March 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of a new brand of Audio and Visual Cables and Connectivity Products, called Aura.

Aura brings a different approach to an established market and offers an extensive range of quality and high performing AV passive products all supplied in 100% single use plastic free packaging.  The product range initially includes; Coax Cables, AV Cables, HDMI Cables, HDMI Extenders, TV Brackets, Modules and Wall Plates, AV Adaptors and Connectors. 

Andrew Percival, Managing Director commented “We are delighted to create the Aura brand, following on from the massive success of Excel, Mayflex is well placed to develop quality solutions which are backed by our exceptional service and support.”

Andrew continued “In September 2020 we welcomed Simon Jacobs to the team who brought with him over 20 years’ experience of the AV market.  Simon has worked closely with the leadership, sales and marketing teams to develop the Aura brand and ensure that we offer a premium set of products that meet the market requirements.”

Simon Jacobs commented “I’m excited to see the results of many months of work to design and develop the Aura brand.   As the strapline highlights, you ‘Experience Different’ with Aura with exceptional quality and best-in-class performance, all protected in stylish packaging which is free from single use plastic and is made from materials which are 100% recyclable, definitely a first for any AV vendor in the market today.”

Simon concluded “We have a brand-new website www.aura-av.com that details the range of products on offer, all of which are available to order via Mayflex. Customers can see their prices and available stock via the Mayflex online shop.  There is also a comprehensive PDF catalogue which includes educational content to help customers choose the right products for their requirements.”

For more information on Aura please visit www.aura-av.com or visit www.mayflex.com where you can buy the Aura products online until 8.00 p.m. for free next day delivery. Alternatively, you can email aura@mayflex.com or call our team on 0121 326 7557.

IDEAL Networks, leading manufacturer of dependable data cable, network, and CCTV test equipment, will be known as TREND Networks from 31st March 2021.

In re-branding to TREND Networks, with a new tagline “Depend on Us”, the company aims to better reflect its vision, mission, goals, and position as a partner providing customers with innovation alongside dependable results, equipment, and support. The name change also consolidates the company’s identity following the acquisition from IDEAL INDUSTRIES, Inc. more than two years ago by CBPE Capital alongside the incumbent management team.

For the name TREND Networks, the firm looks to its rich history in the field of test and measurement. Trend Communications was a telecoms test equipment manufacturer founded in 1965. Over almost four decades, the company launched numerous innovations, from telegraph testers, to telex machines, data transmission analysers and ISDN testers. Trend Communications was acquired by IDEAL Industries in 2004 and later became part of IDEAL Networks.

“Trend Communications was a leading business with a strong reputation and a dedication to delivering industry-firsts. Under the name TREND Networks, we share this same goal,” explains Paul Walsh, CEO for IDEAL Networks.

“However, it’s important for our customers and partners to know that our dedicated team remains unchanged, and that our products, such as LanTEK, are unaffected by the name change – you will still have access to our full range of industry-leading solutions, ” he continues.

In the near future, IDEAL Networks, under its new name TREND Networks, will launch developments which enable its cloud-based platform to support more of its range of leading cable and network testers. The IDEAL AnyWARE Cloud, which will be known as TREND AnyWARE, provides enhanced capabilities for pre-configuration, collaboration, and reporting.

These innovations will join recent product developments such as the unique LanTEK IV cable certifier and recently launched SignalTEK 10G Ethernet Tester.

For more information visit www.idealnetworks.net.

Mayflex is a leading distributor for TREND Networks in the UK - talk to our sales team on 0800 75 75 65 or email sales@mayflex.com for prices and availability.  Click here to view the range of TREND Networks products.

May 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has added a new UPS configuration service through its Specialist Support Services team, for any customers purchasing Tripp Lite UPS systems through Mayflex.

Mayflex started distributing Tripp Lite UPS systems in the UK at the beginning of March 2021.   Tripp Lite provide an extensive range of quality UPS solutions and other complementary products.

Richard Cann, Mayflex Technical Manager, commented “We are constantly looking at ways to add value and to help customers to save time on site with their installations.  With Tripp Lite we can do several tasks including; setting up the output voltage, assigning IP addresses, setting up and configuring external battery packs, supplying and connecting power leads, to name but a few.”

Richard continued “Our highly trained and experienced team will ensure that we set up the Tripp Lite UPS products in accordance with our customers exact requirements, all for a nominal fee.”

Richard concluded “This is just one of the many services that we offer within the Specialist Support Services function, our established team are regularly providing pre-terminated copper and fibre assemblies, producing bespoke labelling, pre-staging IP devices, all of these and more are designed to save time on site or to fill any skill gaps that a customer may have or just to assist at particularly busy times.”  

To find out more about the new Tripp Lite configuration service or any of the Mayflex Specialist Support Services available then, please contact our sales team at 0800 75 75 65 or email sales@mayflex.com.

May 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has been awarded the Avigilon Elite Distribution Partner of the Year for EMEA, at Avigilon’s virtual partner conference that was held on Monday 10th May.

Avigilon judged the award based on several criteria which included; commitment to the brand, turnover, year on year growth, stock holding, training offered and sales and marketing activities. Out of their 50 distributors in the EMEA region, just four awards were given to distributor’s in Germany, Spain, Italy and to Mayflex in the UK.

Tom Filce, Mayflex Director of Sales for Security commented ‘We are delighted to have won the award, we have been distributing Avigilon since 2010 and it’s a brand that we very much believe in. Our teams of external and internal security specialists have extensive knowledge and experience, a number of which are fully trained Avigilon System Design Experts, which is critical to ensuring that our customers get the right level of support and advice.”

Tom continued “We carry a significant level of Avigilon stock which is shipped out next day, free of charge, to our customers in the UK Mainland, but we aren’t just about shipping products, it’s very much about adding value and supporting our customers.  To this end we run regular Avigilon training courses via the Mayflex Academy and through our Specialist Support Services we can pre configure Avigilon devices and cameras and even spray paint the cameras and brackets if required.”

Tom concluded “To give our Avigilon customers extra peace of mind we also offer a unique next day advanced replacement service, so in the unlikely case of a faulty Avigilon product being shipped, it can be rectified very quickly.”

To find out more about the Avigilon products available from Mayflex please visit https://mayflex.com/brands/avigilon or call the Security team on 0121 326 2228 or email securitysales@mayflex.com

May 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has launched a new training course called an ‘Introduction to Access Control’ which is aimed at cabling installers that aren’t yet offering access control solutions.

The course is being run through the Mayflex Academy and has been developed, written and will be delivered by James Vian, Mayflex’s experienced Training and Technical Manager and will take place online on Wednesday 26th May from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m..  The course is free of charge to Mayflex account customers.

The three-hour course will cover the following topics:

The basics of access control, it's purpose and different uses
Security levels
The components that make up a system
Interconnection/Interfacing and Integration
Covid best practice & conventions
Best practices & things to avoid
British standards 
The next steps - learn more about free vendor training courses

Tom Filce, Mayflex Director of Sales for Security commented ‘Many of our customers are focused on delivering structured cabling solutions and often miss out on the opportunity to install access control or IP CCTV as part of the installation, due to not having the right skill sets.  To help our customers we’ve developed free training to educate and support them to make the transition from offering pure cabling to a converged solution, and thereby providing more sales opportunities and the ability to earn extra revenue.’

Tom continued ‘This latest course follows on from the success of the Introduction to IP CCTV course which again was written and delivered by James Vian and to date 111 companies have taken the course and a number of these are now regularly installing security solutions.  This new course provides the foundation before moving on to specific vendor training courses from our vendor partners such as Paxton, Suprema, Hikvision, Avigilon, Axis and Mobotix who all provide access control solutions.”

James Vian, Mayflex Technical and Training Manager added ‘We’ve had a great response to the courses so far, which have been well attended.  Even with them being delivered online they’ve have provided the environment for customers to ask questions and interact with the content.  I’m delighted to have seen several of the attendees to Introduction to IP CCTV course move on to start offering security solutions.”

The Introduction to Access Control course takes place on Wednesday 26th May and customers can book to attend by clicking here.  The next Introduction to IP CCTV course takes place on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th June running from 9.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. each day and customers can book to attend by clicking here.  

If you’re an installation company and you don’t yet have an account with Mayflex you can open one within a few minutes by clicking here and you can then take advantage of the free training courses on offer through the Mayflex Academy.

May 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has become a strategic partner to Zitko Talent: the new industry training initiative designed to fast-track entry level field engineers into Fire & Security.

The 12-month programme offers trainees paid employment from day one, combined with around 300 hours of certified product training and theoretical study towards a Level 3 industry qualification. The product training is tailored to the trainee’s workplace.

Mayflex will be making its full range of courses available to Zitko Talent and working with fellow partners to identify and develop bespoke content. This will include leveraging our considerable assets in the digital / networking field.

Tom Filce, Director of Sales in Security at Mayflex says: “With looming skill shortages it’s crucial for the industry to attract and develop its next generation of engineers. Zitko Talent provides us with a solid platform to help achieve this goal, alongside some excellent partners”.

Other launch partners involved in the programme include leading manufacturers such as LenelS2, Suprema and Eagle Eye Networks and employers such as Northland Controls, Reliance High-Tech and Pafi Ltd.

Trainees to-date have included graduates and engineers from other industries. All applicants go through a detailed evaluation process, including state-of-the-art aptitude testing to create a high-quality talent pool.

James Vian, Technical and Training Manager at Mayflex says: “The pandemic has significantly affected employment in industries such as aerospace and automotive. Some excellent people are looking for a job. Many others are questioning their future. With Zitko Talent we’re opening the doors wide into our industry”.

If you would like to know more about Zitko Talent, visit the Talent website at www.zitko.co.uk/divisions/talent or email Priya Vencatasawmy at priya@zitko.co.uk

May 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, will be exhibiting at the forthcoming Security TWENTY 21 events that kick off in Birmingham on 29th June 2021 at the Belfry Hotel & Resort.

Tom Filce, Mayflex Director of Sales for Security commented ‘We are looking forward to getting out and meeting up with our customers at these events, we’ve got so many great products and solutions to share with the delegates and to explain why Mayflex is the trusted partner for security solutions.’

Tom continued ‘We have built an exceptional team of associates focused around selling and supporting security solutions, many of which have been in the industry for years and have extensive knowledge and experience that make them a great asset for our customers in helping them to choose the best solutions to meet their varying requirements.’

Tom continued ‘We distribute and partner with a select number of best-of-breed vendors, we aren’t about badge collecting.  Our vendor partners include Aura, Axis, Avigilon, Edgecore, Excel, Hikvision, Milestone, Mobotix, Paxton, Suprema, Tether, Tripp Lite and Wavestore to name but a few.  We believe these brands offer the best solutions for our customer base and provide a choice of product solutions that fit both their technical and budget requirements. It’s definitely not a case of one solution fits all and we are well placed to advise customers accordingly.’

Tom concluded ‘Partnerships are key to our success, whether that’s with our vendor partners or with our customers, we are focused on building strong and lasting relationships.   To support our customers, we offer several Specialist Support Services which include IP Configuration whereby we can pre-configure cameras, NVRs and switches before they are shipped, helping reduce installation time on site or to support a customer at a particularly busy time. We can even spray paint the cameras and brackets so they can discreetly fit into their installation surroundings, giving customers some extra benefits that they can pass on to their end customers.’

James Vian, Mayflex Technical and Training Manager added ‘Through the Mayflex Academy we run regular courses, most of which are free of charge to Mayflex customers, to bring people up to speed on the best practices for installing security products, as well as numerous vendor focused courses.  You can view and book onto the courses by visiting our website.’

You can attend the exhibition for free, by registering here https://www.professionalsecurity.co.uk/security-twenty-register/

Or you can see us at any of the following Security TWENTY 21 events:

Security TWENTY Special – Twickenham Stadium – 8th/9th July

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester – 20th July

Hilton Hotel, William Street, Glasgow – 5th October

Radisson Red Hotel, London Heathrow – 4th November

Please come along and make sure you pop along to the Mayflex stand and our team will be happy to have a ‘socially distanced’ chat!

On Saturday 3rd July 2021, Mayflex associates Amanda Griffiths, Liz Evans and Tracey Calcutt together with retired Mayflex associates Margaret Butterfield and Lyn Gale and another friend took part in the Peak District 52KM Challenge to raise money for three different dementia charities including the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK and Dementia Support.

The walk started and finished at Bakewell in the Peak District and the Mayflex team of 6 were part of 2,000 walkers and runners who were taking part in the event organized by Ultra Challenge, to raise money for several charities, which was especially poignant as no fund raising events were able to take place the previous year, due to the Covid pandemic.

Tracey Calcutt, Marketing Manager commented “Amanda, Liz and I have all lost parents and a grandparent due to dementia so it’s a cause that is massively close to our hearts and this is the third ultra-challenge that we’ve taken part in since 2014 to raise money for dementia charities.   There is currently no cure for this terminal disease and more research needs to be done to ensure that more families don’t have to experience what we’ve been through.”

Tracey continued “It was an extra hard challenge due to the very wet weather at the start and end of the walk, with a thunder storm and torrential rain for the last few hours.  If anyone has visited the Peak District, they will know just how hilly the terrain is, but also how beautiful it is, and we got to walk in the grounds of the spectacular Chatsworth House in the initial stages, which was lovely.”

Tracey concluded “We walked in two teams of three with the first team finishing in just over 11 hours and the second in just over 13.  Between us we have currently raised over £6,700 but we’d really appreciate any further donations and would like to thank the many people that have already sponsored us – it really helped us to dig deep when the going got really tough!”

To donate to the Mayflex team please click on the links below:

Dementia UK fund raising

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lizzie-g1

Alzheimer’s Society fund raising

https://www.justgiving.com/team/missing-the-dogs

July 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has launched the Mayflex Academy Video Channel which will feature unboxing and tutorial videos across a wide range of vendors, products and solutions.

Commenting on the new video channel, James Vian, Mayflex Training and Technical Manager said “Up until now the Mayflex Academy has been very much about training, which due to Covid has seen most of the classes delivered online.  With our new Mayflex Academy Video Channel we are providing more support, education and top tips via short videos that can be viewed at any time to suit.   They will be particularly useful for engineers out on site who might need to understand a little more about the products they are installing and what to expect.”

James continued “The first in the series covers the Hikvision 4MP External Turret cameras and in just over 3 minutes I talk you through the product and highlight the features of the camera range.  There are more videos in the pipeline and will be added to the channel on a regular basis and we will keep people informed of when they are available via the Mayflex LinkedIn page and security E-newsletters. The videos will also be available against the relevant products on the Mayflex online catalogue at www.mayflex.com.

Tom Filce, Director of Sales for Security commented “Mayflex isn’t just a distributor, we are the trusted partner for security solutions, and the introduction of the Mayflex Academy Video Channel is another example of this.  We are very much about educating our customers, whether it’s through our regular training courses, via our pre and post sales teams and now via the new video channel.  Working closely with our vendor partners we will continue to develop tools and content that will assist our customers to choose and correctly install the right products, each and every time.”

You can view the first video in the Mayflex Academy Video Channel by clicking here.

For more information on Mayflex visit www.mayflex.com or contact us on 0800 75 75 65.

July 2021, Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has announced that they will be hosting two Hikvision open days at their headquarters in Birmingham (B6 7JJ) on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th September.

Each day will feature the new Hikvision demonstration vehicle which has been specifically designed with the needs of installers and integrators in mind, and is packed with working kit for immediate, practical hands-on demonstrations.  The vehicle is packed with the latest Hikvision technology including AX PRO, MinMoe, ColorVu, AcuSense, Fisheye and PanoVu cameras, Thermal Perimeter Protection and ANPR, Video and audio convergence applications and the HikCentral Management software.

Tom Filce, Mayflex Director of Sales for Security commented “We are excited to host the Hikvision demonstration vehicle at Mayflex as it’s a great way for our customers to see working examples of numerous Hikvision products.  We are also taking the opportunity to open our doors and invite customers in to a mini exhibition featuring complementary brands including; Aura, Excel, Tether and Tripp Lite as well as having a tour of our main warehouse and Specialist Support Services where we offer many services including IP configuration and camera spraying.”

Tom continued “To make sure all delegates get the best experience we will be splitting them into four groups, each hosted by a Mayflex representative, and they will spend 40 minutes in each area before we finish off with lunch and the opportunity for delegates to spend more time talking to the exhibitors, the Mayflex team and looking at the Hikvision demonstration vehicle.”

Tom concluded “As a thank you to all attendees we will be providing them with a Hikvision and Mayflex goody bag and everyone will be entered into a prize draw each day, with one lucky winner going home with a Hikvision 4MP G2 ColorVu Fixed Turret Network Camera and a further prize draw will take place after the both events for a third camera.”

Click here for more information or please visit the Mayflex website to book your place(s) to attend.