At Siemens we started with a presentation about the history of the plant. The factory was built in 1913 as a brick machines company. An interesting aspect was that the plant was nationalized in 1947 and privatized in 1990. Then in 1997 Siemens bought it. Nowadays the company produces large electric motors and generators, everything from 1 to 25 MW. The excursion ended with a factory tour, where we saw how a lot of handwork was needed to first make and bend the coils, then to wrap them with tape and finally to place the coils in of the motors and generators. Next to this we saw how iron was punched and stacked to make laminated iron cores.

By Jeroen and Steven

The day started with an excursion to FEI, where they would show us secrets so small, that they are not visible to the human eye. At FEI we were able to visit the largest electron microscope facility in the world. After the general introduction we went on a plant tour, divided into two groups. After first getting ourselves into the clean room clothing, we were guided through the manufacturing process of two types of microscopes. The first type had the highest accuracy , where the second type of electron microscope was able to remove layers from the subject to have a look beneath the top layer.

After visiting FEI, we went to ABB to see medium voltage switching gears manufactured. But before we could enter the ABB factory, we first needed to be able to solve the secret of closing one of the mini vans, which refused to do so. After five minutes we finally managed to close the vans and we could proceed to the excursion. After the general introduction we were taken into the plant in two groups where we learnt about structure of medium voltage cabinets. It surprised us to see that the construction of those cabinets need so much manual labor.

Next on the program was hurrying to the Subway to get our lunches and continuing our journey to Bosch. However, due to road works we had to find a secret passage way to Bosch. After some detours we were able to find the way and we arrived just in time.

At Bosch (Rexroth) we were received by the American plant manager. He first told us about the processes taking place in the plant and how they manage to optimize those processes. Afterwards we had a short tour through the offices before entering the production plant. Inside of the production plant we saw some set-ups of hydraulic systems and testing equipment to be able to test the produced set-ups. At the end of the excursion, we had to let the plant manager in with one of our biggest secrets, namely that Eindhoven was not a part of Germany, but of The Netherlands.

After the last company excursion it was time for the first surprise from the committee, but not after we had the time to refresh and change ourselves in the hostel. After everyone got rid of their suits, we went into the city of Brno to play an escape room game. During this game we had to find several hidden objects, which led us to new hidden objects, or even entire rooms full of them.

After everyone had escaped from the escape room we strolled a bit through the city. After some time it was time to return to the hostel, drink a beer and prepare us for the last excursion the next day.

By Pieter and Marco

Our last excursion in Prague was to the semiconductor department of ABB, a power and automation  technologies company. The semiconductor department produces high power semiconductors, like thyristors and diodes, all meant for industrial use. An example of this is the welding diode, of which 50% of the world production is done at this fab. We also found out that the Furnas substation in Foz do Iguaçu, which we visited during the Prosperando Study Tour to Brazil during the summer of 2014, was a customer of the high power semiconductors of ABB.

After a short introduction and a movie on the activities of ABB, we got a tour around the fab. What struck the eye was that a lot of the work is still done by hand. This is due to the fact that at this ABB fab they do not trust to use machines; machines would break down relatively fast, compared to the relatively low production numbers (10,000-15,000 per month). Also, when such machines would break down, ABB would need people from abroad to fix the machines, as the expertise is not present in the Czech Republic. Another striking thing was that the ovens and machines that were used all had names. Next to that, the chips are made on small wafers of around three inches diameter, which they make themselves, and sometimes even do not need to be cut, as the chips might be just as big as the wafers.

After our visit to ABB in Prague, we drove to the city center and tried to find a parking spot. When we finally found two for the mini busses, we had two hours of free time to get some lunch, after which we gathered at the sun-drenched Old Town Square. There we met met Adam, who guided us through the city centre of Prague. He told us a lot about the city, the nazi and communism history, and he also told us a lot of other facts. For example, the Czech Republic has become so atheist that a lot of churches have had a new function. Of the four churches around the square, one is used as a concert hall, another one as an exhibition hall, and a third functions as a bar today. We also saw the filming locations of XXX and the last scene of Casino Royale, as well as the ‘5th most disappointing tourist attraction in the world’, as Adam called it: the astronomical clock of Prague. It was a very nice tour with our guide Adam. He told everything very enthusiastic and full of passion, and as he studied in Edinburgh for six year, his English was very pleasant to listen to.

After the city tour we had some time off again to have dinner and enjoy the last moments in Prague. At 20:20 we left Prague for a two hour drive, including stops at the KFC and McDonalds, to our next destination: Brno! We’ll stay there for around two days, visiting a couple of companies and awaiting some surprises by the organizing committee.

By Mark and Lisa

• Hair clip corners in Praha may or may not be taken at 50 km/h?
• Our guide at Skoda will be fired at least 5 times before Saturday, so told us so :D?
• The Skoda plant is 2,2 km squared?
• Monaco is only 1.9 km squared?
• The above means that the Skoda plant area is bigger than Monaco?
• This list has been made in our heads during the thrilling bus drive?
• The navigator systems in Praha are useless?
• The Czech Republic don’t know speed bumps, because of the quality of the roads?
• In the Czech Republic they are more advanced because they have a KFC drive true?
• You will get serious burns if you stand in front of a TW laser?
• Niels is able to drive a mini van like a go-kart?
• Steven followed him fearing for his own life?
• The wine bottles that Jeroen anxiously tried to handle with care yesterday barely survived?
• You are now half way through the Tuesday- ‘ did you know little thats’ ?
• The entire Spolu committee did not know that the FOM has a nuclear fusion lab just behind the Flux building?
• The rest of the Tuesday Did You Know Litttle Thats is written by Indy?
• Marcella has marvelous singing skills?
• Because of these singing skills people were happy to be with Frank in our mini van?
• There were seperate seats for mothers in law at the Skoda plant?
• Food is really cheap in the Czech Republic?
• Frank is really load?
• If you say too much at Skoda you will get fired?
• Team leaders at Skoda shave their heads (inlcuding woman)?
• Employees at Skoda regularly go drinking on quiet zones of the factory ground? They even organize funerals there!
• It takes about 24 hours to produce a car?
• About 12 hours of that is spend printing the car?
• To speed up the belt by assembly line by reducing working time by one second Skoda had to hire 30 people to do the extra work?
• Skoda is owned by Volkswagen since 1991 (or something like that)?
• Skoda produced a better jeep than the Russians during communist occupation but they were forced to by Russian jeeps?
• Skoda made beautiful expensive car concepts which were banned by Volkswagen because they would compete with Audi?
• They have a really car which burned through 1 motor per 2 rails?
• The lowest employees earn about 800 euros per month which is roughly equal to the rent so the families need two persons to work, while the boss of Volkswagen earns about 17.000.000 per year?
• Their rally car was too expensive so Volkswagen cancelled it and put Skoda in a cheaper league where they win a lot due to a lack of competition?
• The laser we saw today at PALS was special due to the high frequency and high voltage?
• There are 3 methods to heat plasma: by microwave, by neutron beam and by applying magneting fields?

By Indy, Iulian and Tom

Today, is finally the day that the highly anticipated Czech Republic study trip officially began. This story starts with a ringing alarm and a few exhausted moans on a rainy night from Sunday to Monday at around 5 o’clock in the morning, this was due to the first excursion of the week, Tennet, which would take place at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

All the super motivated, but still tired because of less than a half night of sleep, students arrived at 5.45 am at the electrical engineering building, Flux, on the university campus.  Two spacious vans which will escort us all around the beautiful Czech Republic already stood there.

Everyone was desperate to leave. But before we could head for the road, the Spolu t-shirts and participants guides were distributed among the attendees. Unfortunately the Spolu committee had some tiny problems with the printing of the guides. Half an hour later we divided over both vans and finally left, while being afraid for being too late at the excursion to Tennet.

Exiting the university campus we all silently said good bye to the exquisite view of the typical wet Monday morning dew on the very common front lawns. With only a quick glance to the past, we settled our focus on the upcoming life changing study trip.

Most students, who were not driving nor navigating, had the preference of getting some sleep due to the early wake up. Only a few who could not close their eyes listened some music, like the complete discography of Rammstein. Over the course of time some students woke up and read some wicked stories on their e-books or made the first attempt in knitting.

Of course every so now and then the drivers were switched and a snack could be consumed in the small breaks which could take up to 15 minutes due to the inefficient management of the committee. But no worries, this lost time was easily made up by driving a stunning 120km/h on the German high way.

Somehow very surprised we arrived too early at Tennet. (One van arrived even 8 minutes before the other.) After waiting outside the catering on a set of pick nick tables the committee finally got word of the state of business concerning the excursion. Due to some unfortunate miscommunication we arrived at the wrong facility. After some ferocious management and help of the present secretary lady, the committee arranged an unplanned meeting with the PR.

A fun fact: unlike the conventional dress code of a suite with tie, we were now all dressed in the Spolu t-shirt we received this morning.

In the catering we received some drinks and half an hour later we finally got a talk with the PR. We also received goody bags which included of a map with high voltage lines. With the map we were able to ask various very specific question. In the end we made a picture.

And off we went to the Czech Republic. At the border we had a small break to tank some diesel and to buy a leaflet.

After a long way we finally arrived in Praha (Prague). We easily found the hostel, but the problem was finding parking. The vans dropped us off with our luggage and then went of to the parking. After first using the wrong address they finally found it and made it back to the hostel. After a small break we headed out for dinner. With bad directions from the hostel we ended in the wrong restaurant, but it was cheap.

After a well deserved dinner with several half liters of Czech beer we gave a small generous tip and eventually headed back to the hostel.

At the hostel, some people got some rest while others decided to venture the mystical city of Praha.

By Yuk Hang and Jeffrey

On this blog, we will keep you updated about all the excursions and fun activities.

So make sure to check this page out regularly.