Home: Issue 4 2009 › Strength to carry on
Strength to carry on
03/11/2009 | Channel: Distribution, Manufacturing
Having just opened a new logistics centre, ml&s is confidently setting its sights on the future
It was only over a year ago, in July 2008, when manufacturing, logistics & services (ml&s) GmbH & Co. KG started to erect a modern logistics centre in Greifswald, a town located in north-eastern Germany, with the aim to expand its production and logistics capabilities. The ground for the new project was broken by the managing directors of ml&s, Udo Possin and Bernd Odoj as well as Andreas Koebernik, the managing director of Solon Nord GmbH.
Also present during the ground breaking ceremony were Dr. Otto Ebnet, Minister of Transport, Construction and State Development, Mr Arenskrieger, deputy lord mayor of the Hanseatic and university town of Greifswald, representatives from the board of Solon SE, Solon Nord GmbH, the main contracting company Vollack of Leipzig, and guests from the administration of the Hanseatic and the university town of Greifswald.
Solon Nord, one of ml&s’ largest customers, was looking to expand its production capacity to the level of 200 MWp. As a consequence of this, ml&s’ logistics capacity was adapted to the resulting growing demands. The modern logistics centre with warehouse and dispatch areas, equipped for worldwide logistics services was finally opened in July 2009 with an indoor area of 5000 square metres and a further 3000 square metres outdoor space dedicated to loading, employees’ parking and parkland.
The modern, space-saving shelving system in its centre offers a high degree of flexibility. With a capacity in excess of 2000 storage spaces for solar modules and a further 1000 for material, new standards are being set for the region of Western Pomerania. Currently the development of the final assembly of solar modules with a total capacity of 70 to 200 megawatts peak per year and the commission of production facilities for other technologies are also being developed.
The modular basis of the halls, which will conform to the colour and design of the previous construction, provides for a problem-free future expansion. Further to the opening of the facility, ml&s envisages that it will carry out logistics services for many more companies that will be looking to occupy the premises of the technology park in the near future.
If any company should have a sense of what customers are looking for, it would be ml&s. The company has undergone several changes through its long history before it finally emerged as ml&s, in its current form. Founded as Nachrichtenelektronik Greifswald (NEG) or Telecommunications Electronics Greifswald in 1969, NEG developed and manufactured telecommunications equipment and natural electronics until 1991.
In 1991 Siemens AG took over the former GDR enterprise and integrated it into its Information and Communication Networks (ICN) group in 1993. There was a change in the range of products offered following this merger. The Greifswald Siemens site specialised in developing and manufacturing access networks equipment for telephony and data transfer along with other relevant services. Siemens was successful in making the former VEB (people enterprise) fit for the world market, ensuring its survival.
It was only in 2002 that the manufacturing side with 242 staff of Siemens on the Greifswald site became independent and, since October of that year, began offering a complete range of manufacturing and logistics services for the electronics industry. From PCB assembly to the manufacture and configuration of complex systems including worldwide logistics, it dealt with orders competently and precisely.
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Today, ml&s has more than 400 employees and 25 apprentices. Despite its size, the company unites the strengths of an SME with the competence of a large organisation. Proximity to customers, flexibility and talent for improvisation plus access to international procurement markets, state-of-the-art production, highly qualified staff and established processes at all levels combines into a unique offering.
Over the course of 2007 and 2008, the company invested abound ten million euros in its infrastructure (including the logistics centre) and 15 million euros in machinery and equipment since its foundation at the end of 2002. ml&s has, to date, contributed a total of 25 million euros’ worth of investments to the development of Greifswald as a prime technology location.
Guaranteeing quality in every level of its organisation is not just a cliché for ml&s. It is certified according to ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Maximum customer satisfaction is the main criterion in everything it does. ml&s sees itself as its customers’ partner and supports their success with the creativity of its staff.
The company is as successful as it is today due to six major contributing factors – highly qualified and motivated staff; state-of-the-art technology with a great degree of flexibility; many years of experience with individual, serial and mass production; guaranteed quality; long-term partnership at the Greifswald technology site; and future security due to a solid economic basis.
It is for these reasons that ml&s has been so successful through the years, equipped with the ability to withstand the economic downturn. Like every other company that has not been immunised against the effects of the recession, ml&s has of course seen some changes in its marketplace. However, its in-depth knowledge and years of experience has meant that it is able to cushion itself against the adverse effects that usually follow a recession.
Also present during the ground breaking ceremony were Dr. Otto Ebnet, Minister of Transport, Construction and State Development, Mr Arenskrieger, deputy lord mayor of the Hanseatic and university town of Greifswald, representatives from the board of Solon SE, Solon Nord GmbH, the main contracting company Vollack of Leipzig, and guests from the administration of the Hanseatic and the university town of Greifswald.
Solon Nord, one of ml&s’ largest customers, was looking to expand its production capacity to the level of 200 MWp. As a consequence of this, ml&s’ logistics capacity was adapted to the resulting growing demands. The modern logistics centre with warehouse and dispatch areas, equipped for worldwide logistics services was finally opened in July 2009 with an indoor area of 5000 square metres and a further 3000 square metres outdoor space dedicated to loading, employees’ parking and parkland.
The modern, space-saving shelving system in its centre offers a high degree of flexibility. With a capacity in excess of 2000 storage spaces for solar modules and a further 1000 for material, new standards are being set for the region of Western Pomerania. Currently the development of the final assembly of solar modules with a total capacity of 70 to 200 megawatts peak per year and the commission of production facilities for other technologies are also being developed.
The modular basis of the halls, which will conform to the colour and design of the previous construction, provides for a problem-free future expansion. Further to the opening of the facility, ml&s envisages that it will carry out logistics services for many more companies that will be looking to occupy the premises of the technology park in the near future.
If any company should have a sense of what customers are looking for, it would be ml&s. The company has undergone several changes through its long history before it finally emerged as ml&s, in its current form. Founded as Nachrichtenelektronik Greifswald (NEG) or Telecommunications Electronics Greifswald in 1969, NEG developed and manufactured telecommunications equipment and natural electronics until 1991.
In 1991 Siemens AG took over the former GDR enterprise and integrated it into its Information and Communication Networks (ICN) group in 1993. There was a change in the range of products offered following this merger. The Greifswald Siemens site specialised in developing and manufacturing access networks equipment for telephony and data transfer along with other relevant services. Siemens was successful in making the former VEB (people enterprise) fit for the world market, ensuring its survival.
It was only in 2002 that the manufacturing side with 242 staff of Siemens on the Greifswald site became independent and, since October of that year, began offering a complete range of manufacturing and logistics services for the electronics industry. From PCB assembly to the manufacture and configuration of complex systems including worldwide logistics, it dealt with orders competently and precisely.
')";>Today, ml&s has more than 400 employees and 25 apprentices. Despite its size, the company unites the strengths of an SME with the competence of a large organisation. Proximity to customers, flexibility and talent for improvisation plus access to international procurement markets, state-of-the-art production, highly qualified staff and established processes at all levels combines into a unique offering.
Over the course of 2007 and 2008, the company invested abound ten million euros in its infrastructure (including the logistics centre) and 15 million euros in machinery and equipment since its foundation at the end of 2002. ml&s has, to date, contributed a total of 25 million euros’ worth of investments to the development of Greifswald as a prime technology location.
Guaranteeing quality in every level of its organisation is not just a cliché for ml&s. It is certified according to ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Maximum customer satisfaction is the main criterion in everything it does. ml&s sees itself as its customers’ partner and supports their success with the creativity of its staff.
The company is as successful as it is today due to six major contributing factors – highly qualified and motivated staff; state-of-the-art technology with a great degree of flexibility; many years of experience with individual, serial and mass production; guaranteed quality; long-term partnership at the Greifswald technology site; and future security due to a solid economic basis.
It is for these reasons that ml&s has been so successful through the years, equipped with the ability to withstand the economic downturn. Like every other company that has not been immunised against the effects of the recession, ml&s has of course seen some changes in its marketplace. However, its in-depth knowledge and years of experience has meant that it is able to cushion itself against the adverse effects that usually follow a recession.
