KWS - Joint Training Center for Operation and Maintenance Personnel

PowerTech Training Center is the central training facility for power plant personnel in Europe. KWS is supplying training for operators, shift supervisors, team leaders, engineers and maintenance personnel of fossil, hydro, nuclear and waste incineration plants.

TRAINING FOR POWER PLANT PERSONNEL

Founded in 1957 KWS, has evolved from VGB Power Tech e.V. which supports and improves the operational safety, availability, efficiency and environmental compatibility of power plants.

KWS is a non-profit organisation with members world wide. Our main objectives are theoretical training, including preparation for IHK examinations and simulator training for power plants. During the last 50 years, KWS has always been very adept at setting the pace, pushing up quality standards for power plant operator and shift supervisor training.

QUALIFIED PARTNER FOR UTILITIES AND PERSONNEL

KWS is a qualified partner for all matters of power plant personnel training and offers its services for:

• Evaluation of existing staff competence
• Identification of training needs
• Development of curricula, training objectives and programs
• Performing theoretical, practical and simulator training
• Supplying e-learning
• Evaluation of training results
• Consultancy for the procurement of training facilities

POWER PLANT TRAINING WORLD WIDE

Training at KWS follows the guidelines developed in working groups of VGB PowerTech e.V. Today, all domestic energy providers also operate power plants abroad. They are striving for uniform training of all their personnel around the globe because it allows them to use their crews more flexibly.

KWS assists the power industry in this endeavour, ensuring a transnational high level of power plant personnel proficiency. Theoretical and simulator training can be performed in different languages in Essen, Germany or on site, world wide.

THEORETICAL POWER PLANT TRAINING

KWS is supplying theoretical training for:

• Plant operators
• Shift supervisors and team leaders
• Nuclear power plant operators
• Hydro power plant operators
• Maintenance personnel
• Personnel from manufactures and authorities on all matters of power plant technology

POWER PLANT SIMULATOR TRAINING

Different full scope simulators, reflecting existing coal, oil and gas fired power plants with sub and super critical boilers are used for practical control room training.

A new full scope simulator for an existing CCGT power plant with screen based HMI system has been in operation since 2001 for training in Essen and on site world wide.

UP-TO-DATE TRAINING MATERIALS

Teaching and learning requires good and comprehensible materials. The course material for operators and team leaders serves as a basis and is developed and updated according to learning objectives by authors who, in most cases, are instructors themselves. For individual courses, specific manuals will be developed in German, English, Netherlands, French or Italian language.

POWER TRAINING CENTER

The modern training center is situated in the idyllic Deilbachtal in Essen-Kupferdreh. The extensive complex contains about 30 classrooms, two simulator control rooms, numerous laboratories and recreation areas.

The apartment houses for the course participants are situated about 15 driving minutes from KWS. Equipped with telephone, internet and TV one can comfortably spend a few days or several months there. Every floor offers recreation rooms where participants can cook, eat or study. A garden offers relaxation from studying.

ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFIED TRAINING

CERTQUA, the Society of German Industry and Trade for the Promotion and Certification of Quality Management Systems in Vocational Education and Training, confirms that KWS has introduced and applies a quality management system in the scope of development and transactions of training measures to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000.