Garlando S.p.A. - Società per azioni, which is Italian for Zrt., loosely translated as company with shares - is arguably one of the largest manufacturers. However, the bulk of their revenue comes not from foosball tables but from other 'gaming machines' such as pool tables and other equipment. The factory is run by the current CEO, Renato Garlando was founded by his father in 1954, in a small Italian town, Spinetta Marengo. Today the company has grown to become one of the world's largest manufacturers, in 2002 they moved their headquarters to Pozzolo Formigaro. The brothers Giuseppe and Mario have been constantly improving the technology since the 80's, and today the production is modern and standardised. The company has cooperation agreements with many big name manufacturers, from table tennis to the Stigat, while from the sport of cycling the Swings but the company has also opened up to darts, for example, creating the Equinox brand and the market leader Unicorn also sells its products.
Hungary their foosball tables started to proliferate in the mid-1990s, together with other "Italian-style" table manufacturers, such as FAS or the Sardi. They are being phased out of competitive sport, but as the scene for foosball is still mostly the pub, they Garlando tables in our country and many other countries - Croatia, Austria, United Kingdom, Switzerland - also are considered to be the only rulers. It is said that at that time their products sold in the thousands in our country. Until 2011-12, it was also Hungary's official racing table - with a slight detour towards Sardi -, then the German type Leonhart tables - about this brand read more here - have replaced the Garlando.
Garlando's product range and their main foosball tables
Garlando's product range is very similar to that of competing table manufacturers, and their repertoire is incredibly wide. I will highlight just a few that I have personally experienced or owned. As Garlandos are mostly the stars of the pub, their 3 tables should be given special attention.
There are some general features of their tables that you should know:
- most have ball bearings (there are some telescopic solutions, but these are rare)
- their tables are ramped (no or very unpredictable wall shot)
- the track surface is sandblasted glass (except for some models, e.g. Garlando F200 Evolution)
- the puppets are cast onto the rod, in return the figures do not break or rotate on the rod at all
The above is true for almost all Italian table manufacturers, so their construction philosophy is quite different from the German type.
Garlando Olympic and its outdoor version
These are the models you will most likely see closed, glass tables with a cash desk. You can recognise the smooth by the fact that mottled sand painted on the side. There are at least 3 different versions and an outdoor version, the latter blue paint received. Let us return to the former, because it has managed to achieve the paradox that is a very sturdy table and can also be a real patient bed. I wouldn't say that it's unbreakable, but I know of places that have been using this kind of sports equipment for 20 years. A huge advantage is that in our country quite a large number of parts available available at to them - although this has been on a downward trend over the last few years, and today, unfortunately, it's not as cheap as it was a few years ago. As for its durability, the tempered glass on the top has had rockers in boots jumping on it at the Sziget festival and it hasn't broken, and they are doused with beer and other alcohol every day, yet they have been working for years. The Garlando Olympic table is often Garlando Olimpia can also be found under the name of Olympia, which has become colloquially known as Olympia.
Intensive use is not good for them, of course, and they start to fall apart over time. Let's look at exactly what problems tend to occur:
- on earlier models - stadium-lit, spot-lit versions - all lamps will be contact lamps, sooner or later. Their transformer can also kneel, so the reliability of the lighting is highly questionable (fortunately the newer neon and LED are much better)
- another weak point is the frame, especially the longest backline can warp very quickly, but I've seen it on a battle line
- the third is the foot, they are H-shaped, with cross braces in the middle, which spread out to the sides, and unfortunately are made of soft wood. The 2 bolts that go through them are made of much harder material, which is why the hole widens and the table starts to swing. The problem gets worse over time
- the fourth is usually the scythe itself, is also the part of the hinge where the body can open up, effectively ending the table. This is why the body is stiffened with a metal crosspiece next to the ashtrays, which increases the life of the ashtray
- also fussy about the coin test the part where the coin rolls down, it's a nightmare to set up, it's a pretty shoddy solution, and the coin counting automatics itself is useless, it can show completely random numbers
- and by repeatedly hitting the bars the foil around the bearing cover plate can crack, and it bounces off the side of the table, which is difficult or impossible to repair
Garlando Olympic/outdoor version/Silver
To make matters worse. there were short and long versions, this can be checked by whether or not you can turn the goalkeeper. The good news is that on the newer variants - you have to buy one of these - the lighting is now neon or LED and not spot. A And Silverek has metal legs, so you can eliminate this error, these tables also have the centre of gravity is also lowered due to the metal legs. For this very reason Silvers are also on the market at higher prices. Typical wear-and-tear component even the sand-blasted glass of the track surface, which will snap into place underneath the striker bar with use, the rubber bushings - these will deteriorate on any table, but Olympic's are factory fitted with springs which are more durable - and the side ramps will crack. The latter are relatively easy to replace, as is the track mark under the glass, which is usually ruined by eager beer drinkers spilling their juice.
Because they are pub tables, they are closed, and users typically bring dead balls into play by tilting the table with the bars out and the table lifted. This obviously does not fall within the definition of normal use, and is not good for the rods. Also a Garlando speciality. they also have a cup and tickle holder, but since you can't smoke in pubs, the latter has become redundant.
Garlando Maracana
Practically a Around 90 kilos, open table for home use, used to be used in competitions, and can be fitted with a coin tester. The track structure, the track surface, the side ramps, the dummies and everything else is identical to the Olympic, except for the superstructure. No top glass and no lights, or lower than the centre of gravity. Even so, it's still not stable enough, and at the time we put cement bags and concrete blocks inside - almost all Garlandos are openable - to increase its weight. Newly can be obtained for around half a million forints, but buying it is completely unjustified in 2023, avoid the table if you can. Sometimes you can get a good used one cheaply, but there are better choices.
Audit Garlando Maracana tables
Garlando Familia
A cheapened, non-opening version of the Maracana with terrible weight distribution, a more powerful shot simply lifts it off the ground, it wobbles around. It is cheap, and it is cheap, I can give you one argument in its favour: most of the frame and track elements are identical to Maracana, weighted down to exercise may be somewhat good. Successor of the Garlando G500, but there is an even cheaper model in the Garlando F200 Evolution. I wouldn't buy one of these today, nor Maracana.
Garlando Familia and its successor the Garlando F200 Evolution
As the post about Garlando foosball tables was quite long, I have split the article into two parts, Part II on this link you will find.
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