Revolutionizing Training:

Hands-on training and advanced technologies are empowering technicians to prevent equipment failures and enhance their expertise. Dive into the topic with Continental’s own Joe Herm.

How have training methodologies evolved in the last decade with different audience and training methods?

Herm: Our training programs have evolved with the times, keeping pace with the growing role of technology in the hydraulics industry. At Continental, we highlight our technology-driven solutions—like traceability, the C-IQ™ app, and CrimpCloud®—as key differentiators. Our hands-on approach goes beyond product knowledge, giving participants real-world experience in crimping hoses, identifying hose failures, and touring our lab to see firsthand how our products are made, from raw materials to finished solutions.

What role does hands-on training play in preventing costly equipment failures?

Herm: Hands-on experience makes every technician more valuable in the field. The ability to recognize issues by sight, smell, or feel can prevent costly failures and, more importantly, help protect workers from serious injuries.

How do you incorporate real-world failure scenarios into your training programs?

Herm: We have a growing box of examples that show some of the more common failures in the field.

How do you measure the impact of training?

Herm: Measuring the impact of training depends on the audience. For internal teams, written tests and assessments can track product knowledge improvements. For external reps, we can analyze sales growth and engagement to see how participation in our programs translates to business results.

How do you engage the audience during these training sessions?

Herm: We like to have as many voices involved as possible. Hearing different views and approaches helps us speak to all of our trainees. We also like to be hands on and show real world examples that people can get up close with.

How do you adapt training programs for different experience levels?

Herm: We currently have a 100-level program for as well as a great 200-level intermediate training for deeper Continental product immersion. In 2026 we hope to roll out a 300-level expert course where we will provide hands on training, make hose assemblies, demonstrate hose routing and how to operate a crimper.

What was the most interesting feedback you received after a training?

Herm: One of our long time customers gave us great feedback and said he loves taking these courses as he always finds out something new. It was a great way to show that even “old dogs can learn new tricks.”

How do customer needs influence training?

Herm: Customer needs 100% drive our training. We have a program that is great for a variety of reasons, but it is very adaptable. We can add to or cut areas that a customer needs to make the training more compact or even add to it and create a longer more detailed version.

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