Jofa to close Swedish plant

[Petey21 1]

For those of you who happen to own a piece of Swedish-made Jofa equipment, it might possibly become a sought after item for collectors in the future, as the news here in Sweden today announced that the Jofa plant in Malung, Sweden, will close soon, after 80 years (they didn't make hockey equipment during all those years though). It also says that there is a new helmet model in the works right now, and that it'll be produced in Asia when the development stage is over with.

I have no idea where the current Reebok gear is manufactured, like shoulder pads and shin guards and stuff? I thought they were made in said Swedish plant and were just rebranded Reebok instead of Jofa? Or are they made in Canada now? Or elsewhere?

Here's a sloppy Google Translate version of the Swedish article.

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=sv&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.helagotland.se%2Fnaringsliv%2Fartikel.aspx%3Farticleid%3D7090491&act=url

[Rockingsquat 4]

All rbk protectives are made oversea for a while now.

If I remember correctly even the last jofa protectives were made oversea too.

For those interested there are loads of old "made in sweden" jofa shin pads (6xxx, not top of the line) at TSR. Sold approx 80USD, they are gonna keep them for a long time I guess.

[arfax 0]

The new RBK helmets (5k,7k,11k) are made in china now, previous 4,6,8k were Canada.

[jimmy 194]

Honestly, no one cares about Jofa anymore. No one asks for Jofa equipment, they all want the "chic" oriental made name brand crap. The ones the marketing guys have tricked people into thinking are the best. Jofa hasn't been popular for about 6 yrs. It's brand is dead. Yes it was a great protective line, but no one cares about that anymore (except of course real pros), it's more about being "stylish" and keeping up with the Jones's.

[michael.yue 2]

Not sure you have that right Jimmy, but I've found that swedish made Jofa/RBK is very very popular and highly sought after.

[jimmy 194]

Not sure you have that right Jimmy, but I've found that swedish made Jofa/RBK is very very popular and highly sought after.

Let's see, I have not have any customer ask for a Jofa piece of equipment for 5 or more years. Brand is dead. When something is popular, customers are always asking for it. Not happening with Jofa. Now are there a few who like Jofa, perhaps, but it's not popular like the old days. Time to let it go.

[mhkehoe 1]

Let's see, I have not have any customer ask for a Jofa piece of equipment for 5 or more years. Brand is dead. When something is popular, customers are always asking for it. Not happening with Jofa. Now are there a few who like Jofa, perhaps, but it's not popular like the old days. Time to let it go.

I think he means that JOFA has a bit of a cult popularity going on. No one thinks they are going to walk into a store and find JOFA, but there are a few people who will go to greater lengths and pay a bit more to find pieces from a few years ago new or lightly used.

[Chadd 916]

I think he means that JOFA has a bit of a cult popularity going on.

A couple hundred guys from the various online forums isn't enough to make a difference. There aren't as many people looking for it as you may think.

[theWB 2]

Part of the allure with Jofa is the rarity of the equipment. I wouldn't be surprised if it were less popular if it were more readily available. Like Jimmy mentioned, as a shop guy, you might get two or three requests for it a year but the guys that know the equipment know that ebay is about the only place to find it on a regular basis.

[Ben 1]

Is Teemu Selanne still using a jofa helmet?

[raganblink 82]

All of the people who I have ever seen seeking jofa gear is people here and on phew, honestly I think because they see several people have a hard-on over it and want to try it out.. Or to seem 'cool' by having it. I'm actually surprised the plant was still operational.

[xrickyb86x 1]

Is Teemu Selanne still using a jofa helmet?

Last I remember seeing he was and the Jofa logo was painted over or scratched out.

[zachary 2]

Last I remember seeing he was and the Jofa logo was painted over or scratched out.

It is painted over, assuming because they don't have an agreement anymore since they were bought out.

[Petey21 1]

How popular was Jofa in North America, at its peak? I believe body protective gear like shin guards and shoulder pads could be fairly popular, as it was among the biggest brands even in the NHL. But I have a feeling the helmets were never ever popular there? Here in Sweden (not sure about the rest of Europe though) they have been popular through all the years, and they still even sell the Jofa 690 helmets here, although it's rebadged as Reebok 6K. Still a fairly popular model here, especially among youth players.

Where is the current CCM gear made by the way? Is that also made in China, or still in Canada? Is there any future for CCM or will it eventually get phased out too, and replaced by Reebok?

[LivHockey84 0]

I guess i'll be hanging on to my 7500 shins then.

[stuie7 6]

All of the people who I have ever seen seeking jofa gear is people here and on phew, honestly I think because they see several people have a hard-on over it and want to try it out.. Or to seem 'cool' by having it. I'm actually surprised the plant was still operational.

Tradition and brand loyalty goes a long way, those "several people having a hard on" over Jofa gear amounts to the the majority, if not all of superstars I watched on the TV growing up and a large proportion of current pro's in leagues all over the globe. I know I'm not alone in saying that Jofa is the first and last word in hockey protective.

I'm personally a big fan of the elbows and pants; I wouldn't swap my 9177 elbows or 7000 pants (a very underrated pant) for any other product in the market place and it is well documented that pro's and gear-whores alike also have a penchant for the shoulders and shins.

I don't need the newest and greatest gear with super-dooper speed holes or dagger technology, I want what works. There's really nothing cool or trendy about it, I want to wear what the pro's have stood by for what.. the past 20 years or longer? I'm a big believer in time-tested technology, combine that with pro approval and that is Jofa protective in a nutshell.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

I believe Jofa protective was top-notch, but, truth be told, it didn't sell at retail, especially in the mid 00s. It was just too much pad for most people. That all being said, I have a good stash; 3x 5044 leather cap EP, 1x Reebok 7k Pro EP, 1x 9070 shin SG, 1x 3175 SG.

[dsjunior1388 81]

All rbk protectives are made oversea for a while now.

If I remember correctly even the last jofa protectives were made oversea too.

For those interested there are loads of old "made in sweden" jofa shin pads (6xxx, not top of the line) at TSR. Sold approx 80USD, they are gonna keep them for a long time I guess.

Sweden isn't overseas?

[stuie7 6]

Sweden isn't overseas?

Depends where you live..?

[dsjunior1388 81]

Depends where you live..?

Ah, fair enough. I was assuming the reference point to "overseas" would be where Reebok is based, in North America. Can't remember if their hockey HQ is in US or Canada.

[stuie7 6]

Haha didn't mean that to sound as matter of fact as it did!

[automorph 0]

RBK still has "Jofa" feel to their equipment no?

I found bunch of Jofa stuff at a LHS and was amazed by the pricetags $199 for a pair of 8090 shinguards in late 90's - mid 2000's

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Yes, they are the same shells...

[greyraven8 9]

How popular was Jofa in North America, at its peak? I believe body protective gear like shin guards and shoulder pads could be fairly popular, as it was among the biggest brands even in the NHL. But I have a feeling the helmets were never ever popular there? Here in Sweden (not sure about the rest of Europe though) they have been popular through all the years, and they still even sell the Jofa 690 helmets here, although it's rebadged as Reebok 6K. Still a fairly popular model here, especially among youth players.

Where is the current CCM gear made by the way? Is that also made in China, or still in Canada? Is there any future for CCM or will it eventually get phased out too, and replaced by Reebok?

The Jofa 390 Helmet (and to a lesser extent the older 280) is still popular with the small group of goalies that wear 'combos' (helmet with cage). That one and the Cooper SK2000 seem to be the most popular. Look on the goalie store forum under the thread 'Calling all Combo Wearers'. None of the Jofa ones since the 390 (except the Reebok 3K which is the same model but was only sold in Europe) have been popular with goalies.