FOR-A Anniversary Marks 45 Years of Company Success

This month marks the 45th anniversary for FOR-A Co., Ltd., a video and audio system manufacturer for the broadcast and professional video industries. The company was founded in Tokyo in October 1971 by current FOR-A Group owner, Keizo Kiyohara. FOR-A's first product was the world's first video timer, the VTG-32, and the company has continued to produce innovative products using progressive technologies and broaden its global reach through the years.

After the establishment of FOR-A Corporation of America in 1974, two R&D centers in Japan, as well as subsequent local subsidiary companies including the UK, Italy, and China, were established. More recently, affiliated companies such as FOR-A YEM Eletex have been formed. Today, the FOR-A Group is associated with 12 companies in Japan and six overseas subsidiary organizations throughout the world.

In the early stages of FOR-A's product lineup, the technologies of the VTG-32 were passed along to character generator products, which were used by a large number of production houses and broadcasters in Japan. Another innovative product, the FA-410P time base corrector, produced in 1981, was the basis for FOR-A's large frame synchronizer lineup. These early successful products were the foundation for the current product lineup that includes a variety of technologies, including video switchers, routers, multi-viewers, processors including frame synchronizers and color correctors, character generators, virtual studio systems, file-based products, video servers, archiving products, and high-speed cameras.

According to the company, relied on by a variety of customers worldwide, FOR-A products have received abundant, favorable acclaim and recognition. Both the FA-9000 HD/SD frame synchronizer and FRC-7000 HD frame-rate converter were TV Technology "STAR Award" winners in 2006. At NAB 2010, the LTR-100HS LTO-5 archiving recorder received Broadcast Engineering's "Pick Hit Award." Since its introduction into the market, the world's first 4K super-slow acquisition FT-ONE high-speed camera has been honored with numerous awards, including TV Technology Europe's "STAR Award 2012," the Motion Picture and Television Engineering Society of Japan's "MPTE Award 2013," Government Video Magazine's "2013 Government Video Salute Award," and a "BIRTV 2013 Award." FOR-A YEM Eletex, a FOR-A company, received The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences "Technology and Engineering Emmy Award" in 2014.

FOR-A is an international manufacturer that produces innovative technology. Current president, Katsuaki Kiyohara, said, "Looking back on FOR-A's progress, we have been fortunate to have been able to continue growing and evolving -- all thanks to our customers, whom we very much appreciate."

In honor of its 45th anniversary, FOR-A has deemed "FOR-A World of Possibilities" as its new theme, in its commitment to continue seeking "infinite possibilities" in video and audio system manufacturing for broadcasting and other professional video industries.

President Kiyohara further commented on FOR-A's future, saying, "It will be essential to keep up with today's ever-changing market transitions, with the flexibility to achieve it. As a manufacturer, we will continue innovating, trusting in our infinite possibility. FOR-A aims to continue developing with the video production world and all of its customers toward mutual prosperity."