Commenting on this milestone Andrew Percival, Managing Director said 'We are very proud to have reached this point and to have been able to re-invent the business a number of times over the years. This together with a great team of highly experienced and motivated staff has been key to our development. This is backed up by an impressive product portfolio that has evolved over the 90 years and will continue to do so as technology and market needs change.' Percival continued 'We must also thank our loyal and growing customer and supplier base, many of which have supported us for a number of years.'
Mayflex was originally founded as Mayall & Co Ltd in 1917 by John William Mayall, an electrical engineer, working from premises in Moor Street, Birmingham, trading as general electrical wholesalers. The company initially found success in becoming the first distributor of Swan Kettles. Mayflex is still a privately owned business and owned by Robert Mayall, grandson of the company's founder.
The company made its first move towards specialist cable distribution in 1972, importing instrumentation cables from Italy, and began distributing specialist switchgear and control gear components in 1979.
By 1985, Mayflex had moved to a 14,500 square foot location in Gravelly Industrial Park, and had established a number of relationships with various manufacturers to import computer, coaxial and telephone cables. The company had also launched the Mayflex brand name, and in 1994 also began trading under the name.
In 1996 a range of Ethernet hardware products was launched, leading to Mayflex's diversification into active networking products and a withdrawal from the distribution of general wiring products.
Mayflex launched its own structured cabling range, Excel, in 1999 which has grown to become 'the most sold private label' in the networking market for the last three years according to the BSRIA market reports. In the same year Mayflex moved into a purpose built 85,000 sq ft office and distribution centre where it is currently based at the Junction Six Industrial Park, Birmingham.
In the past 3 months the progression of the business has continued with the opening of an office and stock facility in Dubai to service the Middle East region, and the introduction of an IP Physical Security division to provide a wide range of products including key brands such as 'Mobotix, Panasonic, Bosch, Raytec, Excel Guardian etc.