It’s a long way from South Africa to Minnesota, but not too far for Vaughn Repsold. He traveled almost 9,000 miles to perfect his vehicle-wrapping technique.

The global market for vehicle wraps grew to $909 million in 2014, according to a recent Grandview Research Study, and that growth trend is expected to continue. North America is the largest market, with some of the world’s top experts. Vaughn’s mission is to take that expertise back home with him. He traveled to 3M headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, to learn the latest techniques at a world-renowned train-the-trainer program.

The car wrap professional is hoping to be the first person in South Africa to receive accreditation as a 3M-endorsed trainer. He’s already an expert installer and has even competed in world finals competitions. But, there’s always more to learn.

“You can always gain knowledge from other professionals,” he says. “There are advancements in the film technology and new techniques are developed.” While he focuses mostly on vehicle wraps, he’s also learning techniques for signage and how to apply the film to a variety of surfaces, including brick walls.