Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein

In Germany, Motorola is located in Flensburg, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The location's primary function is the production of subscriber units targeted for distribution within the European market.

Recently, Motorola has expanded by distributing to Africa and the Middle East from Flensburg. This is currently the only company in Motorola's international network that operates within a relatively high labor cost country. It is the largest employer in the state with over 2,000 employees. The Flensburg site is also known for being the pilot factory in which the very first GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) commercial phone was produced.
Bent Andersen, managing director of Motorola GmbH

In 2000, there were three Motorola production centers in Europe but the Flensburg site was eventually chosen to be the sole provider. "It was a very close race," recalled Bent Andersen, managing director of Motorola GmbH. "It was really a choice between Motorola's best manufacturing worldwide. We looked at the market size as well as the impact of the incoming euro. There were many contributing factors, but finally the decision was made and I was very proud of the fact that it was handled diplomatically and professionally.

"It is our technical know-how and highly skilled employees that made this particular site stand out," he added. "And this will once again be the pilot factory when we start producing the next generation of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) phones this year. Our main strength is the experience and knowledge we have built up for so many years. Motorola has always been a pioneer with new technology."

Another interesting factor that has contributed to the success of this location is its unique and highly efficient shift model for factory employees. Motorola's Flensburg factory is the only one in Germany that runs a seven-day, 12-hour shift model. This system was requested and approved of by the workers council and the local government.

A visit to the company immediately evokes feelings of a solid community working together within a family-oriented environment. The complex has its own preschool for children of employees and a gym on the premises. It shows a strong effort on Motorola's part to effect successful integration between corporate and family life in Flensburg.

"The markets are changing and we have been able to adapt to that," Andersen said with a view to the future. "We have a huge amount of flexibility and a more open platform in order to give more features to our customers. This year's products are a step up from past years, and next year will be an even bigger step. It's all a result of our new, compelling products. We have definitely stabilized here in Flensburg and our market share is going in the right direction: up."

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