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{{Short description|Professional broadcast video and audio equipment}}
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{{Infobox company |
name = FOR-A Company Limited<br>株式会社朋栄 |
logo = [[File:ForAlogo.png|200px|FOR-A Logo]] |
type = [[Private company|Private]] |
foundation = 21 October 1971 |
location = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] |
key_people = [[Keizo Kiyohara]], President and Founder |
num_employees = 200 (500 total within FOR-A Group) |
industry = [[Video and Audio Technology for Broadcast and Film]] |
products = [[Video switcher|Video switchers]]<br />[[On-set virtual production|Virtual studios]]<br />[[Frame synchronizer (video)|Frame synchronizers]]<br />[[Multi-Viewer]]s |
homepage = [http://www.for-a.com/ www.for-a.com]}}
{{nihongo|'''FOR-A Company Limited'''|株式会社朋栄|Kabushikigaisha Hōei}} is a Japanese manufacturer of professional broadcast video and audio equipment. Founded more than 50 years ago, 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]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.for-a.com/products/ftones/professional_hs_camera_p.html |title=4K Variable Frame Rate Camera &#124; FT-ONE-S &#124; Products &#124; FOR-A |access-date=2015-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723130731/https://www.for-a.com/products/ftones/professional_hs_camera_p.html |archive-date=2015-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  digital [[video switcher]]s, signal processing equipment, broadcast graphics products (such as [[virtual processor]]s and studios), multi-viewers, [[frame synchronizer (video)|frame synchronizers]] and [[time base corrector]]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 [[1998 Winter Olympics|Nagano Olympic Games]]. FOR-A recently also developed the instant replay and mark entry used by the [[International Skating Union]] at all major figure skating events, including the Olympics.
== Company Timeline ==
'''1970''' – VTG-32 produced.<br/>
'''1974''' – FOR-A Corporation of America established in California.<br/>
'''1977''' – FVW-900 produced, a video writer allowing for freehand drawing on the screen. <br/>
'''1981''' – FA-410 Produced, widely considered the best TBC on the market at that time.<br/>
'''1985''' – FOR-A Research and Development Center opened in [[Sakura, Chiba|Sakura City, Chiba]].<br/>
'''1986''' – First DVE Manipulation Unit Produced <br/>
'''1988''' – FOR-A Corporation of Canada established in Toronto.<br/>
'''1989''' – Sakura R&D Center Expansion Completed<br/>
'''1991''' – R&D Center opened in Sapporo City, Hokkaido.<br/>
'''1992''' – Video Gainesville Inc. (Florida, USA) acquired to establish overseas development center and expand production.<br/>
'''1993''' – VWS-100 selected for official production display use at Nagano Olympic Games<br/>
'''1994''' - PC board assembly factory opened at Sakura R&D Center.<br/>
'''1995''' - FOR-A (UK) Limited established in London (England). <br/>
'''1996''' - FOR-A Italia S.r.l. established in Milan (Italy). <br/>
'''1997''' - digiWarp designed to add virtual studio systems to product lineup.<br/>
'''1998''' - Headquarters moved to Ebisu in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Japan). <br/>
'''1998''' - Extension expansion of Sakura R&D Center completed. <br/>
'''1999''' - 24-hour, 365-day FOR-A service call center established for Japanese market.<br/>
'''2001''' - ISO certification of Sakura R&D Center successfully completed. <br/>
::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.<br/>
'''2010''' - Introduced LTR-100HS Video Archive Recorder with [[Linear Tape-Open|LTO-5]] and [[LTFS]] at [[National Association of Broadcasters|NAB]] trade show ([https://archive.today/20120904101235/http://www.nabshow.com/2010/ 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==
*[http://www.for-a.com/ FOR-A Global Official Site]
[[Category:Electronics companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Film and video technology]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1971]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1971]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1971]]
[[Category:1992 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Shibuya]]
[[Category:Sakura, Chiba]]