigrist, Rafz/ZH. Expert: Sascha Fliri, Spiez/BE.
• Damian Schmid (automotive mechatronics EFZ specializing in commercial vehicles), Nesslau/SG, employer: Altherr Nutzfahrzeuge AG, Nesslau/SG. Expert: Jean Trotti, Noréaz/FR.
• Simon Koch (electrician EFZ), Boswil/AG, employer: Bütler Elektro, Muri/AG. Expert: Adrian Sommer, Langnau am Albis/ZH.
• Sandro Weber (agricultural and construction machinery mechanic), Zuzwil/SG, employer: Traber Landmaschinenbetrieb, Algetshausen/SG. Expert: Martin Schär, Lütisburg SG.
• Michael Schranz (plant electrician) Adelboden/BE, employer: Licht- und Wasserwerk Adelboden AG, Adelboden/BE. Expert: Christoph Meier, Felsberg/GR.
• Silvan Wiedmer and Yunus Ruff (Industry 4.0, trained as EFZ automation technicians), Winterthur/ZH, employer: Mechatronik Schule Winterthur, Winterthur/ZH. Expert: Timon Steeb, Wil/AG.

Silver:

• Sandro Hagmann (Spengler EFZ), Lostorf/SO, Employer: R.Voney GmbH, Däniken/SO. Expert: Roger Gabler, Lostdorf/SO.
• Mario Liechti (electronics technician EFZ), Windisch/AG, employer: Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen. Expert: Markus Lempen, Bern.
• Gil Beutler (polymechanic EFZ/automation), Linden/BE, employer: Fritz Studer AG, Steffisburg/BE. Expert: Andreas Allenbach, Frutigen/BE.

Bronze:

• Susan Wildermuth (decorative painter), Jonschwil/SG, employer: bickelmaler AG, Wangen-Dübendorf/ZH. Expert: Viola Stillhard Krasniqi, La Neuveville/BE.
• Julian Ferrante (Hotel Reception, trained as Hotel-Gastro-Tourism Businessman EFZ), Kriens/LU, employer: Pilatus Kulm Hotels, Pilatus/LU. Expert: Egidio Marcato, Glion/VD.
• Christoph Galli (Boden- Parkettleger EFZ), Rohrbachgraben/BE, employer: Lustenberger Galli Parkett + Bodenbeläge GmbH, Madiswil/BE. Expert: Ivan Fankhauser, Bubendorf/BL.
• Adrian Büttler (Gipser-Trockenbauer EFZ), Mümliswil/SO, Employer: R. Büttler Maler AG, Mümliswil/SO. Expert: Michael Hess, Bern.
• Luca Roma (glazier EFZ), Pollegio/TI, employer: Vetrimarghi SA, Biasca/TI. Expert: Maurizio Peluso, Arbedo/TI.

Top8:

• 4th place: Jan Meier (EFZ design engineer), Andwil/SG. Employer: Bühler AG, Uzwil/SG. Expert: Heinz Gisi, Rothenburg/LU.
• 7th place: Maurizio Tschirky (stonemason EFZ), Einsiedeln/SZ, employer: J. & A. Kuster Steinbrüche AG, Freienbach/SZ. Expert: August Kuster, Schmerikon/SG.

More info: www.swiss-skills.ch/nationalteam