Having the opportunity to visit and work alongside experienced professionals in Scheidt and Bachmann Slovakia (SBS) for a period of one month benefited me greatly, both from a professional perspective as well as personally. I quickly discovered that SBS are at the forefront of the development of turn-key solutions for the automotive industry. From petrol stations to signalling and parking systems, SBS have found technical solutions to address complex everyday needs. SBS have a huge global presence, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they provide the local suburban train ticketing systems in my hometown of Glasgow! During my secondment, I was able to work on a project broadening my research skills; I gained new skills working with code and electronics for readout purposes from the type of pressure/temperature sensors I have been developing as part of my PhD research. Interaction with SBS engineers also opened my eyes to the business perspective, an aspect of research I have not thought much about. On a personal level, having the opportunity to visit Zilina in Slovakia gave me a rare opportunity to meet new people and discover a new culture and way of life. Such opportunities rarely come around, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.