Sales representative in Slovenia:
MB-Naklo

Matej Bernard founded MB-Naklo in 1990. The company history started in a garage. Matej Bernard built up his small company with confidence in his knowledge and a lot of willpower. He firmly believed that the company would succeed. Last year, MB-Naklo celebrated its 30th anniversary on 1 October 2020. The company now employs ten people and has an annual turnover of around ten million euros.

Matej Bernard and his company specialised in the trade of tools. At first he only sold simple
cutting, hand and measuring tools. In 1991, one year after the foundation of MB-Naklo,
Slovenia declared its independence from the Federation of Yugoslavia. After that, the small
country flourished economically. A domestic industry emerged which gradually opened up
to markets beyond the country‘s borders.
Matej Bernard ran his small company with great discipline. He worked a lot, was managing director, buyer, customer advisor and storekeeper all in one person. The trained toolmaker and former sales manager benefited from the practical experience he had acquired while working for two large companies in former Yugoslavia.
MB-Naklo‘s market launch was a success. Mr Bernard expanded and hired staff. From the very beginning he relied on well-trained and experienced engineers from the mechanical engineering sector. „The expertise of our employees contributes significantly to successful
cooperation with our customers and partners“, Matej Bernard is convinced. This aspiration is also continued by his daughter Nataša, who took over operational management of the company in the summer of 2020. MB-Naklo does not see itself as a classic trading company. „We are first and foremost an engineering company which develops complete solutions for users“, she emphasised. That is also MB-Naklo’s motto: „We want to be a solution provider.“

Um diesem Anspruch auch produktseitig zu entsprechen, erweiterte Matej Bernard fortlaufend das Portfolio von MB-Naklo und ergänzte es um anspruchsvolle Hochleistungswerkzeuge für die zerspanende Bearbeitung. Er traf damit exakt die Bedürfnisse einer wachsenden Industrie, die immer anspruchsvollere Bauteile produzierte. MB-Naklo übernahm mehrere Exklusivvertretungen im Bereich der Werkzeugtechnologie, später sicherte man sich auch die Vertriebsrechte für Geräte zur Prozessautomatisierung und für Maschinen zur Metallbearbeitung. Die ersten Kontakte mit MAPAL entstanden 2001. Damals reiste Janko Kokalj, der bei MB-Naklo die Werkzeugabteilung leitet, zur EMO nach Hannover und besuchte dort den Messestand von MAPAL. „Er erkannte sofort das Potenzial der MAPAL Produkte für den slowenischen Markt,“ erinnert sich Matej Bernard. Unmittelbar nach der Messe kam er zu ersten Gesprächen in die MAPAL Zentrale nach Aalen und bald darauf war die Zusammenarbeit von MB-Naklo und MAPAL vertraglich besiegelt. Es war der Beginn einer starken und vertrauensvollen Partnerschaft. „Die Hochleistungswerkzeuge von MAPAL setzten sich im slowenischen Markt sehr schnell durch und haben sich mittlerweile als Qualitätsmarke etabliert“, erzählt Matej Bernard. Das sei auch dem unermüdlichen Einsatz seines engagierten Mitarbeiters Janko Kokalj zu verdanken, der sich nach 23-jähriger Tätigkeit für MB-Naklo in diesem Jahr in den Ruhestand verabschiedet. Andraž Kržišnik und Rok Dolinar haben nun die Kundenbetreuung und den technischen Support für MAPAL Werkzeuge übernommen. Sie sind erfahrene Ingenieure und gehören seit vielen Jahren zum Team von MB-Naklo. 

There are numerous supplier companies in Slovenia working for the major international car
manufacturers. „They are our main customers“, Matej Bernard explained. Automotive manufacturing is the most important industry in Slovenia. Production concentrates on die-cast aluminium components which are preferably processed with MAPAL PCD tools. „We also supply many MAPAL fine boring tools and indexable inserts, and MAPAL PcBN tools for hard machining are also in great demand.“ The crane and construction machinery industries play an important role alongside the automotive industry. „Here, mainly solid carbide tools are used for drilling and milling as well as for boring“, Nataša Bernard explained. MB-Naklo also has the matching hydraulic and shrink chucks for the MAPAL tool range in its range.

The needs of the customers are the Bernards‘ top priority: „We see our customers as important business partners with whom we work closely and in a spirit of trust.“ The company therefore attaches great importance to staying in touch, be it by phone or, as far as currently possible, through on-site visits. MB-Naklo is represented at trade fairs and on social networks such as Facebook and Linkedin. The company has been publishing its own trade magazine since 2008, where it reports on the latest technological developments. Specialist seminars are also offered for the customers at the company headquarters in Naklo or also at MAPAL in Aalen. „These training courses are always very well received. Because in addition to gaining a lot of skills, the participants also develop an understanding of our technological approach to the design of machining solutions“, Nataša Bernard said.

MB-Naklo’s comprehensive concept has proven itself. „Our company is built on a stable foundation. Despite the global crisis in many areas including the COVID 19 pandemic we have not been critically affected“, the Bernards emphasised, and are approaching 2021 with a great deal of optimism. „We are planning to hire additional staff. And together with MAPAL we want to work intensively to provide the best possible support for the customers in Slovenia with innovative solutions, a wide range of services and individual support“.