Decent work and economic growth
Foundation in the Golden Twenties: Friedrich Jacob founds his company in Porta Westfalica on 1 April 1924.
Wood products for mill construction: In the 1930s, the company primarily produces square pipes made of wood for mill construction.
Growth through specialisation: The company specialises in the production of sheet steel pipes. The result in one word: growth!
Convincing pipe systems: JACOB focuses on the production of pipe systems, enabling the company to expand its customer base.
New products for new industries: JACOB achieves a breakthrough in the general industry with the new development of the U-shaped seal.
JACOB goes international: In the 1990s, JACOB founds its first subsidiary and also launches internationally. Today, the JACOB Group comprises six subsidiaries.
Exciting new development: The new Quick Connect pull ring makes the installation of JACOB pipe systems even more economical.
Today and tomorrow: In the age of digitalisation, JACOB relies on new technologies, such as the use of cobots in production and AR glasses as a pipe planning tool for digital services.
For our customers
For our customers
For us, everything revolves around making life easier for our customers – with real solutions that inspire and make a tangible difference. We focus on digital innovations, personal appreciation and straightforward processes so that our customers are not just satisfied, but delighted and keep coming back to us.
For our success
For our success
At JACOB, we act as if it were our own company – with full responsibility, common sense and clear principles. Sustainability and social commitment are a matter of course for us, because we not only want to be economically successful, but also make a positive difference that we can be proud of together.
For our future
For our future
If you want to make a difference, you have to try new things. That's why we continue to evolve – every day. We love new ideas, whether digital or sustainable – whatever helps us move forward, we try out.
For all of us
For all of us
We are and will remain a family business. And you can feel that. We stick together, help shape things and take responsibility – for each other and for the big picture. With us, work can be fun – together and at eye level.
We live JACOB and take responsibility
We live JACOB and take responsibility
We understand what moves our team and act together. Today, tomorrow and in the future – for sustainable success and strong relationships. As role models, we embody team spirit, give honest feedback and keep our eyes on the big picture..
Hit the ground running – training at JACOB
We don’t use outdated training methods. Those who start with us can look forward to a training programme that thinks for itself – and thinks ahead. Instead of a rigid programme, we focus on needs-based training that is geared towards what proved successful yesterday, is important today and will be needed tomorrow. Because for us, real sustainability starts from the beginning: we support the talent of tomorrow with a view to the challenges of the day after tomorrow. Varied, forward-looking and always up to date – that's what training with us looks like.
Try it out, tackle it, get started
We find our next generation with what makes us who we are: curiosity, practical relevance and a love for craftsmanship. At events and trade fairs, we bring young people together with the right training path – in a straightforward and direct way. Get a taste of the workshop, take on projects and gain real experience. This means that not only are pipes welded to pipes, but trainees are welded to JACOB.
We make our craft tangible and inspire enthusiasm. We are on location: whether at schools, at sporting events with the Minden Wolves or at our Macher Day (engl. Maker Day). We invest in great events with passion and commitment – so that young people can experience the world of craftsmanship up close, get to know our culture and develop an appetite for a career at JACOB.
Name:
Nicole Papst
Training programme:
Technical product designer
At JACOB since:
1 August 2021
Favourite project:
Planning the Macher Festivals
Superpower:
Bringing structure to chaos
Future-relevant professions – with prospects
Whether it's an apprenticeship or a dual study programme – we don't just think about the start, but about what comes afterwards. Together with partners such as RWTH Aachen University and Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, we offer training programmes with long-term vision.
Because that's what counts for us: which professions will still be relevant in ten years' time? This is exactly why we regularly reorganise our range of services to meet the real requirements of business and industry. Our promise: training with prospects, a strong team spirit right from the start – and the real opportunity to get off to a flying start with us in the long term.
For a close-knit team
Training at JACOB means: participating, shaping and growing. Our trainees don’t just stand on the sidelines – they actively get involved. Whether through exciting projects or trainee events, here you gain real practical experience from day one.
To achieve this, we have invested in our own trainee workshop. The perfect place to try things out, tinker and develop. Those who show particular talent are supported by us – through targeted programmes and personal mentoring. Because we want to do more than just provide training: we want to build the future – as a team.
You can find out what jobs you can learn at JACOB, how much you earn and what your everyday life will be like on our careers page.
Go to training at JACOBWhat our trainees say
Employees are looked after here, including us trainees. For example, we were allowed to take part in the "Real Life Guys" Macher Festival with our own stand – that was definitely one of the highlights of my training.
Niklas Stichling,
Technical Product Designer
At JACOB, everything is just right: exciting tasks, great colleagues and a lot of variety. And the trainee events are not short on fun either.
Fabienne Wessel,
Construction Mechanic (specialising in thin sheet metal construction)
Digitalisation and environmental awareness are firmly anchored at JACOB – we trainees are also given space to try out new things and help shape the future. You definitely don't find this forward-looking approach at every company, and that makes the training here particularly exciting.
Nicole Papst,
Technical Product Designer (specialising in mechanical and plant engineering)
From student to sustainability manager
Lisa Kleemann started a dual study programme in industrial engineering with us in 2018. Six years, a bachelor's and a master's degree later, she is now our sustainability manager. In this short interview, she explains what her path with us has looked like and why she is so passionate about sustainability.
Lisa Kleemann keeps an eye on the environment, risks and regulatory requirements
Getting stuck in – our trainee workshop
We love to invest in the future.
In the workshop set up especially for our trainees, our young talents can plan and realise their own projects, try their hand at metalworking and give free rein to their creativity. They take on responsibility early on – the perfect preparation for the real world of work.
3D printer
Our trainees can really get started on the 3D printer: using the CAD programme, they learn how to turn ideas into tangible models – and train their spatial thinking in the process. But before the sheet metal is cut, it is digitally designed, adapted and optimised. This allows them to tweak the models until everything fits – and then it's off to the workshop. Think it up, try it out, realise it!
Cobots
We are currently testing a prototype of the automatic extraction system in the trainee workshop with one of our cobots from Universal Robots. Cobots are our small helper robots that can work safely alongside humans, thanks to their reduced speed. With their arm, which can rotate in all directions, they support us in assembly and material handling. They are already producing parts that can be used independently and are increasing our productivity.
Fun fact: the idea for the use of cobots came from our trainees. They were also the ones who designed and programmed our first cobot.
Welding workstation
Our trainees learn to weld at twelve well-equipped workstations – all equipped with MAG and TIG welding systems from Fronius. The benefit: the TIG devices can be easily converted to allow welding with electrodes. This means that our young professionals are ideally equipped for every challenge and can really develop their expertise.
Basic training stations
At our basic training stations, our trainees learn the basics – for example, punching or scribing. When punching, a small indentation is made in the sheet with a pointed tool and a little swing of the hammer. This ensures that the drill does not slip later.
Scribing is all about transferring: dimensions and shapes from the technical drawing are transferred to the sheet metal using a scriber or steel ruler. This creates fine lines that can be used as a guide during subsequent processing. Proper preparation is half the battle.
Metalworking tools
Our youngsters don't just get the big machines – everything they need for working with metal is also included in the tools. Steel rulers, callipers, scribers, files, hammers and much more – there's nothing missing here.
Sheet metal bending machine
With the sheet metal bending machine, we can bend our sheet metal into the desired shape by plastic forming without cutting the material. Our machine specialises in round bending – the sheets can be bent by three rollers into the cylindrical or round shapes that we need for the production of pipes.
Bandsaw
With our band saw, the trainees can cut their workpieces, such as our pipes, precisely and cleanly using a revolving saw band.
Chop and mitre saw
The chop and mitre saw cuts our products to size. During chop sawing, the product is sawn off straight, i.e. at a right angle. When mitre sawing, we cut at the desired angle – for example, 45° – which is ideal for corners or joints. In the end, everything fits together perfectly.
Resistance spot welding machine
With our resistance spot welding machine, we permanently bring two metal sheets together without any additional material. This is how it works: the sheets are placed on top of each other, then a strong current flows through the contact points – and it gets hot. The metal melts in spots on both sides, fuses together and forms a bombproof hold after cooling.
Plasma cutter
With the plasma cutter, we can also cut thicker sheets into small pieces – quickly and cleanly. The principle is simple: the interface is heated by plasma to such an extent that the metal melts. The liquid material is then simply blown out with gas. Clean cut, top quality.
Belt sander
The belt sander is used to remove the surface of the metal: an endless sanding belt runs over two rollers in a circle, removing material quickly, evenly and reliably. Whether smoothing, shaping, deburring after cutting or as preparation for coating – the belt sander is a real all-rounder in the workshop.
Why was our trainee workshop actually built?
The makers of tomorrow – Macher Day @ JACOB
In 2024, we were part of the Macher Festival: a big hands-on event with influencers, exciting workshops and lots of action. Here at JACOB, we have taken this successful concept and developed it into a junior staff event – Macher Day. It took place on our premises in Porta Westfalica, together with regional companies and influencers such as the "Real Life Guys" – all of whom travelled to the event to bring craftsmanship to life.
The event went down really well: more than 900 visitors from all over Germany and neighbouring countries were able to experience how much fun craftsmanship can be at over 15 hands-on stations. Under professional guidance, they hammered, sawed, welded and built everything from small workpieces to complete projects. Leon Peußner, aspiring welding professional: "When the participants get their first weld, you're almost happier than they are."
Our goal: bringing the world of craftsmanship to life for young people and awakening their enthusiasm. This is how we actively support the specialists of tomorrow.
- 913 visitors
- More than 15 hands-on stations – welding, building, painting and much more.
- Influencers such as The Real Life Guys, Tischler im Kopf, Zimmerin Lea Marie and Der Holzbock in attendance
- In summary: Pure action – and a hunger for more!
