New CNC-mill gives better control of the workflow

When designing form pressed sheet metal products, the prototype stage usually consumes a lot of time.
To radically cut lead times when it comes to designing and manufacturing new form pressing tools or developing existing ones, MAFI has in the recent years made a range of investments in different development tools; the latest one is a CNC-mill.”We are constantly in need of evolving our processes,” explains Andreas Axelsson, designer at MAFI. ”And one increasingly important part of this work is to find better and smarter solutions that make us more efficient.”

Until now MAFI has sent their CAD-models to sub-contractors for design and manufacturing of form pressing tools. But often it has taken very long time for MAFI to retrieve a workable result.
”Now we control the whole workflow,” Andreas says, ”and we are looking forward to cutting the lead time by up to 70 percent!”

Another advantage with the investment is that MAFI´s engineers will get a deeper understanding of what´s possible and what isn´t, and also what works better, already in the early phase of a new project.

Welcome to MAFI – celebrating 25 years

With our 25th anniversary coming up, we’re eager to show you where we work and live.
Regardless if you will attend the celebration or not, with this video (1 minute), we would like to wish you a happy summer: MAFI 25 years

Opening hours in July and August

Business as usual.

At MAFI we keep going and have business as usual throughout the summer months. Feel free to order what you need, when you need it, or to get in touch if you have any questions regarding our solutions!
We wish you a lovely summer!>

New design of the Multi ERS Bracket
Up to four units and faster mounting

MAFI has made a major redesign of its MAFI 6020 product.
The new solution, MAFI 6023 (Ericsson SXK 109 1973/1), allows easy and fast mounting of one to four ERS units from Ericsson.Depending on the size, two RRU´s, PSU´s or filters can be attached to one bracket in ”bookshelf” or ”portrait” position.
With the new design, a pair of brackets can easily be fixed together on the same pole, using just two flange bolts. No nuts or washers are needed and the bolts can be tightened with a single tightening tool. The bracket can be mounted on poles from Ø60 to Ø114 with no protruding bolt ends.
One bracket can also be used when it´s required to mount equipment to a wall.
This product is made in Sweden and China and is manufactured from high-quality hot-dip galvanized steel.The new Multi ERS Bracket is being shipped as from July.
Download datasheet for MAFI 6023

Opening hours in June, July and August

At MAFI we keep going, and have business as usual throughout the summer months. Feel free to order what you need, when you need it, or to get in touch if you have any questions regarding our solutions!
We wish you a wonderful summer!

Deep snow and arctic temperatures
is just another day at work for Stavre Mobile Services

”When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.”
This might be a worn phrase, but never the less, it´s very applicable to Stavre Mobile Services in northern Sweden.
They keep mounting even in arctic temperatures and metres of snow.”When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.”
This might be a worn phrase, but never the less, it´s very applicable to Stavre Mobile Services in northern Sweden.
They keep mounting even in arctic temperatures and metres of snow.Stavre Mobile Services (SMS) is based in the small village Bräcke, between Östersund and Sundsvall. CEO and owner is Stig Eklund, who started the company some 20 years ago.
”First it was only me,” he says, ”and I specialised in mounting commissions in severe conditions. Soon I had an employee, and then we grew rapidly; today we are 19 employees, spread out mainly over the northern part of the country.”
In 2013 SMS was the fastest growing company in the region.

SMS is usually aiding larger mounting firms with their unique qualifications.
”I dare to say,” Stig continues, ”that when it comes to mounting telecom equipment in harsh conditions, we are one of the best in Sweden! We have an incredible experience of Nordic mountain environments, frigidity and snow.”
So, what does this really mean?
”It means,” he elaborates, ”that we can make it through two meters of snow and that we keep mounting even if it’s 30 degrees Celsius, below zero. (About -22 F.) If it gets colder, even we need to stop.”

At the moment SMS is mounting 4G equipment for Telia. Other customers are Fortum, Eltel, Teracom and Huawei. It recently finalised a commission for Luftfartsverket (the state-owned Air Navigation Services of Sweden).

”They needed to mount large and heavy antennas,” Stig says. ”Another firm had had the assignment before us, but their solutions weren’t good enough, after some time some antennas were upside down! Together with the customer and MAFI, we found a solution that worked perfectly.”
Since the start of SMS Stig has used MAFI:s equipment.
”I like that they are easy to order, almost everything is available at Elektroskandia, and their fast deliveries. I also appreciate MAFI:s continuous efforts to make their products lighter and easier to mount. All this gives us an edge and helps us save money for our customers, and increase our profit.”

”But, what I like most is that I can rely on that it´s high quality. I don´t have to worry that an antenna one day falls onto the head of some pedestrian.”

Dressed for arctic weather, Stig Eklund, CEO and owner of Stavre Mobile Service.

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New, upgraded rafter bracket

The new rafter bracket has a simpler design and offers more possibilities for an optimal and secure
installation.

This solution is intended to provide a pole mount on to rafters or roof trusses for tubes of Ø60,3 to Ø114,3mm. It can be mounted directly onto the wooden structure using through-mounts with large square washers on the back. The kit consists of high-quality steel parts with hot dip galvanization treatment or from acid-proof stainless steel.

MAFI also supplies products like rubber roof flanges and top-hat pole covers for applications where
the spine pole penetrates the weatherproofing layers of the roof. The MAFI 3510 Rafter Bracket Kit is in stock and ready to be shipped.
Download the data sheet here (pdf)

Experience full scale sites at Ericsson’s Center of Excellence

“The interest in the Ericsson Centre of Excellence that recently opened in San Francisco is incredible!” Says Harri Huhtanen, placed at Ericsson Sweden, RnD, also supporting the company’s roll-outs in the United States.
“And since MAFI is one of our key suppliers, it’s natural that we include their products in this type of activity.”It is Ericsson USA that has built several Centre of Excellence around the country, including New Jersey and Dallas. The San Francisco centre opened in April. It includes classrooms for education and training and a large hall where masts can be climbed and where the antennas are attached. These centres are visited by solution architects and staff from authorised service providers.
“But above all, they are demo centres for our end customers, so they can see and learn more about how our solutions can be beneficial to them,” Harri says.

More Centre of Excellence are already planned to be built; soon there will be one in Seattle and one in Canada. MAFI´s products are also showcased in Dallas and will be shortly in New Jersey.
To showcase how different site solutions can be done, Ericsson is also showcasing its suppliers’ products, of which MAFI is one.
“Many of MAFI’s products are specified in Ericsson’s global product portfolio. Therefore, it is logical that we also showcase their solutions,” says Harri Huhtanen. ”It´s a strength for us to show that we build everything with a freestanding portfolio. We only need a free surface; then we can build a site.”
Harri tells us that Ericsson has a long and excellent collaboration with MAFI.
“We use MAFI for research and development for solutions tailored to our products,” he explains.

Each year, Ericsson organises a Knowledge Sharing Community in Bangkok to showcase their own and its suppliers’ solutions. Harri explains that MAFI is a “central player” even at these events.
“And,” he adds, “I can tell you that MAFI has been chosen to supply the brackets to Ericsson’s 5G radio system. We are already working with the new solutions together with MAFI´s engineers Jonas Wassdahl and Andreas Axelsson.”

A passion for economy

MAFI´s new CFO Andreas Pietilainen is passionate about economy.
”Yes,” he says, ”in this role, I get to cooperate with all departments of the company and with other members of staff, which is something I treasure.”Andreas Pietilainen started at MAFI on May the 2nd. He comes with the experience of being a CFO ten years at Åkerströms and as a controller and Chief Accounting Officer at Alfa Laval and Crane, three Swedish but international companies.

At MAFI Andreas will be in charge of both the finance and HR. He will also join the company´s management team.
”One thing I´ve already begun working with is to develop our financial follow-up, especially concerning our products,” he says.
Andreas chose MAFI since he finds it an interesting company.
”There are several exciting aspects with MAFI,” he continues. ”It´s an international company, it´s products and how they are developed, marketed, supplied and sold, the segment it´s working within and its significant potential to grow and develop further.

When Andreas has free time, he spends it on training youngsters, both at football and floor hockey.
”And when I have time for myself, I like to play golf in the summer and go downhill skiing in the winter.”>

Production in Mexico is up and running

At the end of April, the first RRU-brackets, designed by MAFI, will be shipped from Vallen´s facility in Mexico.
”Yes, the first batch is soon ready to go, and we have many eager customers all over the Americas waiting to order them,” says Magnus Lindh, Purchasing and Logistics Manager at MAFI.”Now we can reduce both delivery time and environmental impact,” Magnus Lindh explains.
The brackets will be delivered by Vallen´s Mexican hub, but also to Vallen in Texas, United States, for deliveries in North America. Vallen is part of the Sonepar group, and MAFI’s partner and distributor in the Americas.
”We have a strong focus on quality,” Magnus Lindh continues. ”Therefore we have sent samples to Sweden to make sure that they match acquired standards.”

UK Broadband:
”MAFI supplies a product that does everything we need”

”Since easy and fast deployment reduces the time to build the sites, we can also see that this is a cost efficient solution for us,” Jim continues.
He knows this from his personal experience as he has been working with MAFI´s solutions since the Swedish company first made its entrance into the British telecom market about six years ago.
”Besides having products that are right for us, MAFI is a reliable supplier. And when something unforeseen happens, and we rapidly need to complement some details, there is never a long wait for their products. Usually, when we order them one day, we´ll have them delivered the next.”

Jim also appreciates MAFI´s advice and technical support.
”Yes, it´s excellent! Whenever we need support for a particular job, we are very well supported by Nigel Topp who swiftly comes back to our questions with a solution or helpful advice.”

Currently UK Broadband is building about ten new rooftop sites every month, mostly in London and some in Swindon.
”Most of these new sites, I´d say nine out of ten, has a standard design of three antenna mounts and one cabinet stand,” explains Jim.

For most of these sites UK Broadband uses MAFI´s freestanding corner mounts (the 4600 series), 3×3 and 4×4, but sometimes also the 2×2, and the adjustable cabinet platform (the 8050 series).
When asked what could be better with MAFI Jim McCready is silent for a while before he answers:
”I can´t think of much. MAFI supplies a very straightforward product that does everything we need at the moment.”

Production in Mexico is up and running

Mora’s floorball team is the second best in Sweden.
In the finals one week ago, the team, Kais Mora, lost to Iksu.
”Being among the best teams in Sweden is amazing, considering that Mora, with only 20,000 inhabitants, is competing against the teams in our metropolitan areas,” says Peter Wallin, Club Manager.Kais Mora has a history dating back to the early 1980s. Floorball had recently been introduced in Sweden, and Mora soon started two clubs, which through its rivalry, among other things, developed into some of the country’s best. In 2004, they joined under the name Kais Mora.
Peter Wallin has been in the club since the start. First as an active player, and one of those who led the club, and since 2016 as the club’s first Club Manager.
”Innebandy is a basically simple sport to practice,” he says. ”You only need a pair of shoes, sweaters, pants, a stick and a ball. It’s a fast, fun sport that requires good fitness and quick thinking.”

Many young players, both men and women, and success has led to the fact that Kais Mora since the 1990s belonged to Sweden’s, and sometimes, Europe’s top team. The biggest successeshave been achieved by the club’s ladies. By 2015 they won the highest league, and this year, as mentioned, they came second.
On the men’s side, there has been some Swedish Championship gold won by the juniors, but it´s a big step to go from playing as a junior to a senior. On two occasions the men have been up in the highest series.
”But the competition is fierce, and after just one season we fell back to the lower series again. It takes an enormous effort to train and attitude to go all the way. Although we are not currently on top of the men’s side, we are proud of the fact that there are many players from Mora who are successful in other teams,” says Peter Wallin.

Kais Mora currently has about 500 active employees from 5 up to 50 years.
A regular match when the ladies are playing has about 350 spectators. However, at one of the semifinal games in April, the club borrowed the ice hockey team’s arena, and then a new audience record was set with 3 128 spectators, in a match that was won.
”Now we’re aiming for the ladies to be on the top, preferably winning in 2018. But equally important is that we continue to build both width and elite. And that we strengthen our organisation, and that we have a long-term stable economy.”>

Redesigned supporting strut

The telescopic strut support is made to provide adjustable bracing to a pole.
The support can be fitted as part of a new installation, or it can be retrofitted to an existing pole. All that is required are two structural attachment points within reach of the pole. The attachment points can be horizontal, vertical or anything in-between. The kit consists of a pair of telescopic struts with feet and a pole attachment bracket.
The 2230-family comprises three lengths of a strut and two standard sizes of pole attachment-clamp available, to fit poles Ø76 mm or Ø114 mm. An optional pole attachment clamp, the 3396, can fit poles < Ø76mm.

Fast and reliable deliveries in India

ESK, MAFI’s distributor in India, especially the niche telecom offers its customers a wide range of site materials. For a long time, the ESC is a leading provider of unique customer solutions to both Nokia and Ericsson. MAFI’s solutions are an essential part of the products offered by ESK India.
– ESK India is a vital distributor for us in India, says Samuel Enqvist, Sales and Marketing Director of MAFI.– With its broad product range and good logistics in the telecom market, they offer a superb service to its customers. Therefore, it feels very satisfying that ESK supplies MAFI’s products.
Since MAFI has outsourced the manufacturing of most of their products for the Indian market locally in the country, the company offers fast and reliable deliveries.
At the fair, MAFI demonstrated a large part of MAFI´s smart and rational solutions for securing and assembling both antennas and radio units.
Also a recently developed product was showed, a standalone “roof-top” solution. Fast, easy and cost efficient installation are some of the many advantages that this product offers.

”ESK India provides site in a box”

”Our business idea is to provide a ´Site in a box´ solution. We want to make our customers life very easy.”
Sandeep Ohri is Director of Sales & Business Development at ESK India. In mid-February Ericsson and Nokia was invited to take a closer look at what ESK India had to offer, together with MAFI.”I´d say our customers were really excited to see our capabilities, a product range that exceeded most expectations and our facilities that are state of the art in India,” Sandeep Ohri says. ”They also had the opportunity to meet our management, our technical and sourcing teams.”

Sandeep Ohri explains that a majority of customers haven´t actually seen most of the products they order. But at this event, they take a closer look and also have them demonstrated.
”And I think we´ve inspired them to buy products they maybe didn´t know that we provide.”
Since MAFI is one of ESK Indias partners, they also showed some of their solutions.
”The support we get from MAFI is fantastic,” Sandeep Ohri continues. ”They have localised our needs and helped us all the way to fulfil them. Their products are well received, and it´s a tremendous advantage for us that they keep building their product portfolio in India, including products that are manufactured locally.”
Next steps for ESK India is to enhance its product portfolio and to expand the customer base, something which Sandeep Ohri has high hopes of doing.”The Indian telecom market is huge. There are several rollouts coming soon, and we are in a strong position together with MAFI.

MAFI strengthens its position in the Americas

”Our business idea is to provide a ´Site in a box´ solution. We want to make our customers life very easy.”
Sandeep Ohri is Director of Sales & Business Development at ESK India. In mid-February Ericsson and Nokia was invited to take a closer look at what ESK India had to offer, together with MAFI.”I am happy to say we have a growing customer base in the Americas,” says Andreas Persson, Key Account Manager at MAFI.

This was evident at the NATE Conference and Exhibit in Forth Worth, in Dallas which took place at the end of February and the 1st of March.
”NATE is the perfect opportunity for us to show how we can help the telecom providers in the Americas with fast and reliable solutions.”
During the conference, many interested visitors came by MAFI´s booth.
”I´d say it became evident for many of them that MAFI can offer something that helps cut both cost and roll out time,” Andreas Persson says.

Visit MAFI at Elektroskandia´s Telecom day!

MAFI will attend the “Telekomdagen” (Telecom day) in Kista, Stockholm, tomorrow, the 30th of March.
Stop by, have a chat with MAFI employees and take the opportunity to see the advantages of our latest products.
http://info.elektroskandia.se/telekomdagen

The Vasaloppet – The world´s largest cross-country ski race

The biggest cross-country ski race in the world is taking place in Dalarna.
It´s called The Vasaloppet (The Vasa Race) and you need to ski 90 km´s (56 miles) to finish it. And every year tens of thousands, mostly Swedes, but also many from abroad, skis the whole distance, from Sälen to Mora.The first race was in 1922, and that classic 90 km stretch was, for a long time, the only Vasaloppet race. Today there are sixteen different races; cycling, running and cross-country skiing, that together attract 100,000 registered participants every year. All these races run along the historic stretch in northern Dalarna, between Sälen and Mora.
The Vasaloppet is held in the memory of events in the 1500-th century.
The first Vasalopp was carried out in 1521 by Gustav Eriksson Vasa. During his flight from the Danish king, he stopped in Sälen and returned to Mora to lead the uprising against the occupation forces.In 2017 there were people from 58 countries in the race! Of the 16,226 competitors, 13,578 made to the goal. If you want to take part in the competition you need to be quick on your computer; usually, all starting positions are occupied within minutes after they are released. However, there are many other races during the Vasaloppet week you can join. A popular version is the team race. For several years MAFI has challenged customers in this fun, but also exhausting event.
The Vasaloppet 2017 was concluded with a tight and thrilling sprint in the men’s class where last year’s winner, Norwegian John Kristian Dahl, managed to defend his victory. In the ladies´ class Swedish Britta Johansson Norgren was the happy and proud winner.>

Business Leader of the Year: Pierre Bengtsson, MAFI.

And the winner is… Pierre Bengtsson!
MAFI´s CEO, Pierre Bengtsson, won the prestigious prize “Business Leader of the Year”, awarded by Dalarna Business.
”It was with great honour and pride that I received the award,” said Pierre Bengtsson, after January’s gala night attended by many of the leading companies in Dalarna.Dalarna Business is an association of companies in the county of Dalarna. Every year, business leaders, innovators and executives in various categories are considered for the prestigious award.
Pierre Bengtsson says that, at first, he was on a long list of nominated business leaders. After company audits and interviews, three nominees remained on the list, and the winner was revealed on the 25th of January.
“Receiving this award is the result of excellent teamwork throughout MAFI,” Pierre Bengtsson continues. ”Every employee has been hard working and dedicated over the years, and together we have achieved fantastic results.”
”And now, motivated by this award, we will aim even higher in the future!”
The jury explained its choice thus:
Pierre Bengtsson is a business leader who sees it as his mission to work with shared responsibility, participation and transparency to create high motivation and solutions. Together with his team, he has taken his company from northern Dalarna out into the whole world.

MAFI at NATE and Elektroskandia´s Telecom day

NATE
Come and visit us at the NATE Conference and Exhibit in Forth Worth, Dallas 28 Feb – 1 Mar.
Our booth number is 218.

https://natehome.com/annual-conference/nate-unite-2017/Elektroskandia´s Telecom day
MAFI will attend the “Telekomdagen” (Telecom day) in Kista, Stockholm, the 30th of March.
Stop by, have a chat with MAFI employees and take the opportunity to see the advantages of our latest products.

http://info.elektroskandia.se/telekomdagen

MAFI builds a cobot packing station

To streamline the operations MAFI currently builds its own packing station.
“We are evaluating a concept where we use a cobot to multiple tasks,” says Jonas Wassdahl, Head of Design at the MAFI. “And a packing station is the first to be evaluated.”At the centre of the station is a collaborative robot, or a cobot from Universal Robots, model UR10.
A cobot is a robot intended to interact physically with humans in a shared workspace. This is in contrast with robots, designed to operate autonomously or with limited guidance. The cobot includes built-in security features wich makes it stop if something, such as a human, comes in its way.”Our goal with this project is to build our knowledge and experiences in this field,” says Jonas Wassdahl. “There will probably similar projects where we can use the cobot in the future.”
The aim is to pack about 500 units a day with the help of the cobot.

It’s quite small and can be moved easily and reprogrammed for other assignments.
“It’s actually rather fun to work with it and to figure out how to make the cobot work in the most efficient way,” says Jonas Wassdahl with a smile.
Fredrik Andersson, a trainee at MAFI, is doing most of the hands-on work, supervised by Jonas Wassdahl.

The Swedish Hockey League within reach for Mora IK

Mora, where MAFI has its head office, is buzzing with… ice hockey!
The pride of the town, Mora IK, is on a roll and leading the Swedish second league.
”My dream is that we make it to the finals and then advance to the Swedish Hockey League,” says Peter Hermodsson, Director.Dalarna is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations. Its attractions are perhaps primarily nature and culture, but there is also a flourishing business sector of which MAFI is a part and a rich ice hockey tradition.
Together with Leksands IF, the Mora team Mora IK mainly represents the ice hockey culture in the county. Currently, Mora IK competes in the Swedish second league. However, the team has had such a strong tailwind recently that chances are good for advancement to the highest league, the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

”Yes, we are doing very well,” Peter Hermodsson continues. ”And it´s due to the whole club, not just the players. We have very dedicated coaches, leaders and other staff. We have been able to keep key players for some years, and we also have some newer talents that have developed well.”
Peter Hermodsson also emphasises the importance of the club´s partners who had stood by the club when the results weren’t as good, and who are even more supportive now when the goal, advancing to SHL, could be within reach.”It´s crucial now that we don’t race ahead of ourselves,” he says. ”So we keep telling the players to play one game at a time and let us in the management plan for the future. There is still a lot of hard work needed to reach our goals!”
Other key elements that have led to the success, Mr Hermodsson explains, is the club having a vision, broken down into a strategy and several clearly identified operational goals. They include sound finances, building networks, both in Dalarna and Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and keeping key players for several seasons.

So, what´s most fun for Peter Hermodsson in these times of success?
”It´s a lot! Our sponsors supporting us when we need to buy more players. Watching our young players, both the girls and the boys and seeing their joy. And getting a lot of media coverage is of course also very rewarding!”
Now, in mid-February, Mora IK has a superior lead. The team needs to win a few more matches to reach the playoff. There they will be challenged by teams from SHL, and only after success there, can Mora IK make their dream become a reality.>