Precision Mechatronics

Precision Mechatronics GmbH was a German company specializing in the development and manufacturing of mechanical and electronic products, with a particular focus on image processing equipment. Based in Weiterstadt near Darmstadt, it operated as the manufacturing division of DFT Digital Film Technology Holding GmbH, producing film scanners and related precision components for the global post-production and film restoration markets. The company's origins trace back to the historic Fernseh AG, founded in Berlin in 1929 by Bosch, Baird, Zeiss-Ikon, and Loewe. Over decades, through various ownership changes and mergers—including with Philips and Thomson—the business evolved into a leading supplier of telecines, datacines, and film scanners. In 2008, the post-production solutions division was sold to Partner Capital Group, leading to the creation of DFT Digital Film Technology Holding GmbH and Precision Mechatronics GmbH. The company filed for insolvency in August/September 2012. From the insolvency estate, Digital Film Technology GmbH emerged in Darmstadt-Arheilgen, later acquired by Prasad Studios of India, and in September 2024 became independent under a former managing director. Precision Mechatronics itself is no longer active, but its legacy lives on through the film scanning technology it helped produce, including the award-winning Spirit DataCine and Scanity scanners.

The history of Precision Mechatronics GmbH is deeply intertwined with the evolution of film and television technology in Germany. Its roots go back to 1929, when Fernseh AG was founded in Berlin by a consortium including John Logie Baird, Robert Bosch, Zeiss-Ikon, and Loewe. In 1939, Fernseh AG became a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH. After World War II, the company relocated to Darmstadt in 1952 and was renamed Fernseh GmbH. During the 1960s and 1970s, it manufactured a full range of professional video and film equipment, including cameras, VTRs, and telecine devices. In 1979, it launched the FDL 60, the world's first CCD telecine. In 1986, a joint venture with Philips formed BTS (Broadcast Television Systems). In 1995, BTS was acquired by Philips and became Philips Broadcast Television Systems, and the Darmstadt factory moved to Weiterstadt. In 1996, the Spirit DataCine was launched following a joint project with Kodak, marking a milestone in digital film scanning. In 2001, Thomson acquired the company, renaming it Thomson Broadcast Solutions. In 2008, the Post Production Solutions division was sold to Partner Capital Group, and DFT Digital Film Technology Holding GmbH and Precision Mechatronics GmbH were established. Precision Mechatronics served as the manufacturing arm, producing film scanners like the Spirit 4K and Scanity. In August/September 2012, both Precision Mechatronics GmbH and DFT Digital Film Technology Holding GmbH filed for insolvency. The assets were restructured into Digital Film Technology GmbH, based in Darmstadt-Arheilgen, which was acquired by Prasad Studios of India. In September 2024, Digital Film Technology GmbH became independent again under a former managing director. Precision Mechatronics itself ceased operations as a result of the insolvency.

• 2024

  Digital Film Technology GmbH becomes independent under a former managing director.

• 2012

  Precision Mechatronics GmbH and DFT Digital Film Technology Holding GmbH file for insolvency.

• 2009

  Scanity film scanner launched.

• 2008

  Post Production Solutions division sold to Partner Capital Group; DFT Digital Film Technology Holding GmbH and Precision Mechatronics GmbH founded.

• 2001

  Thomson acquires the company, renaming it Thomson Broadcast Solutions GmbH.

• 1996

  Spirit DataCine launched following a joint project with Kodak.

• 1995

  BTS acquired by Philips; Darmstadt factory moves to Weiterstadt.

• 1986

  BTS (Broadcast Television Systems) formed as a joint venture between Bosch and Philips.

• 1979

  FDL 60 launched, the world's first CCD telecine.

• 1952

  Fernseh AG moves to Darmstadt, Germany.

• 1939

  Fernseh AG becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH.

• 1929

  Fernseh AG founded in Berlin by Bosch, Baird, Zeiss-Ikon, and Loewe.

High-quality, precision manufacturing for professional film scanning and post-production equipment.

• Spirit DataCine

  World's first digital film scanner with 100 MB/s interface, developed with Kodak in 1996.

• Spirit 4K

  4K film scanner developed with Kodak and Dalsa in 2004, capable of 4096x3600 resolution.

• Scanity

  Film scanner launched in 2009, featuring gentle film transport and LED illumination.

• LUTher

  HDTV color space converter based on 3D look-up table, developed in 2004.

1. 1Startdft-film.com
2. 2Historydft-film.com
3. 3Awardsdft-film.com
4. 4About usdft-film.com
5. 5Precision Mechatronicswikidata.org
6. 6Precision Mechatronicsde.wikipedia.org