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| Global Spotlight focuses on employees
from the Mitsubishi Companies, who are excelling in their respective fields
around the world. In each issue we will get to know different employees, who
will tell us about their hometowns, businesses, culture, and past-times. |
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| Note 1 : A subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills. |
| In the northernmost corner of Germany at the border to Denmark lies the beautiful city of Flensburg. Dominated by the Flensburg Fjord which forms the picturesque harbour and the centre of the city, this Baltic Sea inlet presents small beaches along the coasts of the fjord making it an attractive tourist area. The proximity to Denmark gives the town a multicultural flair. Danes and Germans live here side by side, and Danish schools are as popular among Germans as their own. |
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Founded around 1200 by Danish settlers, Flensburg was, after Copenhagen, the second biggest port in the Kingdom of Denmark for centuries. Thanks to the rum trade in the 18th century, Flensburg relived another economic boom. Cane sugar was imported from the Danish West Indies (now the US Virgin Islands) and refined in Flensburg. Of the former 200 rum distilleries only two remain.
Flensburg is also known as the seat of the nationwide database of traffic violators ("Punkte in Flensburg") and for its Flensburger Pilsener |
| beer, its successful handball team SG Flensburg-Handewitt, being the centre of the Danish national minority in Germany, and the Naval Academy with its famous training ship Gorch Fock. Flensburg hosts several maritime and cultural events: sailing regattas and open-air concerts in its beautiful traditional courtyards in the historic centre. |
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Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Flensburg is one of the oldest paper mills in Germany. Since 1696, different types of paper have been manufactured in the middle of Flensburg. Today, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper consists of the paper mill in Flensburg and its affiliated company in Bielefeld, together one of the world’s market leaders in high-quality thermal and inkjet papers.
I joined the company 13 years ago after having finished my secondary education as a foreign language correspondent in English and Spanish. Since then, I have supported the German and Japanese Managing |
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Directors and my colleagues both in Flensburg and Bielefeld. The working atmosphere here is characterized by open-mindedness, sociability and outstanding motivation. What has impressed me most is how all employees function as a team. Many staff regularly participate in sports events. For example, every year we organize the "Mitsubishi Cup" football competition between teams from both German paper mills.
One highlight is the Dragonboat Cup which takes place every summer on the Flensburg Fjord. For the past few years, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Flensburg has participated in this competition that attracts more than 90 teams.This event is always dominated by an extraordinary team spirit and, of course, by a great deal of fun, as you can see from the photos.
If you would like to try one of our fine rums or a typical "Flens" beer or have a swim in the Baltic Sea, you are welcome to visit Flensburg and Mitsubishi HiTec Paper! |
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| Dia Moulding Slovakia (DMSK) is the newest European investment by Mitsubishi Plastics (MPI). After construction was completed, production started in August 2009. Today, DMSK employs more than one hundred employees and annually produces more than one million plastic frames for SONY LCD TVs.In summer 2008, I was asked to help MPI search for a HR Manager for a new investment in Slovakia and, luckily, I got the job. |
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I do not refer to what I do as my duties or my tasks. I refer to it as my responsibilities. The reason is that I feel responsible for the wellbeing of members of DMSK in all aspects. Besides having a nice, safe and fair working environment, it is important that they smile and laugh when they leave for home. This means that they are not depressed and exhausted, but are able to happily enjoy the rest of the day with their family and friends. This is what I consider a success.
Slovakia has rather short history as an independent country, The Slovak Republic, however in terms of its nature and history, this is a different story. |
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Nature in Slovakia is indescribable. We say we have it all, except for the sea! However, there is nothing like the Tatra Mountains and even after the wind storm and fire in 2004 they did not loose any of their greatness or dominance. The Tatra Mountains occupy an area of over 750 ㎢, and Gerlach (2,655 m) is the highest mountain. You enjoy an active vacation here, whatever the season. You can not make a mistake by taking your kids, your beloved one or your grandparents there. The mountains offer great places for winter sports, climbing and hiking.
If you like being pampered, relaxing and enjoying yourself, you definitely should visit one of the spa towns of Slovakia. Piestany and Trencianske Teplice are well known for their springs that help recovering from injuries or surgery by improving the function of body organs. There are also many more spa towns with excellent wellness and healthcare system, outdoor and indoor sports activities that you can visit.
How about castles? Hundreds years old and built on rock, these old |
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| castles and ruins have witnessed many life stories and romances that after years became legends. Who knows if the Turkish Omar really dug the Well of Love as a ransom for his beautiful fiancé Fatime who was held as a hostage or if the Lake of Tears really is a lake formed from Lady Barbora’s tears that she cried over her marriage. By the way, rumor says that you can see her ghost at midnight in her palace in Trencin Castle. |
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In Slovak, the word for hobbies is “konicky” and that is what you call horses in Slovak as well. In my case, it applies 100%. I am a passionate horseback rider. Luckily, I get to saddle up two or three times a week. I somehow came to own two female golden retrievers, Jessica and Peddy, and a male chiuaua, Gigi. At the weekends, we often go dog-walking along the river and surprisingly we watch horses on pastures. It is wonderful to have hobbies that can be combined – animals and sport. You get charged with positive energy and enjoy a great experience. After an hour in the saddle or playing with a dog, you simply forget everyday problems and have a smile on your face. |
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