Kaiser Fototechnik - History

Foundation of the company as "EKA Werkstätte" by Erich Kaiser. At first agricultural products and handicraft articles are produced.

Kaiser starts production of photographic accessories (production of lens hoods, enlarging easels and reflector lamps).

First photokina in Cologne. Export business starts.

Due to lack of space the company is relocated to a new production plant at Buchen (Odenwald), its todays’ homebase.

Kaiser starts production of halogen lighting units for photography and cine film

Kaiser introduces the first Copy Stand.

The first self-developed enlarger goes to serial production.

Company gets its name "Kaiser Fototechnik".

The first design awards granted by Design Centre Stuttgart

Automatic “diamount” slide cutting and mounting unit combined with the still available C.A.M. slide frame

Kaiser develops the first electronic auto focus enlarger for non-professionals.

Serial production of the "prolite 5000" light boxes begins.

Vera and Alfred Kaiser are appointed to joint managing directors.

First one-piece rechargeable battery light "camlight 20" for camcorders

The copy stand product range is gradually expanded for professional use.

Entrance into digital photo technology/photography starts with the sale of the professional „Scando“ 3D scanner cameras

New product launch of dimmable „proVision“ softlights with fluorescent lamps and high-frequency operating systems for flicker-free lighting

„Studio-out-of-the-Box“, a foldable desktp shooting table for internet photos

In cooperation with the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel and Image Engenieering, Kaiser develops the Wolfenbüttler Buchspiegel for carefull reproduction of old books.

Utility model protection for LED camera light "digiNova²" with 2 torsion joints

Kaiser introduces the motorized RSP 2motion Copy Stand with two-level motor-driven adjustment for professional use.

Kaiser exhibits at photokina for the 60th-time without interruption.

Market launch of the professional „RD“ copy stand system with the first LED copy lighting unit

Kaiser starts a cooperation with Phase One and develops in collaboration the FilmScanning Kit for digitizing film strips, slides and glass plates which is exclusively distributed via the Phase One Cultural Heritage division.

Kaiser starts the distribution of high quality NanGuang/NANLITE LED lights.

Kaiser introduces the very slim "slimlite plano" LED light boxes.

Kaiser Fototechnik introduces with the FilmCopy Vario a stable holding device for the exact positioning of slides and negatives of various formats during digitization with a camera mounted to a copy stand or tripod.

With the two models of the prolite LED series Kaiser starts the production of professional LED light panels with high luminance and T-slot running all around.

Kaiser presents the RSP autoDrive 1.5 motorized column with computer-controlled height adjustment and brightness control of the RB 570 AX LED lighting unit.

After 77 years of ownership by the Kaiser family, the majority of Kaiser Fototechnik is taken over by the Schneider family's OKW group of companies, also based in Buchen. Jonas Vogt leads the company as managing partner and is supported by Nadja Schneider as a company executive.