Many tried-and-tested everyday products owe their existence to manufacturing in a vacuum. Plastic mineral water bottles retain their carbonation because they are treated with an invisible layer of silicon dioxide under vacuum. Enjoying music on compact discs, watching television on modern flat screens, or the shelf-life guarantees for certain foods would not be possible without vacuum technology.

With the growth of application areas and the pace of innovation, the need for qualifications in industry is also increasing. Therefore, the Giessen -Friedberg University of Applied Sciences and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, supported by the German Vacuum Society, have jointly offered their "School for Vacuum Technology" since the 1990s. Twenty-five interested individuals – primarily engineers and technicians – from across Germany recently participated in this five-day Professional Development programme, which imparts fundamental knowledge of vacuum technology. The course trained them in the use of standard equipment and new processes. The participants will apply their newly acquired skills in their companies, for example, in production.

The event began with introductory lectures in Frankfurt. Afterwards, various experimental setups were available for practical work in the laboratories of the two universities. Under the guidance of experienced university lecturers – at the Giessen -Friedberg University of Applied Sciences, these were Professors Dr. Wolfgang Jitschin, Dr. Hans-Justus Eifert, and Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Kügler – and qualified practitioners, the participants were able to conduct experiments on topics such as the heat conduction and viscosity of gases and coating technology over three days. They also had the opportunity to experiment with pressure gauges, mass spectrometers, and turbomolecular pumps. Lectures on topics such as "Applications of Vacuum Technology in Science and Industry" concluded the seminar in Giessen .