Latin America. As it approaches its centenary, ARRI takes a look back at its rich history, looks at the values and principles that have helped it reach this key anniversary, and sets its sights firmly on the future.
The year 2017 marks one hundred years since August Arnold and Robert Richter rented an old shoemaker's shop in Munich and set up a film technology trade. The two young friends started with only one product: a copy machine they built with a lathe that Richter had received as a Christmas gift from his parents. With the first two letters of their surnames they gave the name Arri to the new company.
Today, the company's headquarters are located at the same address on Türkenstrasse although the facilities have been expanded to cover an entire block and it is only one of its many facilities in the whole world.
As a true and active global player in all international markets, Arri has its most important subsidiaries in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
In many ways Arri represents the Mittelstand; Medium-sized German companies that are leaders in their area and that have managed to remain in time thanks to their adherence to solid values. Often, like Arri, there are still family businesses that pass from generation to generation, which are supervised by executors and with an affective component in that brand.
Despite its years, Arri is a company that attaches great importance to youthful exuberance and passionate dedication. Dr. Jörg Pohlman, one of the two members of the Executive Committee of Arri AG notes: "Even today I 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 passionate about movies, driven by a love of visual storytelling and technology. If you walk around Arri today you will see the same enthusiasm and passion that define who we are and what we do."
Arnold and Richter were camera operators, film producers and an equipment rental venue even before producing an Arri camera. From the beginning they worked directly with the filmmakers and the perception and knowledge they acquired helped them develop equipment that met the real requirements of the work on set. In today's industry, with marketing technology advancing at a breakneck pace, this philosophy of listening to what filmmakers need – rather than telling it – is more important than ever.
Franz Kraus, Member of the Executive Committee notes: "Arri is proud to be a professional counterpart to the long-standing global film industry. We have never moved away, on the contrary, we have always faced the difficult times by redoubling our efforts and increasing investment in R&D. The fact that we offer such a variety of products and services covering all areas of the industry gives us a unique perspective and allows each department to leverage the expertise of the others. For example, it was our work in digital post-production that helped us make such a successful transition from film cameras to digital cameras."
The quality and reliability for which ARRI is so renowned remain its most essentially relevant characteristics. At all levels of the industry there is still a need for durable tools for their specific uses and that are profitable over time. Today that means more than just building quality and durability: it involves a flexible system architecture for cameras and lights that are essentially computers. It means software updates that respond to ever-evolving needs and continually transform software functionality.
Although Arri's anniversary is actually in September 2017, the whole year will be marked by numerous celebrations, with the participation of all 1300 employees around the world who will help make it special. The IBC Show in Amsterdam, which will also take place in September, will be the focus of the celebrations and there will be the most important party.
Arri's long history is predominantly set in the age of celluloid and is a wonderful legacy to look back at. But now, in the digital age, the company is bigger than it has ever been, with more employees, more products and more share of the international market than ever before. At 100 years old, the future has never looked so exciting.
