From Rifa to Microelectronics

Ericsson started manufacturing capacitors as early as 1896 and, in parallel with the continued development of telephony, the products assumed growing importance in the company's overall production operations. AB Alpha was acquired in 1929, and production of capacitors was transferred to the new company.

Capacitors were also in strong demand from the rapidly expansive radio industry. During WWII, however, it became virtually impossible to import the products into Sweden. As a result, several major users of capacitors joined forces in 1942 and founded Radio Industrins Fabriks AB, or Rifa. Neither Ericsson nor SRA were among the original founders, however, with AB Alpha meeting their needs for capacitors.

Imports of capacitors resumed after the war, and the radio manufacturing industry's need for Rifa declined. Following a decision to refocus on telephony, Ericsson's increased requirements could not be covered by Alpha and, in 1946, Ericsson acquired Rifa. Soon after that AB Alpha’s manufacturing of capacitors was transferred to the newly acquired company. Construction of a new production plant for Rifa was started the following year in Ulvsunda, outside Stockholm. It was completed and ready for occupancy in 1950. The number of employees at the time was about 250, not including 120 salaried employees and foremen.

Rifa was merged in 1967 with Svenska Elektronör AB, another subsidiary of Ericsson. The new company became a "components supply company" for the production of capacitors, electronic tube and semiconductors.

Rifa's operations were streamlined in 1988 when Ericsson decided to focus on microelectronics. The capacitor operations were sold to Oy Finvest Ab, a Finnish company that also acquired the Rifa brand. Remaining parts of the company were restructured under the name Ericsson Components AB.

In year 2000, the name of the company was changed again, this time to Ericsson Microelectronics AB.