From Apprentice to Production Manager

Sometimes you find the right job early on. That’s how it was for Carsten Lohkamp: In 1996, he began his apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic at the mechanical engineering firm Langguth; today, he is the production manager and oversees about 50 employees. The packaging industry has also changed over these three decades.

When Carsten Lohkamp began his apprenticeship, Langguth was a smaller company than it is today: it had about 90 employees back then; today, it has about 160 worldwide. And Lohkamp was the only apprentice in his class. That turned out to be an advantage. “It allowed me to take on an incredible variety of tasks and learn a great deal,” he recalls.

This hands-on approach shaped him. Instead of performing routine tasks, he worked on special-purpose machines, learned labeling technology from the ground up, and benefited from the expertise of experienced colleagues. “Much of it wasn’t in any book—it was practical knowledge passed down directly through experience.” Trying out new ideas and finding solutions together was part of his daily work. “Of course, not everything always went smoothly, but that’s what made the work exciting.”

After completing his apprenticeship in 1999, Lohkamp did his civilian service, then returned to Langguth. At first, he worked in the metal shop; later, he moved to final assembly. In 2004, he began attending master craftsman school while continuing to work. Not all of his colleagues understood this decision. “Some asked me, ‘Why are you even doing this? All the positions are already filled, after all.”

He didn’t let that deter him. Today, he gives young people exactly this advice: “Don’t pay too much attention to what others say, and follow your own path. If you want to further your education, then do it. No one can ever take that knowledge away from you.”

In mechanical engineering, the master craftsman program is still considered one of the traditional paths to leadership positions. In addition to in-depth technical knowledge, it teaches skills in leadership, production organization, quality assurance, and business administration. And even if continuing education doesn’t always pay off immediately, in the long run it can be the key to the next step in your career—with new responsibilities, more accountability, and higher pay. However, the exact amount depends heavily on company size, region, and collective bargaining agreements.

Starting in 2005, Lohkamp took on his first independent projects; in 2008, he moved to the SelfLAN unit, where he became department head in 2012. Since early 2025, he has served as production manager for all production operations and holds power of attorney.

For him, the biggest step in his career was the transition from the workshop to a leadership role. “There’s no blueprint and no book that explains exactly how leadership works—you have to learn it.” Patience, technical understanding, and, above all, a willingness to listen are important. “I try to speak with every technician or team leader, even if only briefly, every day.” Employees should feel that they are supported and not left on their own.

It’s not just Lohkamp’s responsibilities that have changed—mechanical engineering for the packaging industry has also become significantly more complex. Electronics, software, camera systems, digitalization, and artificial intelligence are playing an increasingly important role. “In the past, a machine might have consisted of 80 percent mechanics and 20 percent electronics. Today, the ratio is roughly 50 to 50. And it will continue to change.” The projects themselves have also become more demanding. Specifications are growing ever more extensive, and regulatory requirements are increasing. 

As a result, qualification profiles are changing as well. In addition to mechanics, electrical engineering, automation, software, and digital skills are becoming increasingly important. Production managers must understand technical concepts as well as organize processes and coordinate interdisciplinary teams.

This is precisely why Lohkamp sees good prospects for young professionals. “Anyone who enjoys technology and is willing to continuously develop their skills will find a wide variety of tasks—from mechanics and electrical engineering to programming and the development of complete machines and production lines.”

The outlook is considered good across the industry. Many mechanical engineering companies are facing a generational transition and are looking for qualified professionals who want to develop into specialists or leaders. At the same time, automation, digitalization, and AI are giving rise to new job profiles.

What continues to fascinate Lohkamp about the packaging industry, even after 30 years, is its diversity. “No two packages are alike,” he says. Whether it’s a jar of preserves, a shampoo bottle, or a cardboard box—every product comes with its own unique requirements. At the same time, marketing departments are constantly developing new packaging concepts that require suitable technical solutions. “We deal with new challenges practically every day and work together to figure out the best way to label or process a particular package.” It is precisely this variety that makes the industry so appealing. “It never really gets boring.”

What motivates him most, even today, is seeing individual components come together to form a fully functional machine. “When the plan we’ve developed together works out, it’s a great feeling.” And what if something goes wrong? “Then we figure out how to do it better next time. It’s like learning to walk: You fall down, get back up, and keep going.”

 Above all, he takes pride in the trust of long-standing customers. When companies place new orders for machines with Langguth after many years, he sees it as a sign that their collaboration has paid off. After all, as Lohkamp repeatedly emphasizes, success is never the result of individual effort. “Everything we develop here is a team effort. No one develops or builds a machine on their own.”