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The Original Line of Tripods, Since 1948

SLIK has been quietly designing and manufacturing high-quality tripods for more than 60 years.
SLIK has won 6 prestigious Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) “Good Design” (G-Mark) awards.
SLIK’s original and innovative designs have become industry standards.
Check out the quality and heritage of SLIK tripods, monopods and heads thru online and at your local camera stores.

History

1948
Birth of SLIK Tripod

Mr.Takatoshi Shiraishi, a mechanical engineer and photography enthusiast, began designing and creating his own tripods by himself in the suburb of Tokyo, Japan when he was 23 years old.
The first brand name was “ALPS” and then, it had been changed to “SLICK” in the beginning of 1950s.
1956
Incorporation of a company

Mr.Shiraishi founded SLICK Elevator Tripod Co., Ltd. and at the same time, SLICK introduced “SLICK Master” tripod for professional and press photographers especially.
1963
Change of Company Name

The company name was changed to SLICK Tripod Co., Ltd.
SLICK introduced a unique multi-action head which could get any angles with one pan handle.
1967
Construction of New Hidaka Factory

The “Hidaka” factory was constructed newly in Saitama Prefecture, Japan for the mass production. SLICK “Master Deluxe” and SLICK “Goodman Ace” tripods received “Good Design Awards” (G-Mark) by The Ministory of International Trade and Industry (MITI) of Japan.
SLICK Tripod Sales Co., Ltd. was created as a separate business entity from SLICK Tripod Co., Ltd. to focus exclusively on sales of the products.
1974
new SLIK Logo

The letter of “SLICK” in our company name was changed to “SLIK”.
1977
Multi-Function System

SLIK started to sell the new model “88M” tripod, which has various functions that are commonplace today, such as the simple movement from low position to high position, lever leg locks, quick release shoe system, etc.
It received “Good Design Award”(G-Mark) by the MITI of Japan in this year.
1987
SLIK America, Inc.

SLIK America, Inc. was established in New York, U.S.A. for the sales in U.S. market.
1988
Slik (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Slik(Thailand) Co., Ltd. as established and a factory constructed in the suburb of Bangkok, Thailand to meet the increasing demands for good quality inexpensive tripods without using any outside manufacturing.
The unique trigger style Ball Head “AF2100” received “Good Design Award” (G-Mark) by the MITI of Japan.
1989
SLIK Corporation

Slik Tripod Sales Co., Ltd. merged back into Slik Tripod Co., Ltd. and the single company was named SLIK CORPORATION.
1994
U-series Tripods

SLIK tripod model “U 8000” (made in Thailand factory) received “Good Design Awards” (G-Mark) by The MITI of Japan.
1997
New Ball Head & A.M.T. Tripods

SLIK “Ball Head 800” (made in Thailand factory) received “Good Design Awards” (G-Mark) by The MITI of Japan. Introduction of the new alloy of SLIK A.M.T. (Aluminum, Magnesium and Titanium) and then, started sales of our tripod model “PRO 700DX” and monopod “PRO POD 600” using this new alloy in the legs.
1999
Carbon Fiber Products

Begun the production and sales of new Carbon Fiber tripod model “PRO 803CF”, “PRO 804CF” and monopod “PRO POD 380”.
2001
New SLIK

Became a member of Kenko Co., Ltd. (now, Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.)
2012
The 2nd Factory in Thailand

The 2nd factory in Thailand was opend at Saraburi,
Thailand after the heavy damage by large-scale flood at the original first factory at Navanakorn in 2011.
2014
SLIK BLUE

SLIK decided to make the image color of the product BLUE. Since then, SLIK BLUE has been adopted as the accent color of the product.
2016

SLIK original travel tripod; LiTE series had been introduced at Photokina 2016. SLIK patented “R.F.M.” eases inverting tripod legs for compact storage.
2018
TO THE NIGHTLY SKY & TIME-LAPSE

SLIK expands product range to the astronomical photography. ASTRA sky tracker is the ideal piece for not only astronomical photography but also unique time-lapse shooting.