Mechanical Engineering Student’s Sporting Success

Elemér Péter Haidekker Finishes as Top Hungarian Competitor in the Finn Dinghy European Championship, Taking 17th Place Overall in Naples

This year’s European Championship took place in Naples, Italy, from April 5–12, 2025. The event saw 111 competitors from 20 countries line up in the Finn Dinghy single-handed class. The 14-member Hungarian national team was the second-largest contingent after the host country, Italy. Among them, the top-performing Hungarian was Elemér Péter Haidekker, a mechanical engineering student from the Bánki Faculty of Obuda University, who secured an impressive 17th place overall. We extend our heartfelt congratulations on his outstanding achievement!

The Finn dinghy is a single-handed Olympic sailing class designed for the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics. As a one-design class, all boats are built to identical specifications—same dimensions, sail area, weight, and materials—ensuring that the results depend purely on the sailors’ skills, physical condition, tactical decisions, and maneuvering abilities, rather than technical advantages between boats.

The first two days of the championship were dedicated to registration and boat measurement checks. Racing took place over the following five days, with competitors completing two races per day. All 111 boats started together in each race, each lasting approximately one hour. Points were awarded based on finishing position: 1 point for first place, 2 points for second, and so on. The final score was the sum of all race results, with the lowest total score winning.

Below you can read Péter Elemér Haidekker’s own report, as well as his answers to our questions:

“We raced two heats per day over five days, in light to moderate wind conditions. Each race was physically demanding, and there was little time to recover by the next day. I had a rough start to the event—after finishing 102nd in the first race, I knew I had already used my one discardable result. Fortunately, in the following nine races, I managed to finish in the top 20 every time except twice. I was especially happy to place 2nd in the 7th race, out of a 110-strong fleet. I wrapped up the final day with two good results (11th and 6th), which helped improve my overall ranking. I finished 17th overall at the European Championship, making me the top Hungarian competitor.”

How did you prepare for the championship?

“During winter, when water training isn’t possible in Hungary, I focused on dry-land strength and endurance training—5 to 6 gym sessions per week, including sport-specific exercises, running, cycling, and rowing. I also paid close attention to my diet and nutrition. From March onward, I trained with my coaching partners on Lake Balaton.”

Was it difficult to prepare alongside your university studies?

“Personally, I find it particularly challenging to balance sports with my studies—both require a lot of time and effort, and time is a limited resource. The hardest part is time management, ensuring that neither area suffers. Fortunately, my professors at the university are very supportive and help me keep up with the curriculum when I need time off to prepare for competitions.”

What’s next for you?

“Now that the European Championship is over, my focus shifts to completing my studies as a final-year student. The competition season in Hungary started in April, so I’m racing domestically while continuing my training. I’m also preparing for the World Championship in early September, which will be held in Cascais, Portugal.”

We wish Elemér the best of luck in both his continued training and academic pursuits!

Photo credit and source: Robert Deaves (http://robertdeaves.uk)


Factory visit at OBO Bettermann Hungary Ltd – Student experience report

OBO Bettermann is a German company that has been a key player in the industrial and construction solutions market for decades. Its products are widely used in both industries. The company has an international presence and is renowned for its innovative solutions that focus on quality and sustainability, employing the latest technologies. The group is among the world leaders in electrical installation technology, operating in more than 60 countries and employing close to 4,000 people. Currently, manufacturing activities take place in 9 countries, and the company has over 40 subsidiaries worldwide.

The company’s philosophy centers on quality and sustainability. Quality control stations within the factory ensure that not only speed but also precision is prioritized during production, while significant attention is given to environmental protection. OBO Bettermann is continually working on integrating the latest technological solutions into its manufacturing processes, ensuring that its products and services meet the strictest industry standards.

During our factory visit, we were able to witness all of this firsthand. As part of our mechanical engineering class, we had the opportunity to visit OBO Bettermann’s Hungarian factory. The company began its operations in Hungary in 1993 in Budapest and is now involved in both commercial and manufacturing activities in the country. Since 1996, the Hungarian OBO group, which currently employs about 1,300 people, has been based in an industrial park near Bugyi, a town located approximately 35 km southeast of Budapest.

The factory visit allowed us to personally experience how such a globally renowned and respected company operates, incorporating innovation, quality, and sustainability into its daily work. Upon arrival at the factory, the clean and organized working environment immediately stood out. We were divided into two groups for the tour, which provided us insights into various areas of the factory.



The production lines and industrial equipment were perfectly integrated, with all machines and processes working seamlessly together. The production processes were automated, with precise coordination between production lines that increased production speed without compromising quality. My favorite part of the visit was observing the flawless operation of the automated machines and robots.

The specialists in the factory continuously monitored the machines, and every product underwent thorough quality checks. We also gained insights into their testing laboratory, where they demonstrated various inspection processes. The most fascinating testing process for me was the ip testing for water resistance. I learned about the different water resistance classifications and their requirements.

Overall, the factory visit was an incredibly educational and inspiring experience.

Kornél János Román