Do you think China automatically equals sweatshop? If so, check out the Eurotec Electronics factory in Shongshan in the Guangdong Province. A tour of the southern China factory, home to scores of Behringer products, as well as the adjacent Behringer City, was on the docket hours before Eurotec celebrated its fifth anniversary on Feb. 2.
As for the factory, which Eurotec moved into on May 7, the first thing that immediately popped in your mind was its cleanliness. This factory is where the West meets Asia. “One thing you’ll notice is there’s little WIP (work in progress) out there,” said Behringer CEO Michael Deeb. “When we start something, it gets finished. Our level of integration and supply chain sets us apart.”
Deeb also stressed the importance of compliance and safety. “In building tests for quality, safety, and compliance, we have test procedures, test labs, and test facilities inside the factory itself, which is very unique.”

Also unique in the factory was the research and development unit. “We’ve actually built the R&D into a 90-person unit at the factory,” said Stephen Fraser, Behringer’s chief operating officer. “They are a point of presence for the handover between the point of conception, design, and feasibility. Although those might take place outside of China, the systems engineers are there so that if there are any problems with the transitions or reproduction challenges, it’s [fixed] at that point.”
Working conditions easily met Western standards at Eurotec. Chinese employees work eight-hour shifts, with the company operating on a two-shift daily schedule. But why do employees want to work at Eurotec? To start, employees receive room and board. They are housed in apartments right next to the factory and have a choice of two canteens to choose from when eating three meals a day. Behringer City, which is the name for the campus that houses the factory, apartments, canteens, and more, also offers entertainment. Sitting in between the factory and the apartments is a full basketball court where company tournaments are held. (Chinese native and Houston Rockets 7’ 6” center Yao Ming has clearly had a huge influence on the country. Basketball courts were practically everywhere). Televisions, telephones, a “DVD room,” a ping-pong table, a library, and an infirmary are also housed on campus. Oh, and by the way, work gets done. The Chinese plant has a 30,000 monthly guitar capacity and produces about 60,000 speakers a month. (Employees were finishing the final touches on El Toro guitars while we were there). “Putting the operational assets in one place makes a great deal of sense when it comes to logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing,” said Deeb of the idea for Behringer City. “As for the environment and the employees, No.1, it’s closer to work, and No. 2, you can control and improve the environment they live in. That helps with staff retention. Staff retention helps with the overall quality of control aspect. And there’s the security factor as well.”
“Employees enjoy working here,” added Fraser. “There’s truly a passion about the company. That’s nice to see.”

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