THE HISTORY OF HENSEL

 
 
 

HENSEL Studiotechnik started doing business in 1963 with the introduction of halogen lights and professional flash equipment in Germany. They expanded their trade to Europe and Asia in 1968. In 1970 they entered the U.S. market with the introduction of the front projection Episcope System sold through Balcar. In 1982 Hensel developed their first full line of professional flash equipment and by 1988 had one of the best selling self-contained lights worldwide in the EXPERT series. Hensel then introduced power packs (the Linea) and accessories in 1989 and also expanded into Asia.

In 1996 the PORTY was introduced. This was the first professional battery portable strobe gear and was sold worldwide. The introduction of the PORTY to the US market made Hensel a name among professional photographers. For the first time photographers were not tied to a power cord or having to shoot in a studio. Concurrent with the PORTY, the CONTRA and MONO MAX series and the NOVA power packs were introduced at Photokina and had great success worldwide. These units are still being used today in many studios.

1997 brought the need for very powerful continuous lights with the introduction of the first digital scanning backs. To address this Hensel brought out the TWINSTAR which was the first 1200 HMI lamp that was compact and portable.

Photokina '98. brought the introduction of the innovative TRIA power pack along with the new EHT Heads. The TRIA immediately won many design awards in Europe and was the first power pack to be fully controlled by digital processors that made shooting with multiple shot digital backs accurate.

1999 brought the launch of the self contained CONTRA E worldwide.

At Photokina 2000 The TRIA AS Power Pack, equipped with the 3-Mode-Asymmetry, would define the latest in flash technology. It truly was the first digitally controlled Asymmetrical pack that could be powered in 1/10 of a stop increments. For the PORTY 1200B power pack Hensel brought out the new PORTY EHT 1200 TWIN Head. It gave photographers 2400 watt seconds on location with two Porty packs at an incredible fast flash duration. The compact flash line was enlarged by CONTRA E FLY, CONTRA E Digital and a new CONTRA E Compact Spot which were sold worldwide, but not to the US market.

Hensel built a new company headquarters in Würzburg Germany in 2001 and this helped bring newer products faster to the marketplace. In the next three years Hensel would introduce the INTEGRA Monolights (2001), the VELA Pack (2002), the Porty Premium AS (2004), and the eFlash (2004). In late 2004 Hensel brought out the first radio controlled PORTY with the introduction of the PORTY Premium AS/RC. This radio control not only fired the pack but also controlled the model lamp and power up and down in 1/10 of a stop increments.

In 2005 Hensel introduced the first truly digitally controlled Monolight with the INTEGRA Pro and Pro Plus. Again using the Hensel patented integrated radio control unit that controls triggering the flash as well as model lamps and power. For 2006 the INTEGRA units launched new 1000 watt seconds versions. At the same time the introduction of new versions of the EH Pro 3000 and EH Pro 1200 heads updates the TRIA and PORTY heads to the new circular head design.

2006 finds Hensel again taking a leading step forward with the introduction of the PRO MINI 1200 pack and PRO MINI heads to match. At the same time a new updated version of the PORTY Premium PLUS is introduced along with new heads as well.

PDN Photo Expo 2007 Hensel introduced speed heads for both the PORTY and the MINI packs as well as the LIghtbar 130: compatible with the MINI, PORTY and TRIA Systems. Gaining a huge amount of press was the Octa Sunhaze RF for the ringflash, although not new to 2007 it brought an exciting change to this market.

The company holds about 20 patents in the field of studio lighting and is selling the products to more than 70 countries worldwide.

HENSEL is strongly committed to innovation and the best service for it’s customers.