CPA Bulletin

8 CPA Bulletin > February 2025 www.cpa.uk.net The winner of the Best Personal Statement Award at Stars of the Future 2024 was Shannon Weiss who works for Finning UK. Based at Finning’s Chesterfield branch which serves quarrying, aggregate and construction customers in the East Midlands and the Peak District, she has completed a three-year apprenticeship and is now a fully-fledged repair and rebuild Engineer. Wolffkran sponsored the Best Personal Statement Award and Shannon was the lucky winner of a fabulous two day trip to Berlin, where she had the opportunity to visit Wolffkran’s factory in Luckau, Germany. She was accompanied on the trip by Dave Holder, who is European Operations Director at Wolffkran and Chair of the CPA’s Tower Crane Interest Group (TCIG). Shannon said: “The first day we did a fly-by history tour of Berlin, walking along the wall, visiting Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building and the Jewish Memorial to name a few. There was so much history crammed into such a small area it was quite harrowing and yet the resilience of the people to repair and rebuild was remarkable. We walked 12 miles in just a few hours and travelled all over on the under and overground. “After a quick stop in the hotel, it would have been rude not to sample the Christmas Markets. The smell of sweet pastry and meats filled the air as we walked, and the city seemed to completely transform into another world during the evening. “Arriving at the main market we tried a variety of food. Cheesewheel pasta, katsu chicken, bratwurst, warm nuts, chocolate covered fruits, traditional hot smoked fish and goulash, not forgetting a beer or two. The ice rink in the centre around the Neptune Fountain looked beautiful as Santa flew overhead in a sleigh before finishing the night in an October fest style bar with some traditional beers and festivities. “The following morning, we were up bright and early before setting off for the Wolffkran factory. It was around a 50-minute drive from the centre viewing other areas of the city before being out into miles and miles of flat wilderness with small communities dotted around. “Upon arrival and a quick change into PPE, we started the tour by having a look around the worldwide spare parts distribution facility before moving across to the main factory. The main factory manufactures all the steel sections of the crane, the steel comes in, we saw the jigs for each crane style and the process in each bay, how they are turned for ease of welding, the processes for increasing strengthening, different welding styles, base fixing type, fixing mechanisms and how they are constantly trying to make a more customer friendly product in terms of speed and ease of maintenance. “After the parts are completed for welding, we had a quick look in their painting facility and then outside on the finished sections. The variety of customers spanning all across the globe with everything in their front half of their yard waiting for shipment STARS OF THE FUTURE: 3 Visit to Berlin for Stars Winner Courtesy of Wolffkran As Stars of the Future launches for 2025, several of the winners from last year’s awards are making use of their prizes - ranging from iPads, tool boxes, certified training courses and even overseas trips.