Company MIFER was established in spring 1989. Political situation was not easy before November revolution. The intention to run a business must be authorized by the State that time. He didn't go into business alone. His partner was Michael Svoboda, who was working in Lada car service. He came up with the idea to make plastic liner into fender of Lada cars in order to protect bodywork from flying stones which are spread on the roads during winter time. These inserts were produced in Scandinavia only. They were not available in Czechoslovakia that time. The purpose for business was clear: to produce an unavailable part for the local market. The part was originally produced by contact laminating from fiber-glass. However the capacity of this technology was low.
MIFER HISTORY
Formation of the Company
The company was established by Vladimir Frank. The idea of using vacuum pressing technology comes alone while he was solving the problem when he was working as head of construction team in the Czech Stone Industry. He was looking for a suitable solution for production of plastic plates. These plates have to imitate flag stone and create form surface for casting tiles made of conglomerate stone. These tiles replaced the classic pavement mosaic in the Historical Centre of Prague. These plastic plates were successfully manufactured by using vacuum forming technology in the affiliated production of JZD Všeň, and the task was successfully completed.
First achievements
Six liner pieces were produces during one day. Whole week production was sold within one hour. Mr. Vladimír Frank was using his previous experience when he decided to design and self-made a machine for vacuum forming plastics while he was searching for more faster and efficient technology. Production of this machine was completed in June 1990. For its completion and operation, the company needed suitable premises. Therefore an agricultural building was rented in compound of agrarian farm in the village Hostivice – Břve. The first pressed liners for car wings made of ABS material were produced in summer of 1990.
Rapid development
Company Mifer started to grow continuously while number of customers and their orders increases. Production expanded into the surrounding buildings of the rented premises. Two more machines were produced. Later were both vacuum forming machines and CNC machining of professional manufacturers. The quantitative and qualitative jump occurred in year 1994. MIFER was selected as a supplier of selected pressings used for the ŠKODA Pick Up car and subsequently Škoda Van plus from the ŠKODA Auto production. In the same year Mifer both site complex near their premises with large former sheep-building and neighboring land. Here began to build its own manufacture premises and run its production till today.
In 2000, Michael Svoboda got back to his original field, selling and repairing cars. Mr. Vladimír Frank thus remained as the only owner of MIFER.
The company purchased the first CNC 5-axis milling cutter same year. Company went through ISO Standards certification successfully a year later. It brings an important presumption for further growth of existing customer base.
After 2008, the company went through turbulence caused by general economic downturn. This overall dramatic revenue drop was probably recorded by every manufacturing company in Europe. Not everyone has successfully overcome throw this revenue crisis.
This period make Mifer to change their business approach. They start to actively seek for new business activities, markets and industries where technological capabilities and know-how can be applied. They have to increase the efficiency of manufacturing process in order to be competitive on business market. Mr. Tomáš Bartoň who became a second partner in 2012, had a big influence on further company development. During this period, the production premises were rebuilt and modernized. Two modern fully automated large-area vacuum presses, CNC machine tools and other modern production technologies were acquired.
