The Story Behind MFX

Sometimes a Terrific Idea Just Happens --
and an Unconventional New Company is Born!

Ever see a great invention and wonder why you didn't come up with it first? A new creation always seems obvious after the fact. Often inventions stem from a particular need, but some inventions are just great ideas that pop into the heads of their creators. That's exactly how the idea for the MFX Classic started.

One evening in 1992 Rob Parrette, who got his first motorcycle at age 15, was talking to his brother about biking when it occurred to him that he could create a motorcycle-inspired sink faucet by using motorcycle handlebars as the taps and a motorcycle tank as the spout. Having never seen a similar product before, he thought the idea just might have possibilities.

Further development of the motorcycle-inspired faucet was delayed for nearly 10 years until 2000 when Rob returned to the project. With input from friends, engineers in the family, and plumbers, Rob finally developed a patentable design. He filed for his first design patent in 2002, and received a patent for a new, original, and functional decorative design for a plumbing fixture in February 2003.

Rob knew that if he wanted to get this off the ground, he needed a lot of help. By mid-2003, he identified two partners, Alex Sgoutas and Debra Ward, each of whom brought very specific skill sets and business experience to the table. Alex brought extensive entrepreneurial and executive business management as well as marketing expertise, along with 35 years as a recreational biker. Debra provided an operations and research background, along with web site development and product market share analysis experience.

The company was incorporated on December 15, 2003 in Connecticut as Motorcycle Faucets & FiXtures, Inc., later abbreviated to MFX, Inc., to launch the MFX™ Classic faucet, the company's first product. It soon secured financial backing and the support of angel investor and motorcycle enthusiast Cliff LaMotta, owner of Cliff's Cycle Revolution in Danbury, Connecticut, a premier BMW-Aprilia-Ducati retail center. Cliff also serves on the Board of Directors of MFX and provides valuable experience and strategic advice to the company.

Many months were spent on product design, engineering and further patent protection. After two and a half years of development, product sales of the MFX Classic were launched!

The MFX Classic is engineered by one of the world's leading faucet manufacturing companies and crafted using the highest quality brass construction for long life, durability and reliability. The brilliant brass and chrome surfaces are easy to maintain.

Brass color surfaces are treated with a PVD (Physical Vapor Disposition) molecular bonding process that creates an incredibly strong surface and a remarkably durable finish. Chrome color surfaces are treated with a top quality grade “A” polished chrome plating process that is resistant to tarnishing and corrosion.

Designed to perform flawlessly and provide many years of trouble-free enjoyment, the 4" on-center unit features:

Our one-of-a-kind faucet is shipped fully assembled and is easy to install as a drop in replacement for any four-inch on-center sink. It can also be adapted to many other sink configurations in your bathroom, wet bar, den, workshop or garage. A pop up drain with lift rod and tail piece and installation instructions are included. A plumber's help may be required for sinks with something other than four inch on-center configurations.

The MFX Classic faucet is patent protected by three issued design patents D470,572S, D506,809S and D513,311S for an ornamental design for a faucet and plumbing fixtures. Utility patent pending.

The MFX Classic comes with a ten year warranty on parts and a five year warranty on the finish. This high-end quality faucet rivals any of the finest and best selling top of the line designer faucets.

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