May 8: Today we toured both Grob and FORVIA to learn about their production process at the plants here (or near) in Augsburg. Grob was the best company experience I have had so far! The office was so large and organized. They had many statues and models decorating their space which represented their many accomplishments. One of Grob’s newest products involves liquid metal 3D printing – it was so cool to watch.

Grob’s care for it’s employees is how I feel every company should be. They have their own health care system as well as other benefits like discounts at local shops. Working in the office there seems so fulfilling. They are so unique by not having any major competitors since they produce for many different markets. I felt proud to be able to follow the business presentations and agreed with the company values.

FORVIA or formerly Faurecia was next after lunch with the group. This company is very large and spreads across 40 countries. The effort and time they put into R&D is so impressive and they are on the way to making great discoveries/inventions. I learned so much about hydrogen energy and where it could go in the future. It is exciting to experience the beginning of such a revolutionary era of energy.

We walked around both plants but were not allowed to take any photos due to privacy concerns; however, I learned so much in such a short time and was glad to be a part of these tours. The technology and automation is everywhere in these factories. Many of the robots work throughout the night or weekend too. There is still a need for people and some manual labor which was discussed during our time there. I plan on looking into positions at these companies and where I might fit in!