Company type | Public limited company |
---|---|
LSE: VID | |
Founded | 1910 |
Founder | William Vinten |
Headquarters | Richmond, London U.K. |
Key people | Ian McHoul (Chairman) Stephen Bird (CEO) |
Products | Camera Supports: Pan & Tilt Heads, Tripods and Pedestals |
Revenue | £306.9 million (2023) [1] |
£(4.7) million (2023) [1] | |
£(78.1) million (2023) [1] | |
Website | videndum |
Videndum plc is a manufacturer of hardware and software for the film industry founded in 1910 and based in Richmond, London. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The business was established by William Vinten when he started manufacturing Kinemacolor projectors for Charles Urban in 1909. The company, trading as W. Vinten Cinematograph Engineers, was formed in 1910 and was originally based at 89-91 Wardour Street, London. [2]
In 1914, the company workshops were taken over by the government and William Vinten was invited by Sopwith at Kingston upon Thames to work alongside staff at its aeroplane factory. This led in 1915 to an invitation by the Royal Flying Corps for Vinten to design and build the Model B, a special cine camera for use in aircraft. [3]
In 1928 the company expanded and moved to Cricklewood, North London, mainly supplying the film industry by creating specialised equipment for companies such as Kodak. [3]
The Second World War created an increased requirement for reconnaissance cameras and the company secured military contracts which gave it world market presence for reconnaissance work. [3]
In the late 1940s the broadcast market began to flourish and the company developed the first telerecording camera. As a result the British Broadcasting Corporation became increasingly involved with Vinten. The BBC became the world benchmark for which Vinten adapted many of its original film camera supports creating equipment more suitable for television cameras. [4]
In 1964 Vinten moved to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. In 1972, the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange. [5]
In the early 1980s the company worked in partnership with the BBC to develop pedestals, tripods and other equipment for use in its news studios. [6]
In 1988 Vinten split into two separate entities, W Vinten Ltd (which became Thales Optronics), focused solely on reconnaissance equipment, and Vinten Broadcast, focussed on broadcast mounting equipment. [3]
From 1989 the company began a series of acquisitions: Manfrotto (1989), Bexel (1991), Gitzo (1992), Bogen Imaging (1993), TSM Inc [known for its AutoCam product range] (1993), Sachtler (1995), OConnor (2003). [7]
Vinten Group plc changed its name to Vitec Group plc in 1995. [3]
Following the acquisition of Radamec in 2003 a new brand Vinten Radamec was created to take over the manufacture of robotic camera support products. [8]
In April 2021, Vitec acquired Quasar Science, a linear LED tube manufacturer. [9]
In May 2022, the company changed its name to Videndum plc. [10] Vinten continues to exist as one of the group's brands. [11]
The company's main brands include: [12]
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Kinemacolor was the first successful colour motion picture process. Used commercially from 1909 to 1915, it was invented by George Albert Smith in 1906. It was a two-colour additive colour process, photographing a black-and-white film behind alternating red/orange and blue/green filters and projecting them through red and green filters. It was demonstrated several times in 1908 and first shown to the public in 1909. From 1909 on, the process was known and trademarked as Kinemacolor and was marketed by Charles Urban’s Natural Color Kinematograph Company, which sold Kinemacolor licences around the world.
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Thales Optronics is a optronics manufacturer and a division of the French defence corporation Thales Group. It is headquartered in Paris. The company has three main subsidiaries: Thales Optronique SA in France, Thales Optronics Limited in the United Kingdom and Thales Optronics B.V in the Netherlands.
Manfrotto is an Italian brand of camera and lighting supports, including tripods, monopods, and other accessories, that is manufactured by Lino Manfrotto + Co. Spa, a company headquartered in Cassola, Italy. The brand is wholly-owned by Videndum plc.
Gitzo S.A. is a manufacturer of photographic accessories, including bags, but specialising in tripods and supports.
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Vinten is a brand of lightweight manual and robotic camera supports such as tripods, pedestals, pan and tilt heads, robotic heads, and robotic tracks, many of which are aimed at the television studio and outside broadcast markets. The brand was established by William Vinten when he started manufacturing Kinemacolor projectors for Charles Urban in 1909. The brand is wholly-owned by Videndum plc.