HARMAN International recently announced its intent to relocate its Martin
Professional lighting production facility currently in Frederikshavn, Denmark to
Hungary. Martin’s smoke machine factory in the UK would not be affected by the
relocation.
“It has been some very tough considerations given Martin’s history in this
community and the goodwill we have enjoyed with our outstanding employees. Still,
it was a necessary one to improve our leading position in an increasingly
competitive marketplace,’ says Lars Dige Knudsen, Vice President and General
Manager of Martin. “Importantly, the Martin Headquarters will remain in Aarhus and
will become HARMAN’s global Center of Competence within dynamic lighting
solutions for the entertainment industry and architectural purposes.’
The move to Hungary is part of a larger HARMAN strategy to consolidate its
European manufacturing operations across its four divisions. HARMAN has more
than 20 years of manufacturing experience in Hungary and has grown there to more
than 2,200 employees. The new manufacturing site is expected to reach a staff of
approximately 400 employees, once the existing production has been transferred.
Today Martin Professional has initiated the formal negotiations with employee
representatives (Workers Council) and furthermore the local Labor Market
Committee has been informed as per legal requirement.
The manufacturing process in Frederikshavn is expected to run at full capacity the
next approximately six months. “In connection with the negotiations on the closure
of the production facilities in Frederikshavn, our company will focus on securing our
employees a fair retirement benefit plan as well as assistance to find other jobs,’
Lars Dige Knudsen states. The final decision on the relocation is expected to be
taken before end of this month.
Martin Professional is distributed in South Africa by Electrosonic, who feels that the
move is a clever consolidation of manufacturing facilities to optimize the operation
and increase the competitiveness of the Martin brand.
“Martin is and will remain Danish at heart and has had one of its most profitable
years ever. We believe that this move will only make the offering better,’ said
lighting division manager of Electrosonic, Bruce Schwartz.