This article was published in Elevatori Magazine, issue no. 3/2026.

Training new qualified professionals in the lift sector represents a strategic challenge for companies and for the entire vertical transport supply chain, which has long highlighted the difficulty in recruiting specialised technical staff. It is in response to these needs that the new training programme for Technicians in the Maintenance and Installation of Lift Systems has been launched, promoted by the ITS Lombardia Meccatronica Foundation, in collaboration with CNOS-FAP Lombardia, an organisation run by the Salesians of Milan.

The initiative aims to build a solid bridge between the worlds of education and work, offering young people skills that are immediately applicable in a constantly evolving sector characterised by excellent employment prospects.

From left: Maddalena Parotelli, Angela Castelli and Vito Rosone, during the Elevatori Magazine round-table discussion held in May at the Salesians’ headquarters in Milan.

To find out more about the reasons behind the programme’s creation, its learning objectives and the career opportunities available to future technicians in the sector, we met with Dr Angela Castelli, Director of the CNOS-FAP Lombardy branch, and Professor Vito Rosone, Coordinator of the Electrical Sector at the Milan branch.

How did the idea of launching a specific course for technicians in the lift industry come about?

The idea arose directly from listening to the market and from the well-established collaborative relationship we have with the local business community. Whilst organising work placements, several companies in the sector highlighted to us a severe and persistent shortage of specialised technicians. Our ongoing dialogue with these organisations prompted us to consider the possibility of developing a dedicated training programme.

From the outset, we were also able to count on the collaboration of the ITS Lombardia Meccatronica Foundation, which runs the programme. Its extensive experience in advanced technical training and its ongoing dialogue with the business world enabled us to transform a need identified in the local area into a structured, credible training programme geared towards young people’s real employment prospects.

It was a meticulous preparatory process, lasting around two years, during which we thoroughly analysed the sector’s needs to identify the skills actually required by companies. At the same time, we sought to gauge the students’ interest by organising educational visits to the Impianto Sicuro consortium. The enthusiasm was immediate: many students became passionate about this sector and explicitly asked to be able to undertake their work placements in companies within the lift industry.

Who are the partners working with you on the design and promotion of the course?

This programme would not have been possible without genuine synergy across the supply chain.
Alongside companies in the sector, the ITS Lombardia Meccatronica Foundation plays a key role; as well as being the programme’s organiser, it is a well-established point of reference in the field of advanced technical training. The Foundation ensures the link between the education system and the manufacturing sector, contributing to the quality of the curriculum design and the development of programmes that are genuinely aligned with the skills required by the labour market.

The industrial partners who have been supporting us operationally from the very beginning are three leading organisations in the lifting equipment sector: Montebianco, Everest and Eninter. Their contribution has been crucial both during the co-design phase of the training content and in terms of the future placement of students within the companies.

The editorial team of Elevatori Magazine has also joined this network of collaborations. The magazine has been a valuable ally for us, providing guidance, ideas and useful references both in terms of regulatory requirements and in developing a broader and more innovative vision for the project, which has enabled us to make the course truly one of a kind.

The most significant aspect of this initiative has been the excellent collaboration that has developed between these companies, despite the fact that they are, to all intents and purposes, competitors in the market. They have been able to set aside their commercial rivalry, united by a single, noble common goal: to lend a hand to the sector in training new qualified technicians and nurturing young professionals who represent a valuable resource for the future of the entire supply chain.

Who is the course aimed at, and how will the training programme be structured?

The course was initially set up in response to the interest shown by our students in the lift sector. However, the high demand for qualified staff from companies has led us to open the course to all young people under 25 who have completed their secondary education and are resident in Lombardy, and who are interested in acquiring skills that are in high demand in the labour market.

The training programme guides students from the basics right through to the sector’s most advanced technologies, consistently combining theory and practice.

It begins with transferable skills, which are essential for day-to-day work: data analysis for fault-finding, customer management, business communication and technical English.

Great emphasis is placed on safety, through training in high-risk work and preparation for the PES, PAV and PEI qualifications, which are essential for working safely on electrical installations.

At the heart of the course is the technical and practical training, which explores in depth the mechanics applied to lifts, electrical engineering, industrial automation using PLCs, digital electronics and the fluid dynamics of hydraulic systems.

A specific module is dedicated to industry regulations and preparation for the examination to obtain the licence for the maintenance of lifts and goods lifts, through the study of European directives, maintenance logs and the procedures required by current legislation.

Finally, the programme looks to the future with a module dedicated to the Internet of Things and Building Automation – fields that are becoming increasingly important thanks to the rise of smart buildings, remote control systems and predictive maintenance.

Rounding off the programme is a distinctive feature: the first-level apprenticeship contract under Article 43. Students will not be limited to classroom and laboratory training, but will gain hands-on experience at partner companies within the sector, working alongside experienced professionals and involved in day-to-day operational activities.

What are the main technical skills that students will acquire?

The aim is to train all-round maintenance technicians, capable of working on both traditional plant and state-of-the-art systems.

The skills developed will cover five main areas.

The first is advanced diagnostics and fault-finding: students will learn to read and interpret electrical, electronic and fluid-dynamic diagrams, and to use measuring instruments to quickly identify anomalies and malfunctions.

The second area covers electromechanical and hydraulic maintenance, with a particular focus on mechanical components, braking systems and hydraulic circuits.

The third area is dedicated to programmable logic and control panels, through the study of PLCs and the automation systems that govern the operation of the systems.

The fourth area covers electrical and operational safety, including the application of safe working protocols and the correct use of personal protective equipment.

Finally, particular attention will be paid to digital skills, the IoT and Smart Buildings. Students will acquire the tools to understand and manage remote control systems, predictive maintenance and the integration of lift systems within smart buildings.

In short, we will not simply be training operators, but professionals capable of analysing, understanding and integrating the operation of the entire building-system complex.

How much time will be devoted to practical activities compared to theoretical training?

Practical work forms the backbone of the entire course. Around 70 per cent of the total hours will be devoted to laboratory work, simulations and fieldwork.

Theoretical lessons will be put into practice immediately in the electrical engineering and electronics laboratories, where students will be able to practise wiring control panels, using specialist equipment and troubleshooting simulated systems.

These activities will be complemented by technical visits and training sessions at the facilities and test sites of partners in the supply chain, enabling students to gain first-hand experience with real-world systems.

The programme will culminate in a work placement, where students will join maintenance and installation teams, working alongside expert technicians in their day-to-day tasks.

The aim is to minimise the gap between training and work, enabling young people to gain operational confidence and familiarity with the sector’s tools and procedures.

What specific contribution does the Salesian educational model make to a technical and vocational pathway such as this?

The Salesian educational model, faithful to the legacy of Don Bosco (who was a true pioneer of vocational training and the first apprenticeship contracts), brings fundamental added value that goes far beyond the mere transfer of technical skills. Our aim is to train competent professionals, but also responsible, reliable individuals who are aware of their role in society.

This approach is based on three pillars: the Preventive System founded on the educational relationship, the centrality of soft skills and work ethic, and the educational partnership with the local community and businesses.

In a sector where technicians come into daily contact with people, families, companies and public institutions, interpersonal skills, responsibility and attention to safety become just as important as technical skills.

Collaboration with businesses and the ITS Lombardia Meccatronica Foundation further reinforces this vision, creating a pathway that combines professional growth, personal development and entry into the workforce.

What response have you received so far from companies and industry professionals?

The response has been extremely positive and has exceeded initial expectations.
Companies have not merely expressed an interest, but have made a tangible contribution to the development of the training programme by providing expertise, time and resources.

Numerous organisations have already expressed their willingness to host students during their work placements, and some have offered to support the setting up of the laboratories by supplying components, control panels and technical equipment.

We hope that this programme will provide a concrete and structured response to a professional need that has been a critical issue for years.

Do you plan to repeat or expand this initiative in future years?

Absolutely. We see this course as the first step in a project that is set to become firmly established over time.
The aim is to make the course a permanent fixture within our training programme and to update it constantly in line with technological developments in the sector, with a particular focus on digitalisation, energy efficiency and artificial intelligence applied to predictive maintenance.

The involvement of the ITS Lombardia Meccatronica Foundation and our increasingly close collaboration with companies in the supply chain allow us to view this project with a focus on continuity and long-term development.

We have started on a solid footing, but the enthusiasm and support we are receiving from across the sector allow us to look to the future with great optimism. The sector needs new skills and new professionals: we are ready to play our part.