Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Lacquer and varnish laboratory technician
Recognized by ordinance of March 22, 2000 (BGBl. I p. 257)

Duration of traineeship

3,5 years
The venues for training are the company and part-time vocational school (Berufsschule)

Field of activity

Lacquer and varnish laboratory technicians work in a team and on projects in development and testing laboratories in the chemical industry, in industries producing and using lacquers and varnishes and in the research and development laboratories of institutes.

Their spectrum of tasks includes the formulation, production, application and testing of coatings, coating materials and coating systems as well as advising customers.

In the areas of research, development, quality control, application technology and environmental protection, they carry out measurements and investigations independently and evaluate and document the results, using electronic data processing systems. They exercise great responsibility in oberserving the rules and regulations of work safety, health protection, environmental protection and quality assurance, in particular.

Lacquer and varnish laboratory technicians have a broad-ranging basic knowledge of application technology. Depending on the company's focusses, they have also acquired specialist knowledge and abilities in the third stage of their training.

Occupational skills

Vanish and lacquer laboratory technicians

• test raw materials and primary products by means of physical and chemical methods;
• determine properties of coating materials, inferring applications;
• put together formulations for coating materials and coating systems in accordance with specific requirements and in accordance with customer orders;
• produce coating materials, independently selecting the work techniques and equipment to be used;
• establish coating technology parameters and check the resistance of coatings to physical and chemical stress and strain;
• assess the surface quality of undersurfaces and coatings;
• evaluate measurement and experimental data, in particular using electronic data processing systems, and document results;
• apply coating materials manually and using automatic techniques;
• observe relevant safety and environmental regulations when working with substances, equipment and apparatus;
• advise customers;
• use quality management methods in carrying out their work.

Last modified on: July 30, 2007