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Founded by two teenagers who were so young their parents signed incorporation documents
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ARRI Executive Board members Franz Kraus and Dr. Jörg Pohlman
2017 marks 100 years since August Arnold and Robert Richter rented a small former shoemaker's store in Munich and set up shop as a film technology firm. The two young friends started with just one product: a copying machine they built on a lathe Richter had received as a Christmas present from his parents. Taking the first two letters of their surnames, they christened their new enterprise ARRI.
Today, the company is headquartered at the same address on Türkenstrasse, though the premises has expanded to the size of an entire city block and is just one of the company's numerous facilities around the world. Truly a global player and active in every international market, ARRI has major branches in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Despite its grand age, ARRI is a company that places great value in youthful exuberance and passionate dedication. Dr. Jörg Pohlman, one of two Executive Board members at ARRI AG, notes, “I still find it amazing that this company was founded by two teenagers; they were so young that their parents had to sign the incorporation documents. First and foremost they were film enthusiasts, driven by a love for visual storytelling and technology. If you walk around ARRI today you'll see that same enthusiasm and passion – it defines who we are and what we do.”
"I still find it amazing that this company was founded by two teenagers; they were so young that their parents had to sign the incorporation documents."
Dr. Jörg Pohlman
Executive Board member, ARRI AG.
Arnold and Richter were camera operators, film producers and an equipment rental outfit before they ever manufactured an ARRI camera. From the very beginning they worked directly with filmmakers and the insight they gained helped them to develop equipment designed to meet real on-set needs.
Today, The ARRI Group consists of five business units: Camera Systems, Lighting, Media, Rental and Medical. ARRI is a leading designer and manufacturer of camera and lighting systems for the film industry, with a worldwide distribution and service network. It is also an integrated media service provider in the fields of postproduction and equipment rental, supplying camera, lighting and grip packages to professional productions. ARRI Medical focuses on the use of core imaging technologies for surgical applications. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recognized ARRI's engineers and their contributions to the industry with 19 Scientific and Technical Awards.
Executive Board member Franz Kraus comments, “ARRI prides itself on being a long-term professional partner to the global film industry. We have never walked away, instead facing difficult times by redoubling our efforts and increasing investment in R&D. The fact that we offer such varied products and services, covering all sides of the industry, gives us a unique perspective and allows each division to benefit from the expertise of all the others. For example it was our work in digital postproduction that helped us make such a successful transition from film to digital cameras.”
ARRI's actual anniversary is in September 2017, though the whole year will be marked by numerous celebrations, with all of the company's 1,300 worldwide employees taking part. The IBC show in Amsterdam, also in September, will host the main party.
The company release concludes, “The long history of ARRI sits predominantly in the celluloid age and it is a wonderful legacy to look back on. But now, in the digital era, the company is bigger than it ever has been, with more employees, more products and more international market share than ever before. At 100 years old, the future has never looked so exciting.”
