50 years Leica Portugal

From Famalicão to the world: 50 years of Leica in Portugal

Wetzlar, September 1, 2023. Leica stands for Made in Germany, German craftsmanship and tradition. But a factory in Portugal has also been part of the Leica family for 50 years. Reason enough to celebrate the success, diversity and community that have connected Wetzlar and Famalicão for half a century.

Vila Nova de Famalicão has long been part of the company’s history as the second production location. Today, more than 800 employees produce essential parts of the Leica product range at the location in northern Portugal. The area, which was newly occupied in 2013 and has a property area of ​​52,400 m2, has 12,677 m2 of production area, 3047 m2 for assembly, 3244 m2 for optics and 4827 m2 for mechanics. Sales last year were 82 million euros. But behind all these numbers are the people who have worked steadily on the company’s success over the last few decades and who have turned the traditional Wetzlar company into a European joint venture that passionately carries Leica’s values ​​and precision into the world.

This year the success will be celebrated: on the one hand with the exhibition “From Famalicão to the World: 50 Years of Leica in Portugal” and on the other hand in addition to the exhibition “Alfredo Cunha. Portugal from 1973 to 2023” – a moving homage to his home country by the renowned photojournalist and Leica lover Cunha.

A look back: As early as the mid-1960s, rising production costs in Germany caused the Ernst Leitz Wetzlar optical works to look for additional locations in Europe. The Portuguese town of Vila Nova de Famalicão was ultimately chosen for expansion because there was already an existing tradition of precision mechanics there. In the initial phase from June 1973, components for microscopes and cameras were manufactured. This was followed by the production of Trinovid compact binoculars and finally, from 1976, the assembly of the Leica R3 camera. In the years that followed, the product range grew steadily, including the pre-assembly of the legendary Leica M6 and the Leica R8. In 2004, the facilities at the Portuguese site already covered 21,000 m2, and in 2008 the foundation stone was laid for the construction of the current facilities, which opened on December 21st. It was inaugurated in March 2013 – after an investment of 23 million euros. Further additions such as the engineering department were added. Today, Leica also produces state-of-the-art optical products in Portugal to support wildlife observation and hunting. The elaborate craftsmanship of Leica binoculars, spotting scopes, laser rangefinders and rifle scopes is part of the regular production program in the modern factory. The Leica family continues to grow, not least through the Leica Store, which opened in Porto on December 1, 2016, with an additional gallery and academy in an iconic building, the former Café Excelsior in the heart of the city. In 2017, Leica Customer Care for sports optics and additional engineering competencies were established at the plant in Vila Nova de Famalicão,

Half a century of successful company history can now be celebrated together. The exhibition “From Famalicão to the World: 50 Years of Leica in Portugal”, which is currently on display at the Casa das Artes and is accompanied by a special publication, shows all facets of the five decades of collaboration. But the look not only goes back to the years of Portuguese-German company history and friendship, but also looks to the future, because innovation continues to be the focus in both Famalicão and Wetzlar.

Quotes:

Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG:

“It is an open secret that Leica’s success is also deeply rooted in Famalicão. The numbers speak for themselves: this is one of the most advanced facilities in the optical industry.”

Vitor Freitas, Managing Director and Board Member Leica Portugal:

“What you find here is passion and perfection. The people here are so committed and I believe that is the reason for our success. It’s the way we work here and how the brand is perceived on a global level.”

Pedro Oliveira, Managing Director and Board Member Leica Portugal:

“Leica stands for a certain system of values. Today we have a company that sets standards in the optics industry. It is important for us to grow with people and support them. Our long-standing employees are important to us because they have the experience and knowledge about our products – knowledge that cannot be found in manuals. We strive for a perfect balance between experience and innovation.”

Leica Camera – partner of photography

Leica Camera AG is an international premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics products. The legendary reputation of the Leica brand is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship and German industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. An integral part of the brand culture are the company’s diverse activities to promote photography. In addition to the Leica Galleries and the Leica Academies represented worldwide, these also include the Leica Hall of Fame Award and in particular the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA), which is one of the most innovative funding awards for photography today. Leica Camera AG, headquartered in Wetzlar, Hesse, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal.