Lino Manfrotto, photographer and founder of Manfrotto, passes away at 80 years old in native Italy

 

 

Lino Manfrotto, the founder of the Manfrotto support equipment company, has passed away at his home in Italy at the age of 80.

While best known for the company with his namesake, which has been designing and producing support gear for photographers since 1974, Lino Manfrotto was also a photojournalist in his native Italy. He worked for Il Gazzettino and Il Giornale di Vicenza and regularly made light stands for him and his photographer friends. He then decided to produce and sell some of his support equipment, including booms, telescopic rods and stands, to a Swiss distributor. His business took off when he met Gilberto Battocchio (the duo can be seen below) in 1972. The two collaborated to take Manfrotto’s production to the next level.

 

Gilbert Battocchio (left) and Lino Manfrotto (right)

By 1988, production had expanded to 11 sites. The 1990s saw Manfrotto expand its business position with the purchase of Gitzo in 1992 and Bogen in 1993. The 2000s saw further expansions and business dealings, including the acquisition of Lastolite in 2011. Today Manfrotto is distributed in over 65 countries.

(Seen via DIY Photography)