Bang & Olufsen is investing 16,5 million euros in new factory in the Czech Republic

“The company began production in rented space on the premises of Tatra Koprivnice in autumn 2004 and employed 114 people. At the same time, however, construction was begun on a completely new facility in the Koprivnice Vlcovice industrial zone, into which the company moved in February and is now beginning production,” say CzechInvest CEO Tomas Hruda.

Bang & Olufsens audio/video and multimedia products are distinguished by their high performance, outstanding quality and unique design. Successful sales of Bang & Olufsen products all over the world have made it necessary to expand production capacity in Central Europe.

“From the beginning it was our goal, not only to establish a production facility, but also to include a fully integrated development department. Therefore, we conducted our search carefully, over a long period of time, before deciding to locate our only foreign branch in the Czech Republic,” says Michael Jensen, general director of the Koprivnice plant, adding: “In April, we want to launch a technology center, where development of audio, video and telecommunications products will be conducted within a 5 year period. Both production and the technology center will work very closely together with our production and development departments in Struer.

The company is investing more than 2 million euros in establishing the technology center and by 2010 the center will employ 70 people, primarily with university education. The center is being established in close cooperation with the Science and Technology Park in Ostrava-Poruba.

Founded in 1925 in Struer, Denmark, Bang & Olufsen a/s is world renowned for its distinctive range of quality consumer electronic products that represent our vision: Courage to constantly question the ordinary in search of surprising, long-lasting experiences. The Bang & Olufsen Group manufactures a unique range of televisions, music systems, loudspeakers, telephones, medical, and multimedia products. With more than 2,400 employees and products sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, Bang & Olufsen’s turnover for the 2004/2005 financial year was DKK 3,742 million (EUR 502 million).
www.bang-olufsen.com