Our History
From family-run business to international reality.
Today Bft operates all over the world, with 20 branches and over 530 distributors in more than 120 countries.
We were founded in 1981 in Thiene, with the vocation: being available to our customers at all times, oriented towards those who work with our products.
A spirit that immediately allowed us to win the loyalty of those working in the installation and automation world.
The natural evolution was the acquisition of our strongest customers, and the opening of the first branch in Germany in 2002, which for us was the first step towards penetrating the local market and understanding the many facets of every country.
From that moment on, always focusing on full customer satisfaction, we began to diversify our services to suit every different culture.
Since 2004 we have been part of the Somfy group: this has given us the boost necessary to gain significant market shares and create a structured distribution network. A radical change that has determined the transition from passage from family-run business to small multinational.
Today the management of our international distribution network is divided up between the branches and the direct distributors.
In 2004 there were only three foreign companies, a number that was to increase tenfold in less than a decade.
For us, the passing of the 100 million turnover mark in 2012-2013 is just a step along the way.
Bft in Thiene
Creation of the Bft company in Thiene (VI).
E5
Compact mechanical operator with articulated arm.
LEM
Sturdy and reliable sliding operator.
FL50
The first photocell to use the Fresnel lens.
SUB
Monoblock in-ground hydraulic operator.
MOOVI GET
The first Bft automatic door.
New premises in Schio
Move to the new premises in Schio (VI).
PROTON
The first electromechanical motor, precursor of the Phobos series.
ROLLING CODE
An encoding system that manages remote control transmissions in complete safety, preventing any kind of external violation.
SUPER
Control unit with fully digital serial adjustment based on an LCD.
DISPLAY
The first integrated display for automated systems that facilitates direct programming and expands the options available for monitoring parameters.
Extension of the warehouse
First large-scale extension of the warehouse in Schio (VI).
Somfy
Entry into Somfy group.
Sacs
Acquisition of SACS.
FASTNET
Simplified cabling system with the use of only 2 cables, allowing connection of all the devices to the control unit.
O&O
Acquisition of the company.
ER-READY
Microprocessor encoding system allowing the direct cloning of remote controls.
AURA NEA
"ANPR" automatic number-plate reading system able to read registered car number-plates at the car park entry and exit without having to show anything at the column.
New warehouse in Schio
A new warehouse used for logistics is acquired near the factory in Schio.
ERMES
Automatic communication system equipped with operator, allowing the automatic management of notification of alarms and events detected by a parking system, to mobile phones or email addresses.
D-TRACK
An intelligent torque management system.
U-LINK
A wireless system for simplified maintenance and management of installations.
B-EBA SYMBIAN
The first wireless gateway that allows bidirectional communication with an external network.
U-SDK
The software development kit designed to enable Bft automations to be controlled by third-party BMS systems.
FLX
(Patented in 2009), photoelectric cells incorporating blinkers.
AURA TUVA
Medium-range passive UHF tag reading system integrated in a parking system: allows motorists provided with the special tag sticker on the windscreen to enter and exit the car park without having to show anything at the entry column.
U-Base
Remote control (B-EBA TCP-IP required) and service management for Bft automated systems.
INDUCTIVE ENCODER
Inductive encoder of all Maxima Ultra barriers with contactless technology for obstacle detection, ensuring immediate reversal of bar movement.
INVERTER
Introduction of the frequency Inverter on Maxima Ultra automatic barriers, ensuring outstanding performance and extremely quiet operation.
THEA
New photocell with Thea integrated flashing light, exclusive Bft patent.
Certification
IWA14-1:2013 V/7200(N3C)/80/90 antiterrorism certification of the X-PAS B 330/1200 bollard complete with EFO system able to ensure rapid rising of the shaft (3 times faster than the standard opening time).
AXXEDO
Access control system thanks to which, operators can enable customers to access a gate in their car parks:by typing in the proximity reader the code read in the ticket, customers can access restricted areas such as service areas or the automatic pay station area.
U-LINK
Technological platform for maintenance and simplified management of the installations.
X-PASS
The anti-terrorism bollards tested and certified to the highest safety standards (equivalent to K12 and K14 standards in the US).
The new Bft
The new Bft: a new organisation allowing a greater focus on product development based on the application context.
PHEBE BT A ULTRA
With MEMS technology, in anticipation of the expected patent for the virtual AUTOSET limit switch.
B-EBA WI-FI
Thanks to which Bft has become the first company to offer an intelligent and “updatable” product. All U-Link operators can now connect directly to the router without the need for a control unit.