is a Japanese manufacturer of professional broadcast video and audio equipment. Founded in 1971, FOR-A has spread globally, with subsidiaries in America, Canada, Korea, Italy, United Kingdom, India, Hong Kong, Middle East and Africa.
FOR-A manufactures 4K variable-rate, slow-motion digital
video cameras
A video camera is an optical instrument that captures videos, as opposed to a movie camera, which records images on film. Video cameras were initially developed for the television industry but have since become widely used for a variety of other ...
,
digital
video switcher
A vision mixer is a device used to select between different live video sources and, in some cases, compositing live video sources together to create visual effects.
In most of the world, both the equipment and its operator are called a vision ...
s, signal processing equipment, broadcast graphics products (such as
virtual processors and studios), multi-viewers,
frame synchronizers and
time base corrector
Time base correction (TBC) is a technique to reduce or eliminate errors caused by mechanical instability present in analog recordings on mechanical media. Without time base correction, a signal from a videotape recorder (VTR) or videocassette re ...
s, HD/SD converters, and video stabilizers.
History
FOR-A was established on October 21, 1971, by Keizo Kiyohara in Tokyo, Japan. Its first product was the VTG-32, a worldwide video timer, which allowed for the establishment of FOR-A Corporation of America in California. In 1977, after producing the FVW-900 (a video writer), the company went on to manufacture the FA-410P, a time-based corrector. From there, FOR-A went on to open locations in Canada, England, Italy, China, and Korea. By the 1990s, FOR-A was a leading developer of DVE manipulation units, character generators, Time Base correctors, and Frame Rate Converters. In 1994, their character generator (the VWS-100) was chosen for official production display use at the
Nagano Olympic Games
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially known as the and commonly known as Nagano 1998 (), were a winter multi-sport event held from 7 to 22 February 1998, mainly in Nagano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, with some events taking place i ...
. FOR-A recently also developed the instant replay and mark entry used by the
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international sport governing body, governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded ...
at all major figure skating events, including the Olympics.
Company Timeline
1970 – VTG-32 produced.
1974 – FOR-A Corporation of America established in California.
1977 – FVW-900 produced, a video writer allowing for freehand drawing on the screen.
1981 – FA-410 Produced, widely considered the best TBC on the market at that time.
1985 – FOR-A Research and Development Center opened in
Sakura City, Chiba.
1986 – First DVE Manipulation Unit Produced
1988 – FOR-A Corporation of Canada established in Toronto.
1989 – Sakura R&D Center Expansion Completed
1991 – R&D Center opened in Sapporo City, Hokkaido.
1992 – Video Gainesville Inc. (Florida, USA) acquired to establish overseas development center and expand production.
1993 – VWS-100 selected for official production display use at Nagano Olympic Games
1994 - PC board assembly factory opened at Sakura R&D Center.
1995 - FOR-A (UK) Limited established in London (England).
1996 - FOR-A Italia S.r.l. established in Milan (Italy).
1997 - digiWarp designed to add virtual studio systems to product lineup.
1998 - Headquarters moved to Ebisu in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Japan).
1998 - Extension expansion of Sakura R&D Center completed.
1999 - 24-hour, 365-day FOR-A service call center established for Japanese market.
2001 - ISO certification of Sakura R&D Center successfully completed.
::HD and SD versions of HVS-3000 (2M/E Digital Video Switcher) Debuts to acclaim at IBC2001.
::New headquarters building completed in Ebisu in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Japan).
::Special camera related sales and development center completed on Sakura R&D grounds.
2004 - FOR-A Corporation of Korea established in Seoul.
2010 - Introduced LTR-100HS Video Archive Recorder with
LTO-5 and
LTFS at
NAB trade show
NAB-2010
Associated Companies
* FOR-A Corporation of America
* FOR-A Latin America, Incorporated
* FOR-A Corporation of Canada
* FOR-A UK Limited
* FOR-A Italia S.r.l
* FOR-A Corporation of Korea
* EXA International Co., Ltd.
* FOR-A MFG. Co., Ltd.
* FOR-A System Service Co., Ltd.
* WIZ Co., Ltd.
* Towa Air Transport System Ltd.
* FOR-A KIKAKU Co., Ltd.
* VIF Co., Ltd.
* Idea Institute Inc.
* Vanguard International Foods Co., Ltd.
Trivia
The company name, "FOR-A", is derivative of a similar—sounding Japanese phrase ("Han'ei") meaning "Prosperity with friends".
References
{{Reflist
External links
FOR-A Global Official Site
Electronics companies of Japan
Film and video technology
Manufacturing companies established in 1971
Electronics companies established in 1971
Japanese brands
Japanese companies established in 1971
1992 mergers and acquisitions
Shibuya
Sakura, Chiba