Today was a really early start to the day, we left the hotel for Hoerbiger in Schongau at 7:30 AM on the dot. Our time there began with a presentation about what the company makes and how they provide their services for a niche market.  We got to see production of Piezo chips and learn about the different ways they are using the technology. 

They make parts for BEV transmissions and batteries and some of the common brands they sell to are Ford and Volkswagen. We received a tour from two of their product managers in the machinery (e.g. laser cutting) and health care (e.g. ventilators) sectors. We also were able to tour two of the buildings on their campus. This was the longest tour of the trip and I learned so much about not only their company but the constantly evolving automobile industry in general. They did provide us with lunch, but I did not eat much because the sandwich had sauce I couldn’t eat so I had a coffee with too much sugar. The company also working toward the switch to green hydrogen for power since it is better for the environment. They also gave a presentation towards the end about the more business management side of the company. We learned about “lean management” which puts the customer in focus of all activities, and competitiveness is determined by quality, cost, and delivery performance. Overall, they seem like a good company to work for and everyone we met there seemed to be enjoying their job. I would consider working there if it was not in the middle of nowhere and if the work they did aligned more closely with my career goals. For now it is a no from me. 

After leaving, we took a short bus ride to Laber Bergbahn in Oberammergau. Where we rode up to the top of the mountain to try to get a look look at the top of the Alps. However, today it was extremely foggy and you can see from the picture below we were unsuccessful. It was still a fun trip and worth the photos we got nonetheless.

Finally, we ended out trip with exploring the town center there (pictured below). They have a famous Christmas shop that actually has a popup shop in downtown Pittsburgh during the holiday season. I was able to pick up a couple souvenirs for friends and family, but we did stay long since it was raining a lot. I finished the day by getting dinner in Henry’s Cafe in Augsburg where I had a tasty pizza.