Hergen competes for the 2026 ABTCP social sustainability award with its new technical training center

Bridging the skills gap in heavy manufacturing

The global pulp and paper machinery sector faces a well-documented and persistent operational challenge: a shrinking pool of qualified technicians capable of handling the highly specific demands of modern equipment. Operating, assembling, and maintaining high-speed tissue or flat paper machines requires a sophisticated blend of traditional mechanical skills and contemporary digital literacy. Recognizing this industrial bottleneck, Brazilian manufacturer @Hergen has taken decisive action to internalize the solution. The company is currently a finalist for the prestigious Prêmio Destaques do Setor 2026, hosted by the Brazilian Technical Association of Pulp and Paper (ABTCP). Competing in the Social Sustainability category, the nomination centers entirely on the recent deployment of the CTec Hergen—a dedicated technical training center that represents a structural shift in how equipment manufacturers approach human capital acquisition.

A R$ 12 million strategic deployment

Rather than relying solely on external technical schools that often struggle to keep pace with private sector innovation, Hergen has allocated approximately R$ 12 million to build and equip a 688.5-square-meter learning facility directly connected to its manufacturing environment. This initiative is heavily embedded within the company’s broader corporate sustainability strategy, formally known as Converge to the Future. In 2026, social sustainability metrics are scrutinized by investors and clients just as closely as environmental carbon footprints. Creating localized economic empowerment through highly specialized education is a powerful indicator of long-term corporate health and operational stability. The CTec operates on a clear mandate: transforming theoretical knowledge into applied, factory-floor reality.

The mechanics of the training program

The curriculum at CTec Hergen avoids superficial induction sequences. It demands 3,600 hours of rigorous instruction distributed across two full years. Trainees dive into a highly specialized matrix that covers heavy boiler-making, industrial welding, precision machining, and the complex assembly of multi-ton paper machines. Furthermore, the program integrates modern manufacturing components necessary for the current decade, including modules on industrial 3D printing, advanced metallization techniques, and stringent quality control systems. The overarching goal is to forge technical professionals who possess a systemic understanding of the entire production line, bridging the critical gap between raw metal processing and a fully operational tissue manufacturing unit.

Redesigning the trainee employment model

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the CTec initiative—and the core driver behind its ABTCP award recognition—is its direct integration with immediate employability. The traditional vocational model often forces young students to pay for their education while hoping to secure a job upon graduation. Hergen inverted this socioeconomic dynamic. Participants in the CTec program are hired from day one under a formal Brazilian labor contract (CLT). They receive a salary competitive with the local metallurgical category, alongside a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, dental plans, and daily meal allowances. By eliminating the financial friction associated with acquiring specialized education, the manufacturer guarantees a dedicated, highly motivated talent pipeline while significantly boosting the economic conditions of its surrounding community in Santa Catarina.

A blueprint for the global paper industry

As the global pulp, paper, and corrugated packaging markets push for higher production capacities and greater machine efficiency, the reliance on specialized human operators remains absolute. Automation optimizes processes, but the physical construction, precise calibration, and troubleshooting of massive paper machinery still require expert hands. Hergen’s strategy highlights a critical operational pathway for the entire supply chain: capital expenditure budgets must systematically include human capital infrastructure. Earning a nomination for the 2026 ABTCP Destaques do Setor award validates this intensive approach, sending a strong market signal to other global manufacturers that localized, fully funded technical education is a necessary evolution for industry survival.

The creation of CTec Hergen is a masterclass in aligning corporate ESG goals with core business needs, proving that investing directly in human capital is the most sustainable way to future-proof heavy manufacturing. If specialized talent is currently the primary bottleneck for industrial expansion, shouldn't more equipment manufacturers transition from simply hiring technicians to actively educating them in-house? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai