Connecting Studies with Industry and Research Environment
At UP FTPO, we believe that modern engineering education does not take place solely in lecture halls, but primarily through direct contact with industry, research institutions, and real technological challenges. For this reason, we provide our students with numerous professional excursions, laboratory exercises in companies, and insights into modern development and production processes already during their studies.
In May and early June 2026, students from different study years and courses visited several successful Slovenian and international companies and research institutions, where they were able to put classroom theory directly into practice.
Professional Excursion to Rotobox and odelo Slovenija
On Thursday, 7 May 2026, students enrolled in the course Polymer Processing Technologies 2 visited the companies Rotobox d.o.o. and odelo Slovenija d.o.o.
At Rotobox d.o.o. in Šentjur, students learned about the development and manufacturing process of high-performance carbon motorcycle wheels. They were introduced to advanced carbon fiber weaving techniques as well as composite manufacturing and testing procedures.
At odelo Slovenija d.o.o. in Prebold, students explored the modern production of rear automotive lights for prestigious car brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. Special emphasis was placed on advanced plastic injection molding processes, LED technologies, and the high level of automation and robotization in production.
Visit to the Fire Laboratory of the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute
On Friday, 8 May 2026, first-year master’s students of the second-cycle study programme Polymer Technology visited the Fire Laboratory of the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute in Logatec as part of the course Physics of Polymers. The excursion was organized by Associate Professor Dr. Andrijana Sever Škapin.
Dr. Urška Blumauer, head of the laboratory, presented the Department for Fire-Safe and Sustainable Built Environment as well as modern laboratory equipment used for demanding large-scale fire resistance testing of structures. Students gained insight into research and development challenges related to fire safety in fields such as photovoltaic systems, battery systems, façades, domes, and marine applications.
Mag. Vesna Jereb presented fire reaction testing of various materials and demonstrated the small flame test according to the SIST EN ISO 11925-2 standard.
With nearly 3,500 m² of surface area, the Fire Laboratory is the largest and only facility of its kind in this part of Europe, providing students with an exceptional insight into advanced research infrastructure and the field of material fire safety.
Laboratory Exercises at Kansai Helios Slovenija
On 15 May 2026, first-year master’s students of the Polymer Technology study programme visited Kansai Helios Slovenija d.o.o. as part of laboratory exercises within the course Characterization of Polymers and Polymeric Materials.
Kansai Helios is one of the leading international companies in the field of coatings and chemical solutions. Students learned about the development of new materials, quality control procedures, and modern methods for polymer material analysis. They toured development and analytical laboratories where physical-chemical analyses, mechanical property testing, viscosity measurements, coating durability testing, and other characterization methods are performed.
A particularly valuable aspect of the visit was the opportunity to gain practical experience with advanced analytical methods and equipment such as DMA, HPLC, GPC, SEM, and AFM analyses, which students often encounter mainly in theory.
Laboratory Exercises at Hexagon Metrology
On 28 May 2026, third-year master’s students attended laboratory exercises for the course 3D SVI at Hexagon Metrology under the mentorship of teaching assistant Bojan Podpečan.
Students gained insight into modern measurement and 3D metrology technologies and became familiar with the practical application of advanced systems for dimensional control and industrial measurements.
Professional Excursion to Hisense Europe – Gorenje d.o.o.
On Monday, 2 June 2026, we organized a professional excursion to Hisense Europe – Gorenje d.o.o. within the framework of the FTPO Career Center initiative, following the students’ proposal.
The students were welcomed by Barbara Mezek, a UP FTPO graduate and Senior Engineer for Polymer Materials Technology. During the visit, students explored modern production processes related to polymer processing and household appliance manufacturing, including injection molding using Engel, Demag, and Haitian machines, PUR K2 sealing processes, vibration welding, and the mechanical laboratory for testing polymer materials.
The excursion concluded with a visit to the signage department, where Jaka Britovšek, Head of IPC Technology Services, presented pad printing, screen printing, and the gradual introduction of digital printing technologies.
We are especially pleased that Hisense Europe – Gorenje d.o.o. regularly employs our graduates in the fields of development, quality assurance, and laboratory activities, which further confirms the strong connection between the faculty and industry.
Connecting Studies with the Real Environment
Such activities provide students with far more than company and laboratory tours — already during their studies, they gain practical experience, establish connections with real industrial and research environments, and become familiar with the technologies and professions awaiting them after graduation.
At UP FTPO, we strive to provide students with a modern, practice-oriented education that equips them with the knowledge, experience, and competencies required by industry and research environments today and in the future.
We sincerely thank all participating companies, research institutions, and mentors for their excellent hospitality, professional guidance, and willingness to contribute to the education of future engineers.