Access Key / Accessibility Navigation
Company Timeline
- 1975: Foundation of F.J. Tieman B.V. by Mr. Frans Tieman (and introduction of the first CCTV ever)
Mr. Tieman used to be an optician who, one day, had a customer with such bad vision that wearing glasses was no longer sufficient. In his spare time, Mr. Tieman started working on a Television and magnifiers, in order to find an appropriate solution for his customers. This resulted in the first CCTV ever.
- 1985: Introduction of the first refreshable Braille cell technology
- 1988: Introduction of the first Braille display (Portabraille) at the World Blind Union in Madrid, Spain
- 1989: Foundation of Tieman GmbH (Germany)
- 1997: Acquisition of Optelec US and Canada
- 2000: Foundation of Tieman N.V. (Belgium)
- 2000: Introduction of Braille Voyager
- 2002: Foundation of Tieman UK (United Kingdom)
- 2005: Acquisition of ALVA B.V.
- 2005: Acquisition of Telesensory in the United Kingdom
- 2005: Acquisition of Lighthouse Professional Products Division, USA
- 2005: Tieman globally changed its company name to Optelec
- 2005: Introduction of ClearView+ CCTV line From one button simplicity to endless possibilities
- 2005: Introduction of ClearNote
- 2005: Introduction of Traveller+
- 2006: Introduction of EasyLink12 Portable Wireless Braille Assistant
- 2007: Opening of new company headquarters in Barendrecht, the Netherlands
- 2007: Introduction of ALVA BC640 Setting the standard in Braille Communication
- 2007: Introduction of Compact+ Pocketsize Video Magnifier
- 2007: Compact+ - Independent Living Design Award (UK)
- 2008: Introduction of the FarView
- 2008: Introduction of the ClearNote
- 2008: ALVA BC640 wins Special Design Award (The Netherlands)
- 2008: FarView wins Idol of the Year Award (Poland)
- 2009: Introduction of the re-designed ClearView+ range