Behind the gold foil: Earning apprenticeship hours on the Ferrero production line
The next time you unwrap a gold-foil Ferrero Rocher, you might be holding something Mohawk College students helped put into production.
Gabe and Joey, co-op students in the Manufacturing Engineering Technician – Automation (Industrial Mechanic Millwright) program, spend their workdays at Ferrero Canada Ltd. helping to install, maintain and troubleshoot complex manufacturing equipment.
Their work ensures that those iconic hazelnut chocolates and other popular products, such as Tic Tacs and Nutella, move safely and efficiently off the production line. It’s also a hands-on example of how industry-led learning at Mohawk College gives students real-world experience with high-calibre employers.
“Everyone knows what a Ferrero Rocher is, and I’ve participated in maintaining those machines that make those products,” says Gabe. “To be able to say I work at Ferrero, I think that’s definitely something to be proud of.”
Nearly three years ago, Mohawk College and Ferrero Canada Ltd. began working together to prepare the next generation of millwrights for careers in industrial mechanical systems. Through co-op placements and Ferrero’s role on the program’s advisory committee, students gain experience, and the company helps shape the curriculum to match evolving industry needs.
Since the partnership began, Ferrero has already hired two Mohawk College Industrial Mechanic Millwright graduates, reinforcing the program’s impact on the manufacturer’s expanding talent pipeline.
Daryl is a supervisor whose been with the company for 10 years. He’s worked with various co-op students throughout his tenure. A Mohawk College alumnus himself, Daryl says students from the college arrive job-ready.
“They come into the plant with technical skills,” he says. “They already know the safety procedures, which is a big thing at Ferrero. They also have technical skills, and even while we’re troubleshooting, they’ll make suggestions right off the bat.”
Read the full story on the Mohawk College blog.
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