BA in Houston, USA, 2013-2014

At a glance

Where, who, when

What was done abroad? Practical training and bachelor thesis
Company location, country:
Sulzer Turbo Services Houston (today Sulzer Rotating Equipment Services), USA
Homepage of the company: https: //www.sulzer.com/en/
Name of the author: Karen Barrios Büchel
Degree programme at FH Aachen:
Business Engineering (B.Sc.), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics
Start and end of stay abroad: 01.10.2013 - 31.03.2014
In which subject-specific semester did you complete the practical project or Bachelor's thesis: 7
Name of the supervisor of the project/bachelor's thesis at the UAS: Prof. Reichert

Abstract

As part of my degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, I completed a six-month internship abroad at Sulzer in Housten, USA, from 1 October 2013 to 31 March 2014.

For my bachelor's thesis, I worked on the press connection between shafts and various components, such as hubs or turbine discs. The idea was to create a programme that would determine the parameters required for quality and safety control without having to carry out further detailed analyses. The practical experience at Sulzer gave me my first insights into engineering life. In addition, the interdisciplinary cross-training programme allowed me to get to know different sections and how they work together.

Preparations

When did you start the preparations? End of 2012
How did you make contact with the employer? Through a Sulzer employee in Germany.
How long did the application process take and what documents were required? Once I had contacted the employee in Germany, everything went pretty quickly. I sent my application documents for the practical training and they were then forwarded to Sulzer Turbo Services Houston. I received a message from Sulzer Houston fairly quickly and they immediately offered me an internship.
I needed a J1 visa for the practical training/bachelor thesis. Sulzer hired the American Immigration Council to prepare all the necessary documents for the practical training and to assist me with the visa application. All costs were covered by Sulzer. Once the documents had been processed and sent to Germany, I then had to make an appointment at the American Embassy (Frankfurt). The interview (where only 3-4 questions were asked at the counter) went smoothly and I received my passport with the visa 2 days later.
Useful tips or further information on preparation: It is always best to apply for practical training in good time. Everything went pretty quickly for me, which is not the case for everyone. I was accepted at the beginning of 2013 (although I didn't want to start until October), which gave me enough time to apply for the visa. My supervisor also had a lot more time to prepare all the tasks and content of the practical training.

Financial

Did you receive any funding to finance your stay abroad? No.
Did you receive a salary from your employer? Yes. I received an hourly wage of 15 dollars an hour. As I was doing interdisciplinary training, I worked more in some sections than others. This was also reflected in my salary.
What were the approximate costs of travelling to the host country? The flight cost about €1000.
What are the approximate living and accommodation costs in the host country? As I lived with my boyfriend, I didn't have to pay any rent (a small flat in Houston costs around 1000 dollars a month). As there is no decent public transport in Houston, I had to rent a car (700$/month). I had to drive 60 miles a day, for which I had to pay $200 a month in petrol. I spent between $50 and $100 a week on food etc.
Did you have to take out additional health insurance? If so, what kind and at what cost? Any tips on this? Before I left, I took out international health insurance (with ADAC), which cost around €250 (for 8 months). I can only recommend this, as the health insurance required for the visa only covers up to $10,000 in costs (and only for accidents).
Is further insurance necessary? Not really.

On site

What formalities had to be completed after arrival? After my arrival, I had to register with the organisation (American Immigration Council). It was also important to apply for a Social Security Number after 7 days. Once you have this, you can open an account at an American bank (important for those who receive a salary). If you stay in the USA for longer than 90 days, you also have to have your driving licence recognised/rewritten (as a tourist/J1 you are only allowed to drive for 3 months with a German driving licence).
How did you find accommodation (did your employer help you find accommodation or are there any helpful agencies)? As I was living with my boyfriend, I didn't have to look for a flat.
Where is the best place to live? Downtown/midtown. Although the company was outside Houston (La Port) and I had to drive 35 minutes in the morning, I recommend staying in the heart of Houston. Outside of Houston, there are only large industrial areas (oil & gas companies/factories).
What are the local shopping facilities like? Very good. In the USA you can find a supermarket on every corner.
What is cheap or expensive in the host country? You can find very cheap clothes/shoes/bags in the outlets.
How far did you live from the company and what was the daily commute to work like? I had to drive 30 miles there and back every day as the company is outside Houston (La Porte, industrial area). There is no public transport in Houston, so I always had to drive.
What can you say about the company location? What leisure activities / excursions / tourist attractions are there on site? The company is located outside Houston, in the La Port industrial area. There is not much there other than oil & gas factories and workshops. In Houston, on the other hand, there are many different restaurants (it is the city with the most restaurants in the USA) and leisure facilities. There are also many large and beautiful parks for jogging. Houston is also close to Galveston Beach, Austin and San Antonio (very popular tourist destinations)
Are there any special customs/customs among the locals and what is an absolute taboo? Americans really appreciate a friendly and open attitude. I didn't really notice any real taboos during my internship.

About the employer

Briefly describe the company! Sulzer Turbo Services Houston (now Sulzer Rotating Equipment Services) specialises in the repair and maintenance of various rotating elements for gas and steam turbines, compressors, pumps, motors and generators. The wide range of services (manufacturing, engineering, coatings, among others) and quick turnaround of the Houston shop is responsible for the company's strong position.
Which Section did you work in? The practical training was conducted as an interdisciplinary cross-training programme. The idea was to spend the first weeks/months in the workshops, getting to know the company's services and performance in order to be able to apply this know-how in the International Sales Section. I spent the first 4 months in the various workshops at the site: Assembly Bay, Coatings, Manufacturing, Combustion Department and Big Bay (gas turbines). I was originally supposed to spend the rest of my time in International Sales, but I was offered a new project in the Engineering Department after the fourth month, so I spent the rest of my time in the engineering office. I also carried out all the tests for my bachelor's thesis there.
Topic of your bachelor's thesis: For my bachelor's thesis, I dealt with the press connection between shafts and various components, such as hubs or turbine discs. The idea was to create a program that would determine the parameters required for quality and safety control without having to carry out further detailed analyses. The model developed was tested and validated using various models and finite element analysis. The latter was also tested for geometrically complex components, such as centrifugal compressors.
Was the topic of the project work/bachelor's thesis specified by the company or could you choose it yourself? Originally, I was supposed to write my Bachelor's thesis in International Sales. After I had worked in the workshop for 4 months, I told my supervisor that I found the engineering work behind the repair and maintenance process of the machines very exciting. He immediately contacted the engineering department and suggested that I write my thesis there.
How many hours did you work on average? At least 10 hours a day

Final considerations - Conclusion

How would you rate your stay abroad overall? Super! I would never have imagined the learning effect would be like this. Practical experience gives you the opportunity to apply theoretical principles and knowledge. The company always went to great lengths to make the practical training interesting.
What were the high and low points of your stay? The hands-on experience was the high point of the practical training. The training gave me the opportunity to work with the various machines (turbines, motors, compressors, etc.), to familiarise myself with components, to take part in the repair process and also in finding solutions. My time at Sulzer gave me my first insight into engineering life. In addition, the interdisciplinary cross-training programme allowed me to get to know different sections and how they work together.