If you have finished Grade 12 and enjoy working with your hands, metal, and tools, the PG Group Trainee Tool Fabricator 2026 opportunity could open the door to a stable manufacturing career right now. Many young South Africans struggle to find work because they lack university degrees. This role does not require one. It asks for practical skill, patience, and a willingness to learn.
What This Opportunity Is
PG Group is recruiting for a trainee position at Shatterprufe. Shatterprufe makes automotive glass. As a Trainee Tool Fabricator, you will build and repair the tools and moulds that production teams need.
You will read technical drawings. You will cut, shape, and weld metal. You will assemble tools that must fit exact measurements. If a tool is even slightly wrong, the glass production line could stop or produce poor quality items. Your work keeps the factory running.
This is a hands-on role. You will not sit in an office. You will work with drilling machines, welding equipment, and raw metal materials.
Who Can Apply
You need a Grade 12 certificate to apply. That is the minimum requirement.
PG Group prefers candidates with two years of working experience. However, do not let this stop you if you have less. If you have done workshop projects at school, informal fabrication work, or mechanical repairs, you should still apply.
The role suits you if:
- You enjoy practical tasks more than paperwork
- You can read basic drawings or templates
- You have some exposure to welding, sheet metal work, or metal shaping
- You pay attention to small details
- You can work safely with tools and heavy materials
You do not need a university qualification. You do not need to know everything on day one. You need mechanical ability and a serious attitude.
What You Will Do Daily
Your tasks will focus on building and maintaining production tools. Specifically, you will:
- Study drawings, templates, or sample glass products to understand what is needed
- Measure and mark raw metal materials
- Cut, drill, bolt, and weld metal parts
- Shape materials to match exact dimensions
- Assemble tool components for new product development
- Check finished tools against quality specifications
- Supply the production floor with reliable tooling
- Support internal customers when they need urgent repairs
Small errors in tool fabrication cause big problems in manufacturing. You must work carefully every time.
Knowledge and Skills You Need
You must understand measurement and tolerancing. This includes size tolerance and geometric tolerancing. These terms mean you can work with exact numbers and understand how much error is allowed in each part.
Practical skills that will help you succeed include:
- Sheet metal work
- Welding (any type)
- Metal shaping techniques
- Basic mechanical repairs
- Attention to detail
If you learned these at a TVET college, technical high school, or in a family business, mention this clearly in your application.
What You Gain From This Role
This trainee position offers real workplace experience in automotive manufacturing. You will gain skills that employers value across South Africa.
You will learn how to interpret engineering drawings. You will master welding and fabrication techniques. You will understand how production lines depend on accurate tooling. These skills stay with you for life.
You will also earn a salary while learning. Unlike unpaid internships, this is formal employment with training built in. You build your CV with credible manufacturing experience.
How to Apply Step by Step
Prepare your documents before you start. You will need:
- An updated CV
- A certified copy of your ID document
- Your certified Grade 12 certificate
- Any technical certificates or training records
- Contact details for references who can speak about your practical work
Next, check your CV carefully. Make sure your practical skills appear near the top. List specific tools you have used. Mention any welding, metal cutting, or workshop experience. Explain what you actually did, not just where you worked.
Submit your application through the official online application portal on PNet. Do not email your CV directly to PG Group. Use only the official link.
No closing date is shown on the vacancy. This means the position could close once they find enough suitable candidates. Apply today. Do not wait until next week.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
Many applicants fail because they hide their practical skills at the bottom of their CVs. Technical recruiters scan quickly. They look for proof you can handle tools safely.
Place your workshop experience, welding projects, or mechanical repairs in the first third of your CV. Use bullet points. Be specific. Instead of writing “worked in a workshop,” write “cut and welded steel frames using angle grinders and arc welding equipment.”
Show you understand safety. Mention any personal protective equipment (PPE) training or safety awareness you have. Manufacturing environments take safety seriously.
If you have two years of experience, highlight it. If you have less, focus on the quality of your practical exposure. Even helping a neighbour with metal fabrication or working on cars counts if you explain the skills you used.
Check your spelling and contact details. Recruiters cannot call you back if your phone number is wrong.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
The manufacturing sector needs young people who can work with their hands and think carefully. The PG Group Trainee Tool Fabricator 2026 role offers a real chance to enter this world without a degree.
You will face competition. Many Grade 12 graduates apply for these roles. But if you can show genuine mechanical ability, drawing interpretation skills, and a strong work ethic, you stand a good chance.
Prepare your CV now. Highlight your practical skills. Gather your documents. Submit through the official PNet portal today. Your manufacturing career could start with this single application.