Introduction

“FOR-A” is a brand name for professional broadcast video and audio equipment. Founded more than 35 years ago and based in Japan, FOR-A has spread globally, with subsidiaries in America, Canada, Korea, Italy, and England.

FOR-A manufactures digital video switchers, signal processing equipment, broadcast graphics products (such as virtual processor

Virtual processor

Tao Virtual Processor is a virtual machine from Tao Group.The first version, VP1, was the basis of its parallel processing multimedia OS and platform, TAOS...

s and studios), multi viewers, frame synchronizers and time base correctors, 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 – the success of which allowed for the opening of a FOR-A Corporation of America, established 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 that was universally recognized as the strongest in the market. 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 Nagano Olympic Games. FOR-A recently also developed the instant replay/mark entry used by the international skating union 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

LTO

LTO is a three letter abbreviation that can refer to the following:* Linear Tape-Open, a computer storage magnetic tape format* Loreto International Airport* Link-time optimization, a technique used by compilers to optimize software* Lunar transfer orbit...

 and LTFS

LTFS

Linear Tape File System refers to both the format of data recorded on magnetic tape media and the implementation of specific software that uses this data format to provide a file system interface to data stored on magnetic tape. The Linear Tape File System format is a self-describing tape format...

 at NAB

National Association of Broadcasters

The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...

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".