Three Volunteers with Heart and Soul for Young Welders

At SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025, three volunteers take center stage while remaining in the background. How does that work?

Rolf Willenbacher, Wolfgang Müller and Christoph Deryk dedicate themselves with great passion to the Young Welders Competition as well as the International Welding Competition. Combined, they bring more than 200 years of life experience and have been deeply involved in welding education for decades, across cities like Aachen, Münster and Koblenz.

Their driving force is their enthusiasm for young people. With expertise, patience and a touch of humor, they guide the young welders through the competition days. In the process, they share their knowledge, provide support when needed and above all, create an environment where the young talents feel comfortable. Particularly moving for them are the personal encounters: for example, when a participant from India asks for a keepsake photo or when former participants recognize them with joy.

Despite long workdays, often stretching from morning until late evening, Willenbacher, Müller, and Deryk remain motivated. Even after long, tiring days, the heartfelt gratitude of the young participants makes it all worthwhile. Self-deprecatingly, they refer to themselves as the “Muppet Show” of the competition – a nickname they carry with a wink, highlighting their unique team dynamic.

Even though they sometimes joke about their backs or knees, quitting is far from their minds. “As long as the bodys hold up,” they say, they want to continue being part of this experience. They see this volunteer work as more than service – it’s a piece of family, nurtured through decades of connection, shared purpose and the joy of guiding future generations. We look forward to many more years of their dedication and say THANK YOU.

(Source: DVS Media GmbH)