50 years of Mifa - Interview with Peter
50 years of growth and innovation: The story of a true Mifa Precision Hero
In July 1980, our colleague Peter Michiels began his career at Mifa straight out of technical school (LTS). He was approached by Mifa through his school and started working in Reuver in the extrusion department. His initial tasks included “runout work” and sawing aluminum extrusion profiles, but he quickly progressed to the sawing and brushing department, where much of the work was still done manually at the time.
However, as Peter himself describes it, even in the 1980s, Mifa had a pioneering approach. For instance, a self-developed automated machine was used to drill holes in profiles automatically—something that was unique in the market at the time.
The Relocation of Mifa Aluminum to Venlo
In 1984, Mifa moved from Reuver to Venlo. “That was truly a significant change,” Peter recalls. “The size of the company grew immensely, and the extrusion presses that we gained access to demonstrated that we were making substantial progress as a business.” Our position as a leader in the extrusion industry was only strengthened. The high standards for quality, precision, and design freedom that set Mifa apart from the competition were established as early as the 1980s.
With the growth of the company came shift work, and Peter became a shift supervisor. He later briefly held the position of manager of cutting and brushing before ultimately taking on the role of quality engineer, a position he has proudly held for ten years. Throughout his long career, he has witnessed Mifa evolve into the specialist in precision extrusion. “What has always stood out to me is how strong we are in delivering complete products,” he says. “Our expertise in extrusion, CNC machining, and surface treatments was remarkable even then, but it has only further developed and improved in recent years.”
The growth of Mifa is evident not only in the increasing number of presses but also in the structure of the departments. “Over the years, I have witnessed many departmental shifts. This is necessary to optimize our logistics and because we are continually expanding as a company. The extrusion department alone has been located in six different areas within our organization.”
Mifa: Champions League for 50 Years
What sets Mifa apart is our focus on precision extrusion. The founder of the company, Mr. Jan Aalberts, had a clear vision and believed in the power of precision. “He recognized the potential of precision extrusion at an early stage,” Peter explains. “He is an incredibly intelligent and sociable man: Mr. Jan Aalberts. Now, 50 years later, we continue to bring his (and our) dream to life.”
“Our expertise in complex profiles, CNC machining, and surface treatments continues to evolve. The profiles we produce today are becoming increasingly complex, and the volumes are rising. The market is changing, and customers are demanding more. At Mifa, we collaborate with our clients to find the best solutions together.”
When we compare the early years to today, the modernization of our high-tech machinery might be the most significant change. Innovation has always been a driving force at Mifa, evident in the company’s ongoing professionalization. “From manual work to advanced automation and from small batches to large-scale volumes: the progress has been enormous,” says Peter. “Yet our core value remains the same: striving for perfection in precision extrusion—go for excellence.”
With 50 years of innovation and growth behind us, Mifa will continue to push boundaries in the future. What began in 1980 as a promising career for Peter now symbolizes the strength of perseverance, precision, and innovation—the cornerstones of Mifa’s success.
Peter reflects on a wonderful period filled with significant developments that have shaped him. Looking ahead, he sees many exciting opportunities to which he is eager to contribute.
50 years of Mifa: making dreams come true
More than 50 years ago, we laid the first building blocks for the power of precision—the power of precision extrusion to turn dreams into reality. We are part of the latest technologies that enable us to detect diseases earlier, achieve faster internet speeds, and make travel more environmentally friendly.