Apparently Agfa films will be produced again

Lukas Werth · Jan 20, 2007

Yesterday I asked the owner of Photo Impex here in Berlin about the state of Forte (they have business relations with the company), and he told me things look bleak there, but soon Agfa 100 and 400 films will be on the market again; he expects them also to be sold as sheet films. I don't know the details - nor am I much interested - but it seems that these companies, like Ilford, first seem to have to go bust before being able to produce again with adjusted capacities.
I also received a round email from maco with press releases, saying that Agfa and A&O chemistry will be produced again.

Nicole · Jan 20, 2007

kjsphoto · Jan 20, 2007

I would be curious to know if these are the left over mater rolls being cut or actual new film in the works!

IN any case good news if true.

Lukas Werth · Jan 20, 2007

No left overs, I understood, but a new beginning of production. I saw another thread somewhere here on the same topic, with much more precise information than I have (was posted before I could read it), but I can't locate it again. Also, an earlier thread here tells of papers being made again.

By the way, I understood that Bergger is also in trouble now, as they got their films made by Forte.

MattCarey · Jan 20, 2007

As I recall from the previous thread--photoimpex bought thr research line from Agfa.

Matt

George Papantoniou · Jan 20, 2007

What Agfa ? Are you serious ?

I am afraid there might be curious re-branding games planned as we speak, resulting to products that might bear names we're familiar with, would not really be what we would expect them to be. (I am not trying to sound like mr Uranium Nitrate now, it's just that I am a bit worried)...

Lukas Werth · Jan 20, 2007

MattCarey said:
As I recall from the previous thread--photoimpex bought thr research line from Agfa.

Matt

I am not aware that Photo Impex has any "research line" - or to what are you referring by this term?

Jerevan · Jan 20, 2007

Amen to that, George. It reeks of the "Return of the Undead, part III".

JBrunner · Jan 20, 2007

George Papantoniou said:
I am afraid there might be curious re-branding games planned as we speak, resulting to products that might bear names we're familiar with, would not really be what we would expect them to be. (I am not trying to sound like mr Uranium Nitrate now, it's just that I am a bit worried)...

It is my understanding that they will be as close to the original as they can be, taking in to account the varables of smaller kettles, coaters, starting a new smaller line. and the tweakes to the recipe's that are needed because of that.

That is just my understanding. I was wrong once in 1982, and again in 1997, so I could be wrong here, as well.

aldevo · Jan 20, 2007

By "research line", he means that the production infrastructure would consist of the smaller "kettle" used to test emulsions for research and development and to perform quality control sampling.

Basically, AgfaPhoto had a 1000L production kettle and a 40L research kettle. Fotoimpex is, apparently, betting that a 40L kettle run day and night for production could be profitable where a 1000L run sporadically would fail to make money.

I'm a fan of APX100 and 400, so I'll be the last one to say it can't work...

George Papantoniou · Jan 20, 2007

Long live Mirko !!!

Hope it works !! Doesn't someone in addition to the kettle need a coating machine ? Was there a miniature coating machine that Fotoimpex will use, too ?? I can't help it, images from the miniature workers in (the otherwise huge) Willy Wonka's chocolate factory come to my mind...:rolleyes:

mikebarger · Jan 20, 2007

Jason, I thought that one in 97 was overturned?

Mike

JLP · Jan 20, 2007

Ok, 1982 and 97 was a long time ago.. Jason would you relive the story for some of the newcomers? I'm curious.

jan

sanderx1 · Jan 21, 2007

George Papantoniou said:
Hope it works !! Doesn't someone in addition to the kettle need a coating machine ? Was there a miniature coating machine that Fotoimpex will use, too ?? I can't help it, images from the miniature workers in (the otherwise huge) Willy Wonka's chocolate factory come to my mind...:rolleyes:

Umm... What use would the research kettle have been if they couldn't then coat the 40L of emulsion onto something? A certain phrase with 'Watson' springs to my mind

Chazzy · Jan 21, 2007

Now if they brought back Agfapan 25, that would be interesting.

Lukas Werth · Jan 21, 2007

Just to make certain: my information is not that Photo Impex would start the production, but that the Agfa factory would start again on a smaller scale. Don't ask me exactly where and how, but that is what I understood. As far as I know, Photo Impex are solely retailers.
To me this is interesting because an alternative to Forte seems to come up, though what was sold as their 400 ASA sheet film was never anything near to 400 ASA - I 'd say more in the region of 120.

Confusion Circle · Jan 21, 2007

Chazzy said:
Now if they brought back Agfapan 25, that would be interesting.

YES! That would be a dream come true, as would the re-introduction of Scala. My life would be complete (almost).

MattCarey · Jan 21, 2007

Lukas Werth said:
I am not aware that Photo Impex has any "research line" - or to what are you referring by this term?

I was thinking of this post

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

"What we are trying to do is running original recipes but on new, much smaller gear built in 2002-2004.
The machines used are from the former agfa research departement which are basically a copy of the original larger machinery on miniature scale (40 liters)."

Now, rereading this, it sounds like they have the research emulsion equipment. What coating equipment seems to be less certain.

Even whether the project will work at all seems uncertain--the rumors are likely not helping.

Matt

MattCarey · Jan 21, 2007

JBrunner said:
It is my understanding that they will be as close to the original as they can be, taking in to account the varables of smaller kettles, coaters, starting a new smaller line. and the tweakes to the recipe's that are needed because of that.

That is just my understanding. I was wrong once in 1982, and again in 1997, so I could be wrong here, as well.

It will be interesting to see what (and if) happens. It will also be interesting to see what the consumer reaction is. I can imagine that if FotoImpex were to put their labels on existing 35mm Agfa100 film, people would complain that it isn't the same.

Matt

By the way, I think you were wrong in 1998, not 1997...that makes this your mistake for 2007!

naturephoto1 · Jan 21, 2007

Lukas Werth said:
Just to make certain: my information is not that Photo Impex would start the production, but that the Agfa factory would start again on a smaller scale. Don't ask me exactly where and how, but that is what I understood. As far as I know, Photo Impex are solely retailers.
To me this is interesting because an alternative to Forte seems to come up, though what was sold as their 400 ASA sheet film was never anything near to 400 ASA - I 'd say more in the region of 120.

We can only hope.

Rich

George Papantoniou · Jan 21, 2007

Lukas Werth said:
Just to make certain: my information is not that Photo Impex would start the production, but that the Agfa factory would start again on a smaller scale. Don't ask me exactly where and how, but that is what I understood. As far as I know, Photo Impex are solely retailers.

I've got a big garage. If they want to move their kettle here, I'll be happy to provide them with shelter.

Photo Engineer · Jan 21, 2007

I say again.....

DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH!

PE

Paul. · Jan 21, 2007

Photo Engineer said:
I say again.....

DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH!

PE

Negative vibes man negative vibes, we don't need it.

Regards Paul.

Tom Stanworth · Jan 21, 2007

One thing I love about APX (still shooting 35mm APX100) is that when used as a slow speed companion to TriX400 the two look right together. Both gritty and great for street shooting. As much as I love FP4+, APX100 just produces the shots that look right for harsh subjects. I hope this works out as I would dearly love to be able to shoot APX100 in 120 well into the future.

Photo Engineer · Jan 21, 2007

Paul;

I will enjoy a huge serving of humble pie if I am wrong. And, I am sure you will enjoy me having it.

I really don't mind. I would love to be proven wrong, and you don't seem to get that point.

Now, get back to the darkroom for that red light therapy.

PE

Apparently Agfa films will be produced again

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