Trainees visit long-established German company TRACO and gain an insight into production

The trainees at BESCO went on an excursion a few weeks ago. Together, they visited TRACO Deutsche Travertin Werke GmbH in Thuringia. “TRACO has been processing the most sustainable building material in the world, namely local limestone and sandstone, in Bad Langensalza for over 100 years,” says Ulrich Klösser, Managing Partner at TRACO and BESCO. TRACO has twelve quarries of its own and is therefore the ideal opportunity for the trainees to expand their theoretical product and industry knowledge with practical knowledge at the production facility and in the nearby quarry.

Diverse natural stone applications in the TRACO park and TRACO showroom

During a guided tour through TRACO Park, the result of the renaturation of an old quarry, and TRACO showroom, the trainees were able to get to know the extensive possibilities of natural stone processing. In the TRACO park, the company shows its customers the diverse applications of natural stone in outdoor areas. Among other things, floor coverings, walls, water bowls, seating and special elements in various finishes can be seen there. In the TRACO showroom, the application possibilities of natural stone in interiors are on display. For example, bathtubs, bathroom fittings and shower floors will be on display.

Even though BESCO specializes in the use of natural stone in outdoor areas, the company also carries out projects in indoor areas. The tour of the TRACO showroom expanded the trainees’ horizons with regard to the possibilities offered by natural stone – both outdoors and indoors.

TRACO showroom and TRACO park demonstrate possible applications for natural stone in indoor and outdoor areas.

Discovery tour through the production halls: Insight into the world of stone processing technology

TRACO in Bad Langensalza has been producing components made of travertine and other limestones and sandstones for over 100 years – from paving stones to Gothic tracery. Over the years, the company has acquired expertise that makes it the ideal point of contact when it comes to imparting knowledge from the natural stone industry.

In the production halls, the trainees got to know various machines that are responsible for cutting the natural stone blocks. The first machine cuts the delivered raw blocks into slabs, while the second machine works more precisely. To ensure that the machines know where to cut, a laser is used as a zero line from which the distances can be entered by computer and the slabs can be cut to the desired thickness. Another machine is capable of three-dimensional sawing and can change its required attachments independently – the arm to which the saw blade is attached can move along the x, y and z axes. This makes it possible, for example, to saw a large well shell from a single raw block. Machines like these also make it possible for BESCO’s selected producers to meet individual project requirements and deliver customized natural stone solutions.

 
Practical insights: stonemasonry and rock science at TRACO

The BESCO trainees were able to watch a stonemason at work and learned about the various tools used by stonemasons. They were also shown the different types of stone that TRACO sells. Using a red sandstone, Mr. Klösser showed how large mineral veins and how varied the coloring of natural stones can be.

Sustainable natural stone processing

At another station, paving stones are made from large leftover pieces. The remaining stones, which are too small to be used as paving stones, are collected on a conveyor belt and sold as gravel. By learning about the complete product cycle of the stones, from the 20-tonne raw block to the end of processing as crushed stone, the trainees were made aware that natural stone can be used almost completely as a material. This makes it by far the most sustainable building material.

To finish off, the trainees went to a nearby travertine quarry. Seeing a quarry up close was an impressive and unforgettable experience for the trainees. They were able to see the huge machines used to extract the natural stone and had the opportunity to walk right down into the extraction area.

Trainees visit a quarry.

Walk through Bad Langensalza: discovering natural stone and local sights

A former TRACO trainee then showed the BESCO trainees around Bad Langensalza. They walked through the old and small town, to parks such as the orchid park. Finally, they visited the town’s landmark, the Three Towers View – a place in Bad Langensalza from where you can see the towers of the former Augustinian church, the town hall and the market church of St. Bonifacii at the same time. During the tour of the town, it was noticeable that many buildings and squares are made of travertine and were supplied by TRACO.

“The visit to TRACO was an incredibly enriching experience for us trainees,” says Jamie Dräger, a first-year trainee at BESCO. “Not only did we see how natural stone is quarried and processed, but we also learned about the wide range of possible applications. This insight has deepened our understanding of the natural stone industry enormously and will certainly have a positive impact on our work at BESCO.”

BESCO as a training company: Training and dual study program

In cooperation with the private Academy for Vocational Training (AFBB) in Berlin, BESCO offers training as a wholesale and foreign trade clerk. Trainees learn the theoretical basics of purchasing and selling goods at vocational school. During the practical phase at BESCO, trainees learn how to purchase goods, present goods, carry out replenishment and sales in the company. In addition to technical skills, the training also teaches all the necessary personal skills for professional life.

In cooperation with the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR), BESCO offers a dual Bachelor’s degree program in Business Administration (BWL) with a focus on retail, which runs over six semesters. The program combines three-month lecture phases with practical assignments at BESCO. The program focuses on retail marketing, finance, human resources, sales and management. The practical relevance is reinforced by trade-related projects such as business games at the university and by the practical phases themselves.