Between 22 and 25 April 2026, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana organized a special professional excursion to Gothenburg—one of Sweden’s key industrial, research, and academic hubs—for its most promising students.
The programme began with a city tour aboard a unique amphibious bus, which even took the group into one of the canals, offering a memorable first glimpse of Gothenburg and its distinctive blend of port, industrial, and academic life. This was followed by a series of visits that provided students with valuable insight into advanced manufacturing environments and companies shaping the future of mobility, materials, production technologies, and industrial systems.
At PTC (Produktionstekniskt Centrum) in Trollhättan, students visited a modern research and development centre focused on advanced manufacturing technologies. They were introduced to metal additive manufacturing, robotics, digital measurement systems, welding, composites, and automated production flows, as well as their application in the aerospace industry.
During their visit to SKF Group, students gained an overview of the development and production of bearings, seals, and lubrication systems, along with the technologies behind them. The visit highlighted the crucial role of reliable components in industrial, energy, transport, and aerospace systems.
At World of Volvo, a guided tour of the exhibition presented the story of one of Europe’s most recognisable brands, its technological innovations, and its vision for sustainable mobility. The programme continued with a visit to the Volvo Trucks Tuve plant, where students learned about the organisation of a modern production environment, logistics processes, and the key stages of heavy truck assembly at one of Volvo’s major manufacturing sites.
A special highlight of the excursion was the visit to Chalmers University of Technology and its vibrant campus. Students explored two laboratories in the fields of materials and manufacturing technologies and learned about their strongly research-driven and entrepreneurial approach, closely connected with industry.
In addition to gaining new professional knowledge, students also acquired valuable international experience, direct insight into engineering practice, and opportunities for networking. Experiences like this play an important role in helping students better understand contemporary challenges and recognise their own opportunities for future professional development.
