Founded in Italy in 1972, it is a global pioneer in the photographic accessories industry, designed for the professional photography/film/theater/lifestyle entertainment and video markets

Based in Bassano del Grappa, northern Italy, it designs and manufactures a wide range of cameras and lighting equipment for the professional photography, film, theater, lifestyle entertainment and video markets. The product line line includes camera tripods and heads, lighting mounts and accessories.

Manfrotto's products are sold by its own trading company, which is distributed in China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus independent distributors in 65 countries around the world! The unrivalled strength of the international distribution network and the company's efforts as a team with distributors are key success factors. The group's owned trading companies offer direct access to markets, trends and requirements, which are key in keeping the company at the forefront of development and innovation.

It has become a Manfrotto tradition to constantly invest in the latest technologies and to constantly evaluate the product range, production needs and consumer trends. This policy maintains the highest quality standards at all stages, followed by the development of other standards.

Manfrotto products are manufactured by Manfrotto Support and Manfrotto Bags, and distributed in China by Manfrotto Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Entrepreneurial history

At the end of the 60s, Lino Manfrotto worked as a photojournalist for Bassano del Grappa and Giornale di Vicenza at Bassano del Grappa. He also works in industrial and advertising photography. The equipment in the photographer's studio is bulky and very inconvenient for professional work. There is a wide range of flash and quartz lighting available in the photography market, but the marketing of basic accessories such as tripods, booms and fixtures is almost unpopular.

Thus, with the help of a collaborator, Lino Manfrotto produced his own first products, consisting of a light lamp and a sturdy enough high lampshade bracket. In the years that followed, he made only a handful of items to satisfy the needs of his photographer friends around him. But since then, he has introduced his products to the international market and received large orders from distributors in Switzerland.

His garage became a production workshop. With the production of the first booms, telescopic rods and other components, he soon realized that he could not meet the customer's order demand with his production capacity at that time.

70s

In 1972 Lino Manfrotto met with Gilberto Battocchio, a technician working for the Bassano mechanical company. At that time, the essence of Lino Manfrotto's business and products was hit by a technical bottleneck, and meeting Gilberto Battocchio was a very important time for him. The arrival of Gilberto Battocchio introduced the work of Lino Manfrotto into a multifaceted solution. The two of them worked together to bring the company to international standards in just a few years.

In 1974, Manfrotto's first tripod was introduced. Innovative, lightweight and versatile, Manfrotto tripods have successfully entered the market. Products such as Superboom, Autopole ®, Superclamp ® and so on have become an important part of almost every photography studio in the world. How to face the competition? Competitors can copy and copy Manfrotto, but they can't match Manfrotto's level in terms of innovation, quality, performance and service.

80s

The group grew rapidly, and in 1986 Manfrotto had six factories in Bassano, the Feltre factory in the Villapaiera industrial area, and in the following two years, a further five factories were built.

Innovative and high-quality products, an extensive distribution network and brand recognition in 140 countries around the world, as well as first-class employees, have attracted a wide range of attention from international investors. In 1989, the sale of the entire equity interest in Linorm Manfrotto to the British Vitec Group of Companies, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange, and established operating listed subsidiaries in the broadcasting industry in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Lino Manfrotto and Gilberto remain in the group as managers.

90s

In 1992 the Group acquired the French brand Home Credit, a top brand in tripods and heads.

In 1993, the group acquired the American company Burgon Trading, a leader in the photographic materials trade in the United States.

In 1994 the Group acquired IFF, a leader in the field of photographic equipment and suspension structures.

In 1999 the Group acquired Litec, an industry leader in aluminium brackets for the entertainment market.

2000-present

In recent years, the advent of digital technology has profoundly changed the photography and videography industry and created millions of new photography enthusiasts. In line with this trend, and with its own experience, the Group will provide better imaging solutions to photographers and videographers around the world.

In 2004, Bogen Imaging Trading GmbH was founded in Germany.

In 2005, the Group acquired Kata, an Israeli-based camera bag brand.

In 2006, the Group added two new business networks in Japan and the United Kingdom, and acquired TOMCAT, the world's leading aluminium frame manufacturer for concerts and performances based in the United States.

In 2009, the Group sold IFF to Lighting Italia Srl, a subsidiary of the French company FOKIA, which owns brands such as QUARTZCOLOR, BALCAR, LTM and COKIN.

In 2010, Bogan Image Trading changed its name to Manfrotto Trading Company, including all of its trading companies in Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States.