About us
BFT Automation across the globe
BFT Automation is a market leader in automation products, with over 40 years in the industry. We are known for product quality, excellent customer service and expert technical support.
We stock a wide range of automation products, all manufactured to the highest standards to ensure maximum reliability. We are widely known for our gate automation products but we also manufacture an extensive range of traffic barriers and automatic bollards, meaning we have the solution for almost any industrial, commercial or residential site.
The Residential & Industrial business unit is focused on developing automated entry systems for private homes and businesses. The second business unit Commercial & Urban is dedicated to infrastructure solutions for larger-scale operators that experience high flows of people and vehicles which includes road barriers, bollards and automatic doors.
Our success comes from our dedication to customer support before, during and after purchase. Our customers recognise that each BFT Automation product comes with the backing of expert technical support and our highly rated customer service.
Our headquarters are based in Schio in the province of Vicenza, Northern Italy. We operate across 120 countries worldwide through 20 subsidiary branches and 530 distributors.
Our history
BFT Automation was founded in Thiene, Italy in 1981 with a focus on being customer-orientated. The approach of focusing on the customer, providing support and being easily available to customers, quickly won the loyalty of those working across the automation world.
The name BFT comes from Bonollo (name of the family), Francesco (name of the founding father) and Thiene (the town where the business was set up).
Over time, as the business grew, BFT began acquiring companies within the automation industry. BFT Automation opened the first branch in Germany after the acquisition of one of the largest customers in 2002. This was the first foray into a local market and the beginning of the process to understand each country’s individual requirements. From this initial step, BFT Automation began to diversify products and services to suit the needs of the local markets, whilst still prioritising customer satisfaction.
BFT Automation opened the first branch in the United Kingdom in 2004 after the acquisition of an automation business in the North of England. Three years later in 2007, a second automation business in the South of England was acquired, giving BFT Automation nationwide coverage in the UK. Finally in 2010 Bft Ireland was opened after the acquisition of a Dublin based automation business. BFT Automation now operates from three offices in Stockport, Swindon and Dublin giving total coverage of the UK and Ireland.
Since 2004 BFT Automation has been part of the Somfy Group: which has given us the support to gain significant market share and build a structured distribution network. A radical change that has facilitated the transition from a family-run business to a multinational organisation.
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BFT Automation is one of the leading companies in the automation industry. Discover more about us, our products and services.