2wcom is conquering the global market from Flensburg

Specialist team from Flensburg uses Radio Data System

VDI Nachrichten 02/2005. The start-up years (1995 - 1999) of 2wcom GmbH, founded by the brothers Werner and Lorenz Drews were spent in the Flensburg Technology Center (Technologiezentrum Flensburg). Werner Drews is a graduate from the Fachhochschule Flensburg. It was during the time he spent working for Rohde und Schwarz in Munich that he first had access to the area in which he would later start up the business. By taking over the Radio Data System (RDS), originally sold by Rohde und Schwarz, he laid the foundation for the establishment of his own company. It wasn’t for long until the company was handling its first projects and orders and establishing its place in the market.

RDS is distributed over the FM network of radio broadcasting transmitters worldwide. Data transmission is not only easily possible, but also offers low costs. Among others, the company develops devices that decode RDS signals, as well as software for subsequent evaluation and visualization. RDS can be used to transmit various types of information within the reception area, such as traffic or weather data, advertising texts, etc. Due to its manifold areas of use, worldwide demand for the systems has grown. Apart from Deutsche Telekom, Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Bayerischer Rundfunk and Hessischer Rundfunk, the company’s customer list includes companies in Scandinavia and the USA.

RDS warning system

Recently, the specialist team from Flensburg received a follow-up contract from the Swedish Civil Defense Service for the delivery of 20,000 so-called “alarm clocks for terror warnings” worth 3.5 million Euros. The houses surrounding a nuclear power plant are to be equipped with a warning system based on RDS, which, in the event of a catastrophe, switches itself on upon reception of a government warning and provides the population with an early warning. Other countries have also showed interest in these systems, and of course contacts have been established with the highest Federal Civil Defense Office in Bonn.

Due to the very dynamic development of the company, no more further space could be offered in the Technology Center and after having rented the premises for only four years, the headquarters were transferred to the near-by Schleswiger Straße. The company currently has 18 employees.