When you meet Alicia Schloter and Tobias Kerber, you quickly realize: for them, it’s not just about wood and machines. It’s about dedication, about the rewarding feeling that comes when individual pieces turn into a finished piece of furniture. It’s about pride in creating something with your own hands that will last. For both of them, this profession is more than a job – it’s a calling driven by passion.
“HEY! I’m Alicia, 20 years old. I started my joinery apprenticeship at REINHOLD KELLER five years ago and today I work in cabinet assembly. I’m someone who loves variety. Sitting still was never my thing. I much prefer working with my hands and watching how separate parts turn into something tangible. That’s exactly what fascinates me about craftsmanship.”
When Alicia isn’t in the workshop, she’s often out with friends or on the dance floor. Garde and show dancing are her passion. “It’s all about rhythm, precision, and paying attention to each other,” she says. “Actually, it’s just like our work. Everyone has their role, but only together does it work.”
“SERVUS! I’m Tobias, 42. I’ve been with REINHOLD KELLER for 17 years and currently work as a lead in one of our finishing teams. Honestly, I prefer being right in the middle of the action.” Reliability matters to him – in processes, in results, and above all, in teamwork. “When you can rely on one another, a lot just falls into place. It makes everyday life easier and the team stronger.”
In his free time, Tobias enjoys the outdoors. Cycling, spending time with family or music: “I play the baritone horn and volunteer with the fire department. It gives me balance and helps clear my mind.”
Alicia’s path into joinery started early — not at a career center, but in her grandfather’s workshop. “I was always allowed to join in, to file, saw and drill. Even back then I knew: I want to work with my hands. An office job behind a screen was never an option for me.” Woodworking was her favorite subject in school. So, she started her apprenticeship at REINHOLD KELLER and stayed.
Tobias also found his way into the trade early on. Wood has always been his material of choice. Through several internships, he ended up in a small joinery workshop, completed his apprenticeship, and gained experience on installations – including for REINHOLD KELLER back then. “Building my own house shaped me. You really see what planning and practical skills can accomplish together.” Seventeen years ago, Tobias became part of the team in Kleinheubach, and he still enjoys it today.
In the workshop, no two days are the same. Alicia presses cabinet bodies, assembles doors, installs fittings. “I love that I get to do so many different tasks. The variety makes everything lively.” What does she enjoy the most? “When you see how well we work together. We coordinate, help each other, and exchange ideas. That’s how you end up with great results.”
Tobias also stays close to the action. As a team lead in final assembly, he ensures projects run smoothly – from coordination with design, logistics, and workshop management to quality checks. “I like that moment when everything comes together. When you walk through the shop at the end of the day and think: this is the work we accomplished together.”
And when things don’t go as planned? Alicia smiles. “Then we don’t waste time. We talk it through and solve it as a team.”
MEMORIES THAT LAST
Some projects are simply unforgettable. For Tobias, one highlight was the work for our client McFIT. From the first cut to the final installation, everything from a single source. “It was amazing to see how so many separate components became one fully functioning whole. There’s a lot of pride in that.” Alicia recalls her journeyman’s piece. She spent weeks sanding, assembling, and planning. And then it was done: her very own TV cabinet. “I poured so much of myself into it. When it finally stood in front of me, that was just an incredible feeling.” Tobias grins. “I still remember mine too, it was a bathroom mirror cabinet. Simple, but even after all these years, I’m still proud of it.”
WHAT MATTERS IN JOINERY?
For both of them, joinery is more than just sawing and sanding. It’s about thinking ahead, shaping things and taking responsibility. “You need good spatial imagination and a feel for the material,” says Tobias. “And you have to stay open to new ideas. Experience helps, but so does looking beyond your own perspective.” Alicia adds with a smile: “Getting up early comes with the job. You get used to it… well, somehow. But if you enjoy movement, variety, and a good team, this is the right place for you.”
A PLACE WITH CHARACTER
“Almost everyone knows everyone here,” says Alicia—and she means it in the best way. Tobias nods. “RK is a family business, and you can feel that. The way we communicate stays personal, no matter how big the company gets.” For both of them, one thing is clear: working at REINHOLD KELLER means not only having a wide range of tasks, but also being part of a team you can count on.
Inside RK
| Dominik and Jessica share their personal story: why they chose an apprenticeship in joinery at REINHOLD KELLER, how their path into the skilled trades began, and what shaped them both professionally and personally on their way to becoming journeyman joiners. An honest insight into daily work routines, challenges, and the satisfaction of creating something lasting with their own hands.
Case Study
| At Hotel Zeller in Kahl am Main, the remodeling was strategically planned and executed with precision. In collaboration with REINHOLD KELLER, 17 newly redesigned rooms across three floors were created, seamlessly combining tradition with contemporary design. The goal was to significantly enhance guest comfort and to strengthen the long term positioning of the family run four star hotel.
Know How
| At REINHOLD KELLER, data is always on the move. Every day, we process more than 10,000 lines in our bills of materials and use them to drive manufacturing, CNC programs, and workflows in our in house furniture production. The result is clear processes, clean datasets, and the foundation for consistently high quality in interior fit out.