A modern training workshop in just five months: DAA Ingolstadt (Germany) scales civilian technical training for the German Armed Forces

At a glance:

• Industry: Educational provider / technical training

• Challenge: Building a modern metalworking workshop aligned with current IHK examination standards and equipped with robust machines for everyday training use.

• Solution: Complete equipment package with KNUTH machines for all fundamental metalworking skills — from turning, milling, drilling and sawing to CNC machining.

• Result: Modern technical infrastructure for hands-on metalworking training, currently supporting 145 training places and designed to scale up to 220 participants.

Civilian Technical Training for the German Armed Forces

The Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie (DAA) is known for its wide range of retraining programs, professional development courses and support services for entering vocational training. In Bavaria alone, the educational provider operates at more than 50 locations with around 800 employees.

At DAA Ingolstadt (Germany), the focus is on technical professions for fixed-term soldiers. Members of the Navy, Army and Air Force complete vocational training here in mechatronics, IT systems electronics or IT specialist system integration as a prerequisite for a military career in the intermediate service.

In the region, the educational provider ranks among the top three training centers. “We prepare the soldiers in the best possible way — both for their roles within the German Armed Forces and for their later transition into the civilian labor market,” emphasizes Uwe Bodendiek, Division Manager at DAA Ingolstadt.

A Modern Training Workshop in Just Five Months

To meet the rising expectations for vocational training and IHK final examinations, as well as the growing demand from the German Armed Forces, DAA decided to replace its old training workshop and significantly expand it to 600 square meters. The schedule was ambitious.

“In just five months, we converted a former furniture store into an education center with lecture halls and modern workshops designed for growth,” explains Bodendiek. “Looking ahead, we want to expand capacity from the current 145 training places for the German Armed Forces to as many as 220 participants and also offer additional technical and commercial occupations.”

For this reason, DAA placed high demands on both the facilities and the technical equipment — and chose a complete system solution from a single source.

Practical Consulting Meets Full-Service Support

Uwe Bodendiek and his team had already had positive experiences with two KNUTH machines and with the company’s strong price-performance ratio. Together with Thomas Cervinka, Head of the KNUTH branch in Denkendorf, they took a full day to discuss the equipment for the new workshop and the tight project schedule.

“We were treated very fairly — with Thomas Cervinka, it was not a typical sales conversation, but genuine consulting based on practical expertise.”

As a trained machinist and service technician, Cervinka put together a customized machine package. “For all relevant metalworking tasks — from turning and milling to drilling and sawing — I selected nine robust training machines, including the Mark Super S drill-mill machine and the X.mill 450 CNC machining center with Siemens 828D control. Both machines stand out for their high precision and space-saving design,” says Cervinka, giving a few examples.

With his technical experience, he supported the DAA team throughout the entire process: from planning the required electrical connections and answering questions about the placement of support columns to coordinating machine delivery inside the hall.

Uwe Bodendiek appreciates the smooth and uncomplicated collaboration: “Mr. Cervinka always responded very quickly and was a great help, especially during the critical phase leading up to the opening with the press and the commodore of the responsible German Armed Forces squadron.”

Unlocking Further Growth Potential

The new training workshop has been successfully in operation since March 2026. All machines are running reliably and can withstand the typical operating errors and loads of everyday training use. The consistent operating concept speeds up familiarization, allowing trainees to focus on actual production more quickly and start machining more complex workpieces at an earlier stage.

“Everything is running smoothly, and smaller wear parts — such as an uneven bearing — are dealt with quickly so that training does not have to be interrupted,” says Bodendiek, pleased with the quality and service.

With its technical education center, DAA Ingolstadt (Germany) has positioned itself as a strong training partner for the German Armed Forces and the region — and is already planning the next steps. For further expansion, DAA will continue to rely on KNUTH as its system supplier.

Customer: Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie GmbH, Ingolstadt, Germany
Application: Training workshop / metalworking

Machines:

• X.mill 450 – compact CNC machining center for hands-on training.

◦ Rigid cast-iron construction with ball screws for high precision.
◦ Powerful spindle unit with speeds of up to 10,000 rpm.
◦ Robust 12-station tool changer for high flexibility.
◦ Siemens 828D control with intuitive SINUMERIK Operate interface.

• V-Turn 410 Pro – precision lathe with dynamic spindle drive.

• Servomill FPK 500 – universal milling machine for a broad range of machining applications.

• Mark Super S – compact workshop all-rounder for combined drilling and milling.

• SSB 32 Xn – robust column drilling machine for consistently precise results.

• TSB 35 – bench drilling machine with automatic feed, used for series drilling in training applications.

• SBS 355 – horizontal bandsaw for reliable cutting of profiles and solid material.

• SBS 1020/2.5 – folding machine for precise sheet metal processing.

• B 150D – belt sander with integrated extraction for burr-free surfaces.