MCI Light

Rest in peace Fred Hoffmann 09/09/2016

As we already announce, last 18th of August Fred Hoffmann, the Founder and President of Grupo MCI passed away with 68 years old.

The relatives of Mr. Hoffmann would like to thank the shows of affection and explained that he was a great "inspiration" for all those around him and that he will always be remembered as an "energetic, hardworking, generous, honest, kinds and respectful person".

Fred Hoffmann arrived to Barcelona when he was just 23 years old and began his great career as a businessman, together with his inseparable wife, Martine Campmas, and later on with his two sons Frederik and Carlos Hoffmann, nowadays on board of the company. Mr.Hoffmann was a great and visionary entrepreneur, very friendly and hard worker until the end.

Fred Hoffmann was a very active person. A proof of this was his active participation in the Circle of German speaking Executives (KDF) and in the Rotary Club Barcelona Europe, in which he was president in the years 2011 and 2012. Hi also participated in various social clubs such as Tertulia Migdia, Circulo Ecuestre, etc.

In the Rotary Club organization he could also fulfill one of his wishes, to participate and collaborate in making possible social projects like ALPAN and KINDERPAN, of which he was very proud.

Fred Hoffmann, a man with a strong character at the same time that he was very close and open to people he knows, was an entrepreneur, a visionary businessman and a tireless worker.

Those who had the opportunity to meet him in person remember a slogan he often repeated: "Although the road is very long - we must take the first step."

ABOUT FRED HOFFMANN

Fred Hoffmann was born in 1947. He was raised in southern Germany after his family was expelled from Sudetenland, the Northern Province of German Bohemia, now the Czech Republic, after the 2nd World War.

In 1970, after finishing his studies as an administrative technician in the company Ackermann, he came to Spain to learn Spanish. At the time he was 23 years old.

After two years working in the company "Gütermann Nähseide" of Barcelona, Fred had the pleasure to meet the Dutch inventor, Martin Schouten. He also had the opportunity to become freelance, manufacturing lighting signs in an old flat in the Bonanova Square. The first results were quite spectacular, although they did have some quality issues.

After ten years of difficulties maintaining and expanding the company, Fred Hoffmann started to get more stability in his business. At that time, Fred met his wife Martin, from France-Albi. She became an important support both personally and professionally.

Over the years the business diversified and the company began working in other markets, such as lighting up theaters and cinemas, safety and decorative lighting, etc.

In 1996 his son Carlos and three years later, in 1999, his son Frederik joined the company.

But it was in 2000 when Fred Hoffmann, together with his wife and its two sons, change the focus of the company focusing on the research, development, and innovation (R+D+i), emphasizing lighting project design and exclusively manufacturing 100% with LED lighting products.

Currently, the company is made up of 90 experienced and quality focused professionals with an extensive knowledge and background in developing a wide range of luminaires with the perfect balance between quality, energy efficiency and functionality.

The Barcelona Headquarter is located close to the Barcelona International Airport, with facilities encompassing over 8.000 square meters for R+D+i, engineering, electrical, mechanical, lighting project development, quality control, production, warehouse and logistic departments.

Grupo MCI is present in more than 84 countries, and participates in a large-scale of worldwide lighting projects, becoming a leading company in the lighting sector.

Some of the projects that marked a before and after have been; Casino Estoril (2000 and 2005), Palais des Festivals et des Congres de Cannes (2002), Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport (2008), Qatar Handball Association Complex (2015) and currently the lighting project of the holy mosque Al- Masijd Haram in Mecca (some parts already completed and others areas on going).

This was the philosophy of the founder, grow and expand. Fred Hoffmann use to say; "Today there are no frontiers for business. I am a man of the world. Right now I'm sitting here in my office and tomorrow I am thousands kilometers away trying to enlighten extraordinary projects".

VIDEO HOMENAJE
https://vimeo.com/182854724