We are looking for a SQA – Supplier Quality Assurance Engineer for our design department.

For more information read here

We are proud and honored to be appointed prize for this year’s export company in our region. The motivation for the price was:

“By adapting their products to customers all over the world, while having the next step in new markets, the winning company has been able to grow tall, although the feet are standing firmly on the ground. Perhaps it is the short lead times that make the sky is the limit for this technology company.” 

“We are humble to receive this prize and would like to thank all our customers, whom without we had not received this great award. Of course, I also want to thank all the employees at MAFI, this is your prize, you are the best” says Pierre Bengtsson CEO.

New stronger antenna offset for heavier loads

MAFI is launching its new large antenna offset, the MAFI 3117.
This solution derives from the MAFI 3115, a Z-bracket.The 3117 has two notable differences compared to the 3115:
1. The new 3117 is much stronger and can take a significantly heavier load, maximum 70 kilos (154 lbs).
2. It has a new hole pattern, so it fits with more antenna makes on the market. The hole pattern from the 3115 is kept, so it also fits with current and older antenna makes.
With this new solution, it´s also possible to mount a radio behind the antenna, which allows a tighter site design solution.
The MAFI 3117 is a universal solution that fits most major antenna suppliers products. This larger version of antenna offset can handle a wide range of tower and mast leg section.

Download the datasheet here (Pdf 550 kB):
MAFI 3117 PDF

Feel free to get in touch to learn more or to order: info@www.mafigroup.com

Carin Werkmästar – new Supply Chain Manager at MAFI:

”I will focus on quality as MAFI grows”

When a company is growing as fast as MAFI is,
it´s easy to focus more on sales than sourcing,” says Carin Werkmästar. She´s the company´s new Supply Chain Manager.

“One of my most important tasks will be overseeing our sourcing routines, to secure both volumes and quality.”

 Carin joined MAFI mid-January. Her latest employment was as purchase manager at FM Mattsson Mora Group. Before that, she has been in charge of purchasing and logistics in Aventis Pharma. Prior to Aventis she was in charge of logistics and customer support both in Wacker Kemi and Gerber Systems GmbH, all companies with global operations.
”As Supply Chain Manager at MAFI, I will be in charge of purchasing, logistics and our distribution centre,” Carin continues.

As MAFI continues to grow globally and also will expand into new market segments, management believes that focussing on sourcing issues will be increasingly important.
”My most important mission will be to build and reinforce the already solid routines MAFI has,” Carin says.
With her background, Carin thinks she can add experience from other industries, and a stronger structure which will be needed in the future.
”I hope I can participate in reaching our goals faster. I´m not an impatient person, but I like progress and to push on towards a set goal.”

So, why did Carin chose to join MAFI?
”It´s an exciting company! Still rather small, but already very global. And it seems to be quite determined on growing fast, which is something I like. I also appreciate the positive atmosphere in the company. It´s obvious that the staff likes what they´re doing.

Carin is born and raised in Rättvik, a small village just 30 minutes south of MAFI headquarters in Mora. She´s well travelled, and she knows three languages, besides Swedish. When she´s not working, she likes to spend time with her children and friends, to work out and to walk in the forests surrounding Rättvik, ”And I love to dance salsa!”[blockquote text=””It´s an exciting company! Still rather small, but already very global.
And it seems to be quite determined on growing fast, which is something I like“” show_quote_icon=”yes”]

Robert Lyttbacka – new COO:

”I will help building new establishments world-wide”

As from the 14th of January, Robert Lyttbacka is holding the new position of COO, Chief Operating Officer at MAFI.

”I will start my new assignment with focussing on new establishments in regions where we have a market presence.”

Since MAFI is growing further globally – and will continue doing so – the company has an increasing need of regional presence and new production sites. As COO Robert will partly support CEO Pierre Bengtsson, as well as oversee and accelerate the worldwide development of further global presence.
”Another important task I have is to expand MAFI´s business towards new segments since we mainly within telecom today,” he says.

Robert has a broad background from Elektroskandia Sweden, a company within Sonepar, where he´s worked ”with almost everything” for the better part of the last three decades. He has held positions as Key Account Manager and Sourcing Director.
”I started out at the warehouse and my last position was as Manager Business Segment Telecom,” he says. ”I have a wide network within the telecom business which I think will be useful in my new position. And I know MAFI since the 1990-is since they have been an increasingly important supplier to Elektroskandia.”
Robert is looking forward to implementing MAFI´s strategy to grow globally.
”The challenge will be doing this as efficiently as possible.”

After many years within a large distributions company, Robert is also looking forward to working in a tighter organisation with a flatter structure.
”In MAFI we are all basically at the same level, everyone is helping everyone else, and we are quick to make decisions.”
Robert lives in Örebro, where he will set up a new MAFI office, about a four-hour drive south of Mora. In his free time, he enjoys the company of his family, playing golf and go skiing. ”And of course to spend time at our country house. And to fix it, a never-ending project!”>

We are looking for a Support Site Designer for our design department.

For more information read here

We are hiring Financial Manager/Customer Support.

For more information read here

We wish you all a Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

Helping those who need it most

For several years MAFI has a tradition of supporting the organisation Save the Children, instead of sending Christmas gifts to customers, partners, distributors and friends.

We hope you will take comfort in knowing that our modest contribution goes to those who needs it most, vulnarable children around the world.

MAFI 3611 – sturdy brackets for heavy loads

One of MAFI´s most appreciated solutions is MAFI 3611, brackets designed for mounting an equipment pole on a vertical parent pole or tower leg.

The reasons for this are several:
• It’s a very flexible product, that can handle a big range of parent pole or leg, with various shapes, angular, box beam and regular circular leg.
• The 3611 family can handle much weight, but still, it is easy to install with quite a few included parts, which saves time on site. Most of these parts can be put together on the ground and hoisted up to where it is supposed to be mounted.
• Due to its weight capacity, it is a perfect product for installing several RRU ´s on an offset pole and behind the antenna.

Technical facts:
The 3611/3612 can be mounted on any member from Ø 76 — 139 mm as well as equal–angle or square section members from 60 × 60 — 120 × 120 mm, while the 3614/3615 can be mounted on any circular member from
Ø 139 — 245 mm as well as equal angle or square section members from 120 × 120 — 200 × 200 mm.
Offset poles for any of the kits can range from Ø 60— 114 mm. The small and large offset arms provide maximum c/c offsets of 250 mm and 350 mm respectively.

Please read more, and download data sheets here: https://mafigroup.com/products/3611/

Words from the CEO, Pierre Bengtsson:

”A fantastic year – thanks to you”

To sum up 2018, it has been yet another fantastic year for MAFI. The last twelve months have been incredibly intense, full of positive challenges and fun.

Our success depends on several key factors. Supplying the telecom market with new, efficient and innovative solutions is one of them. This year we have worked hard on doing just that – we can celebrate several new product launches that have been highly appreciated by the market and we will continue on that track. Next year we will broaden our product portfolio, for both 4G and 5G.
Our two new business units, MAFI Support Solutions and MAFI Integrated Solutions, became just the improvement of our organisation that we had hoped for, with two expert design teams focussing on either traditional bracketry and freestanders or customised solutions for supporting specific equipment.Our two new business units, MAFI Support Solutions and MAFI Integrated Solutions, became just the improvement of our organisation that we had hoped for, with two expert design teams focussing on either traditional bracketry and freestanders or customised solutions for supporting specific equipment.
Last year we celebrated our 25th anniversary and moved to a new and better location, just outside of Mora. We are now well settled in our shiny new headquarters, tightly integrated with our warehouse and logistics centre, and actually, we have even expanded it more!

MAFI´s international presence is also growing and will continue doing so. Some months ago we started MAFI East Africa in Kenya, which now is up and running with both sales and logistics. Next year we will have staff permanently in India and the US on different projects, one being strengthening our organisation and presence in the Americas.

Another critical element to MAFI´s prosperity is the people who work within the company. We have been increasing staff numbers and will continue doing so. Our employees are knowledgeable, experienced and committed to our mission. MAFI also takes pride in developing its staff and providing a work environment that gives everyone the chance to grow and excel. We will have a new Supply Chain Manager and a Chief Operating Officer starting in January.

But, in the end, what it all boils down to is that we have you, customers, partners, distributors and friends all over the world. Without you demanding our solutions, distributing our products, helping and supporting us in every possible way, we would not be where we are today.

So, thank you all, and all of us at MAFI wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year![blockquote text=””What it all boils down to is that we have you, customers, partners, distributors
and friends all over the world.”” show_quote_icon=”yes”]

Opening hours and deliveries during the holidays

UK
Christmas Closure: 21 December 2018 (normal business hours.)
New Year Open: 02 January 2019.
Please note:
100+: Final order cut off time for delivery in 2018 will be 3 pm on Thursday,
December 20th for delivery AM only on 21st December.
Orders received on the 21st December will be processed for the first delivery on 3rd January only.

Sweden
Open all days except Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and days marked as red in the calendar.
No deliveries are made from 17th to 19th of December due to inventory.>

We are hiring Key Account/Global Sales and European Salse Person.

For more information read here

New solutions for profile structures

”The customer needed a flexible solution to install different configurations on existing profile structures,” says Anna Borgny, designer at MAFI Standard Solutions.
These beam-profiles can, for example, be on rooftops or solid ground, and sometimes there is space underneath them, sometimes not, and therefore, MAFI has developed solutions so that equipment can be attached to all options without any impact on the structural beams, such as drilling or welding on site.
One solution consists of a ”foot”, i.e. a freestander, with a single pole on which you can mount radio equipment. This solution is part of what was previously the product MAFI 4309, a platform with an associated pole. This product has now been divided into two products, with two product numbers, so that the freestander platform (MAFI 4310) can be ordered separately, and the single pole (MAFI 4316) separately.

Another news about this solution is that MAFI has also developed a new product, adapter beams (MAFI 3022). These adapter beams can be attached in different ways, depending on whether there is space or not on the existing profiles. On the adapter beams, you can attach up to six cabinets, or you can choose to attach the single pole to it, on which you can mount radio equipment.
”These products are ready to order” says Anna, ”and they will be included in the MAFI´s next product catalogue.

Tony Lane at Vallen Distribution:

”We have been very excited to see MAFI´s growth in Northern America over the last couple of years, and also how our business together as partners are developing.”
Says Tony Lane, Key Account Manager for Ericsson North America at Vallen Distribution in Dallas, Texas, USA.

”At Vallen, we see ourselves as a solutions provider,” Tony continues. ”Distributing products is really just the end result of everything we do!”
As the key account manager for Ericsson North America Tony spends a lot of time communicating with the Ericsson team and making sure Vallen’s commitments towards the global telecom company are executed properly and advocating Ericsson within the Vallen sphere.
”But in a regular workday, you can find me sourcing new products, do some quoting, managing our vendors and even support the warehouse when they sometimes lag behind. So, it´s a fun job, doing all sorts of things!”

He has seen MAFI grow steadily in North America, and he suggests that there are several reasons for this.
”MAFI uses very innovative designs when they develop their solutions. Although they are made of galvanized steel, pound for pound they are structurally stronger than their aluminium competitors.”
”Also using new manufacturing techniques and high-quality materials allows MAFI to significantly shorten lead times, which in turn reduces the time from order inception to deployment. And, as we all know, time is an essential factor in this business!”[blockquote text=””Innovative design and manufacturing
have been key to MAFI´s success”” show_quote_icon=”yes”]

New micro ERS bracket

MAFI has designed a new micro ERS bracket with vertical and azimuth tilt.

The bracket (MAFI 1241) was initially designed on demand for one of MAFI´s customers but is now available to order on all markets. It allows smooth and easy installation for Micro ERS units and allows both vertical and azimuth adjustment.

There are three mounting options for the brackets, on a pole, to a wall or on a utility pole. Steel band kit for utility pole mounting is included in the package. The usage of high strength steel allows for a very robust, yet lightweight design.
The brackets can handle units up to 10 kg with a maximum tilt of 45° and an azimuth adjustment of ±30°.

Instructive seminar at MAFI

On the 21st of November, MAFI held a seminar and a workshop in their headquarters in Mora. Attendants were 17 representatives from Telia, Netel and Relacom.
”It was a very instructive day,” says Lise-Lott Engvall, who is Hardware Manager at Telia.

One of the main events was when Jonas Wassdahl, Senior Advisor at MAFI, held a seminar on materials mechanics and solidity. This subject is a current topic since telecom equipment that is going to be mounted in the future will grow increasingly heavy.
”Jonas showed us how MAFI makes their calculations,” says Joakim Anagrius, Controller at Netel, and working closely with Telia. ”We don´t do these calculations ourselves, so it was rather useful for us, and it helps us understand what is vital for us to bear in mind when we work with these products in the future.”
”For us too, it was useful to go in-depth on what we need to consider since the future antennas will be much bigger,” says Lise-Lott. ”And it was especially exciting when MAFI showed us a new Z-bracket since we´ve taken part in developing it!
”All in all it was a rewarding day,” Joakim concludes. ”We learned a lot, and the treatment from MAFI´s side was very nice.”>

MAFI launches 5G brackets

MAFI now launches a new series of brackets.
They are tailor-made for 5G.
”We have designed three different sizes of the new 5G antenna-brackets, Light, Medium and Heavy,” says Jan Fridén, Manager Business Unit MAFI Integrated Systems.
”Each size also comes in two different variants, with or without vertical tilt,” he continues, ”and they can all be tilted horizontally.”

With this range of brackets, it´s possible to find the most suitable size, that can carry weights up to 120 kilos (265 lb).
”We are very happy with this new product range which we have designed and constructed together with one of our customers,” Jan says. ”And the weight of the brackets is very low compared to other brackets on the market. All these brackets can also be utilized for passive antennas.”

The design of the new 5G brackets allows them to be manufactured very efficiently. Initially, they are being produced in Sweden, but as demand will grow throughout the world, they will also be fabricated at MAFI´s other production sites.The bracket comes in two versions, one with only azimuth adjustment possibility and one with both azimuth adjustment and vertical tilting possibility. The brackets are easy to assemble and install. There are three mounting options for the brackets, on a pole, to a wall or on a utility pole. To mount the brackets on a utility pole optional products are needed.

The Light bracket can handle units up to 30kg with a maximum tilt of ±30° and an azimuth adjustment of ±30°.
The Medium brackets can handle units up to 70kg with a maximum tilt of ±20° and an azimuth adjustment of ±30°.
And the Heavy brackets has a robust design and can handle units up to 120kg with a maximum tilt of ±20° and an azimuth of ±30°. It can be mounted on poles as well as walls.

Simon won MAFI´s photo competition

The winning picture in MAFI´s photo competition shows a broad selection of MAFI´s solutions, and the community that it serves.

Simon Repfennig is the lucky winner of MAFI´s photo competition.
We congratulate him for winning an iPad.Simon, please tell us a little about yourself!
”I work as a project manager at Relacom in Gothenburg, Sweden. Usually with mobile coverage indoors, but sometimes I also provide outdoor solutions. I try to be on the field when possible, since it gives me a sense of how things are done, what is practical, what solutions work best and how fast it takes to install.”

What can you tell us about the winning photo?
”It´s taken on the roof on a high apartment building in a town a bit south of Gothenburg. And I chose it because it has a lot of different MAFI-solutions visible on it.”Why do you use MAFI´s solutions?
”Because MAFI has a lot of options when you look for the best solution on how to build a site. You can choose their ready-made packages and, or you can choose to order individual parts and make your own solutions. MAFI´s products are also very solid, secure and reliable.”

What will you do with the iPad that you won?
”Actually, I will give to someone as a present.”

New ”roof butler” presented at Ericsson´s event in Paris

MAFI was a part of Ericsson´s yearly event in Paris in October, held for their customers.
”We had a booth together with Sonepar,” says Andreas Persson, Key Account Manager at MAFI.”This time we presented a new product,” he continues.
”We call it the ´roof butler´, a smart freestanding solution. It´s perfect for instance when you need to place one to four radios on a rooftop, then this product will do the job.”

The ´roof butler´will be delivered in quite a small box.
”At the installation, you´ll need to use a concrete block, that you easily install under the pole with the included steel bands to make sure that the ´butler´don´t tumble over,” Andreas continues. ”The concrete block can vary in size, so it will be easy to find one that fits, regardless of what market you are using it in.”

This ´roof butler´solution is still being finalised, and it will be presented more in detail in a later edition of MAFI News. A current estimate is that the product will be ready for delivery early next year.

Anton sends the right package at the right time to the right place

Anton Bälter is new as an employee at MAFI´s logistics centre in Mora, but he knows the drill since he´s been working summers there for six years.
Anton is a trained electrician but chose MAFI since he likes the colleagues, the workplace and the tasks. He has been employed since November the 1st.
”It can be challenging,” he continues, ”but so far we have been able to mount and send all orders in time, and with the right content in every box.”
On his free time, Anton likes to play golf.
”Yes, I do that a lot when I´m not working,” he says. ”At least during the golfing season. I like to play golf since it´s one of the few sports where you actually can compete against yourself.”
Playing almost every day, and participating in local competitions, has resulted in an impressive handicap of 11.8.

Joakim finds the smart solutions at MAFI

Joakim Hjort is reinforcing MAFI´s design team as from September. When asked what he brings to the table he answers: ”I´m easy to work with, focused on teamwork and creative when it comes to finding smart solutions.”

Joakim comes with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Luleå Technical University. First, he was thinking of being an architect, but working as a janitor for two years, he realised that he enjoyed dealing with technical equipment, so he reconsidered his choice.
Being born and raised in Mora, where MAFI has its head office, he did his bachelor thesis at MAFI, finishing this June.
”It was about how to reduce the amount of material in our products so they will weigh less,” he explains.

Currently, he is working with five-six different projects, both for MAFI Standard Solutions and for MAFI Integrated Solutions.
”Most of them are in a start-up phase, except one, which is a prototype that´s being evaluated.”
Joakim says that he appreciates MAFI since the company has a distinct strategy, and clear goals, which made it easy for him to start with his projects and know their directions.

When Joakim isn´t working, he likes to run, bike, ski, hike and to hunt. Actually, his done a half Ironman, and he´s aiming for the full Ironman in a few years.

(To complete an Ironman you need to swim 3.86 kilometres, cycle 180.2 kilometres and finally run a Marathon.)>

Multi ERS Bracket – Extra Large

The bracket can hold up to six standard or four Heavy ERS units (or a mix with a maximum total weight of 80 kg/bracket, or 176,4lb), and it can be mounted either to a pole, wall, angle tower or square tube. It is optimised for ERS units with a hole pattern of cc 30 mm and/or cc 80 mm.
The bracket allows for a mix of different ERS units. The kit is delivered with all necessary bolts and nuts for pole mounting.
The MAFI 6029 is designed to provide a secure mounting solution for larger installation scenarios.

IoT Sweden is building an Internet of things

”We have chosen to build and operate our own network so we can ensure that it´s always up and running. Well, at least 99.5 per cent of the time,” says IoT Sweden´s CSO Lars Lindmark.”
IoT, or The Internet of things, is one of the fastest growing segments of the telecom segment at the moment. IoT Sweden is buying its license from Sigfox, which according to Mr Lindmark, is the world`s leading provider of Low Power Wide Area Network in the world, currently operating in 52 countries, aiming for 60 in 2018.

Lars Lindmark explains that some of the advantages of Sigfox´s system are that it is long range, an object could be 20km away, it requires low power to connect, objects can last ten years on small batteries, and the cost of connection is very low (as low as about 1.60 USD/per item and year). However, they are limited in terms of the size of messages you can send.
”With such networks, you can start wireless connecting any sensors directly to the cloud,” Lars Lindmark continues. ”Sensors such as temperature, humidity, battery status, GPS location and so on. In addition to these sensors, you can also start having objects communicating together on pre-programmed scenarios.”
”For example: If your water meter was connected and the sensor was detecting a leak. Instead of just sending you an alert message, it could decide to act on another type of sensor to cut a specific water access point before it was too late. It could also directly contact the water company to fix the problem.”
”These kinds of solutions or scenarios are opening a new world of automatization that was never possible before because it was too costly and required too much energy.”

IoT Sweden is currently rolling out its network. Since the antennas are rather small, IoT Sweden often uses a MAFI solution he calls ”MAFI feet”.
”Its proper name is MAFI 4112 Freestanding light,” Lars Lindmark says. ”We like it since it´s fast to put in place – and it´s all about moving quickly in a roll-out, isn´t it? – and it stays where you put it, as long as we are talking about plane rooftops, which is usually the case.”
IoT Sweden has about 100 customers at the moment, but Lars Lindmark is convinced that that number will grow significantly.
”There are hundreds of ways IoT can make things more efficient, and thereby also more cost-effective, in lots of areas. Utilities, agriculture, industry, cities and health and assisted living, to mention some.”[blockquote text=””These solutions or scenarios are opening a new world
of automatization that was never possible before.”” show_quote_icon=”yes”]Lars Lindmark, CSO at IoT Sweden, a company that´s building its own network, aiming to cover 85 per cent of Sweden´s population in a few months from now.

The Internet of Things is growing fast

This network enables these things to connect, collect and exchange data creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, resulting in efficiency improvements, economic benefits, and reduced human exertions.

The number of IoT devices increased 31% year-over-year to 8.4 billion in the year 2017 and it is estimated that there will be 30 billion devices by 2020. The global market value of IoT is projected to reach $7.1 trillion by 2020. IoT involves extending Internet connectivity beyond standard devices, such as desktops and smartphones, to any range of traditionally non-internet-enabled physical devices and everyday objects. Embedded with technology, these devices can communicate and interact over the Internet, and they can be remotely monitored and controlled.

The arrival of driverless vehicles is an example of a branch of IoT, the Internet of Vehicle that starts to gain more attention.
Other examples are:
IoT devices are created for consumer use, including connected vehicles, home automation/smart home, wearable technology, connected health, and appliances with remote monitoring capabilities,
IoT devices that are used to monitor and control the mechanical, electrical and electronic systems used in various types of buildings, and the seamless integration of various manufacturing devices equipped with sensing, identification, processing, communication, actuation, and networking capabilities that can be realised with Iot. Based on such a highly integrated smart cyber-physical space, it opens the door to create whole new business and market opportunities for manufacturing.>