The Oklahoma Department of Commerce announced that a delegation visited an aluminum specialty foundry operated by EGA Leichtmetall in Hanover, Germany. The visit comes as Leicthmetall's parent company, Emirates Global Aluminium, plans to build a $4 billion factory near Tulsa, expected to double the U.S.'s aluminum production capacity and create up to 1,000 jobs.
The discussion centered on workforce development. The delegation reportedly saw the practice-based qualification model implemented in Hanover as a directly transferable approach for industrial development in Oklahoma. The model included on-the-job training, job rotation and structured continuing education.
"New employees learn production methods directly in the process to understand work steps immediately," EGA Leichtmetall Managing Director Thomas Witte said. "Our model combines learning in the flow of work, clear accountability and rigorous quality discipline. That’s precisely what makes it internationally compatible."
The delegation included 10 representatives from the fields of energy and environment, education and talent development, as well as business and industry.
Oklahoma's Commerce Department stated that EGA Leichtmetall's training and development mindset showed how practical qualification sustainably strengthens skilled workers and makes companies future-ready.
"We would like to bring components of the German apprenticeship system to Oklahoma to provide students a deeper varied training experience in preparation for a dynamic long term career pathway," Tulsa Regional Chamber Vice President of Workforce & Talent Strategies Rue Ramsey said.
EGA stated that the new U.S. plant would feature an annual production capacity of 600 thousand metric tons. The company plans to begin building the facility by the end of 2026, with operations expected to commence by 2030.
