16.10.2013

Wood remains wood - mafi natural wooden floors are "nature's work of art"

mafi Naturholzböden in Schneegattern, Upper Austria, is 100% committed to Austria for its business location. This explains why owner Friedrich Fillafer has invested in a TRC-M Easy and a TRC Eco by WINTERSTEIGER for its manufacturing plant at the mafi headquarters.


"Our family business started out as a sawmill almost 100 years ago. It is very important to me personally to keep added value in the region, and this can only work with the right balance between craftsmanship and technical innovation at its best. At the same time, we want to offer our staff decent jobs.", says Fillafer explaining the decision to invest. "mafi has always stood for a successful combination of craftsmanship, attention to detail and technologically mature improvements."

 

The two machines from the TRC "Timber Repair & Cosmetics" program (equipment for automated wood surface optimization) went operational in early September. The TRC-M Easy, the semi-automatic, entry-level model for filling smaller knots and cracks in the wood is used parallel to the fully-automated TRC Eco.

 

One of the TRC Eco's greatest strengths is its flexibility – the machine can be adjusted for different wood dimensions in the shortest possible time, thus facilitating the work of the production team. This product benefit was exactly what mafi required as the wooden floor manufacturer offers 250 different products which can be supplied within just 4 days. Another positive aspect is the enormous filler savings of some 30%, which matches mafi's resource saving philosophy.

 

B2B customer relations are also an important topic for mafi. Friedrich Fillafer was delighted to see the TRC machines delivered on time, and pleased with the service quality during the installation and training. The cooperation between WINTERTEIGER and mafi went perfectly. Adherence to deadlines and reliability play an important role on both sides, and are the best basis for a successful partnership.

 

Stability is the key to Friedrich Fillafer's enterprise philosophy. mafi wooden floors are designed to last several decades, or even 100 years. The excellent product quality makes this goal totally realistic. mafi floors are manufactured with a symmetrical three-layer structure using the same wood for the top and bottom layer and offer therefore more stability and robustness. This robustness is crowned by the natural finish of the boards. mafi started manufacturing varnish-free wooden floors in 1992, thus triggering a trend that has since asserted itself worldwide: from wine cellars in South Africa to a cathedral in Mexico. Knots and cracks are not faults, but viewed as natural properties of the wood that are finished and showcased by Timber Repair & Cosmetics. This creates "walk on art" – art which emphasises nature.

 

This development has not always been easy, but trendsetter Friedrich Fillafer has remained true to his principles and been successful by doing so: today, his company generates an annual turnover of 22 million euros with a staff of 100 and exports 75% of its products to 50 countries. Friedrich Fillafer looks to deliver his products from Austria to the whole world – bundled with his strong convictions: what's best for wood, is also best for people.



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