Harman Technology plans for site redevelopment

[AgX]

It used to be said "The solution to pollution is dilution." but that just isn't acceptable today.

Basically nothing has changed. The legal threshholds are not on absolute amounts per time, but amounts per volume emitted carrier, thus concentrations.

A change in attitude though has taken place for instance with CO2.

 

[Roger Cole]

Overview of the proposed redevelopment: Dead Link Removed

Anything that secures the long term future of the Harman site must be a good thing for all concerned.

+1000!

 

[StoneNYC]

Isn't that what photographers did with used photo chemicals for years?

I know that my grandfather owned a dry cleaners business and at the time it was perfectly acceptable to dump perk (Perchloroethylene) behind the store in the grass, and when the laws changed, knew about them but wasn't given an actual alternate location to dispose of it, so he continued dumping, until finally there was an actual disposal solution of course and then he complied.

But he never mentioned thinking that adding water to the mix would help

We've now spent over $1,000,000 cleaning it up over the past 15 years. And this is a lot size of less than 10,000 square feet...

Larger cleanups I would suspect would cost a lot more...

 

[Prof_Pixel]

The legal threshholds are not on absolute amounts per time, but amounts per volume emitted carrier

I guess it depends on the chemical.

 

[AgX]

Anything that secures the long term future of the Harman site must be a good thing for all concerned.

But specializing on a niche market may mean laying off many employees.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

But specializing on a niche market may mean laying off many employees.

It's difficult to financially justify building a new facility for a declining product.

 

[AgX]

That was not my point. I mean if a market for one product declines, one can try to crank up that market, or to look for alternative products fitting to ones facilities and abilities, or to shrink with the market and lay off people.


(Ilford Imaging tried the second way and failed.)

 

[Ian Grant]

Look at the dates though, January of this year, 6 months old.

It's likely that Ilford will be able to modernise and stream line production facilities.

Ian

It's true that 130 employees of Ilford Imaging, Marly, Switzerland were made redundant in January, so that's where the figure comes from, however it's a separate company to Harman Technology and had different owners.

Ian

 

[AgX]

That was in December...

But that does not take away that there had been lay-offs at Harman too.

 

[Ian Grant]

That was in December...

But that does take awaý that there had been lay-offs at Harman too.

It was in the UK photography magazines in January.

Ian

 

[Simon R Galley]

Me thinks you are reading too much into the detail....

We have 270 staff and have not adjusted our total numbers for some significant time.

We are, and remain, robustly profitable.

The plan to develop the site includes a 7 acre purpose built facility for HARMAN technology Limited, where we can do everything that we currently do, but on a smaller footprint.

The 'modern' site was completely redeveloped as state of the art in 1984.

We rent this site, always have, as that is the way we funded buying the business over 9 years ago by selling the land and renting it back.

The 'old' Rajar site was re-developed for housing in the early 2000's by the old company.

We have an environmentally A1 clean site.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN tcehnology Limited :

 

[Roger Cole]

Me thinks you are reading too much into the detail....

We have 270 staff and have not adjusted our total numbers for some significant time.

We are, and remain, robustly profitable.

The plan to develop the site includes a 7 acre purpose built facility for HARMAN technology Limited, where we can do everything that we currently do, but on a smaller footprint.

The 'modern' site was completely redeveloped as state of the art in 1984.

We rent this site, always have, as that is the way we funded buying the business over 9 years ago by selling the land and renting it back.

The 'old' Rajar site was re-developed for housing in the early 2000's by the old company.

We have an environmentally A1 clean site.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN tcehnology Limited :

Two of the best things I've read about photography in recent memory!

 

[Simon R Galley]

The reference to the 10% staff number is that the site was 'originally' planned to have up to 2,000 staff in 1984 when it was built on the RAJAR land that was behind the old factory, we never got to that, maximum was about 1,200 and now we have 270.

The new facility for HARMAN technology Limited is fully funded.

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Simon,

Do staffing levels scale proportionately with production volume, or are other factors at work, e.g. that you previously produced "chemistry" on site?

Tom

 

[paul_c5x4]

The plan to develop the site includes a 7 acre purpose built facility for HARMAN technology Limited, where we can do everything that we currently do, but on a smaller footprint.

Looking over the proposals and plans submitted to Cheshire East Council, it is quite a major redevelopment of the site. The "Phase 1" plan has an interesting little comment: "Install new coating machine". Investment in new equipment is surely a good sign that there is a long term future in photographic material manufacturing.

 

[salan]

I live fairly close to this site and I see this generally as good news. BUT I can see the 'concerns' about so many new houses. That is a number that COULD change the character of the village.
I have seen this happen in a few villages I have lived in over the years including where I am now.
But like a lot of things, It is how it is done and do the council etc actually put into place the infrastructure to support them?
Great news on the redevelopment. I hope it all goes to plan. My synical side expects the same thing to happen as around here where an estate (Kingsmead) had for many years no school and nothing like enough support facilities built.
Alan

 

[Bob Carnie]

I want to be the first Resident Printer at Harmans new facility and I expect that the house I will be living in will be first class. I await my invite Simon. Only of course if there is a good pub nearby.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Bob,

We have lots of fabulous pubs near by... The Red Lion / The Church / The Bird In Hand / The Roebuck and thats before you get to Knutsford......

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[AgX]

So I guess "The Bird In Hand" is aiming at those who use Kentmere film.

 

[Bob Carnie]

My bucket list includes The National Portrait Gallery, The Tate Modern, Metro Imaging, visiting Ian Grant, and a visit to Harman, I think I can handle a couple of pints at Mobberly.

Dear Bob,

We have lots of fabulous pubs near by... The Red Lion / The Church / The Bird In Hand / The Roebuck and thats before you get to Knutsford......

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[pbromaghin]

This sounds like a really good thing for Harmon. They get to modernize into a new, "right-sized" building with the landlord footing a lot of the bill. If that document is literally correct and they are getting a new coating machine, there should be very little work interruption and increased efficiency. To all those who have been complaining about the high price of film, this is what you've been looking for. However, since it would be foolish to go to all this trouble without designing the process to need less labor, I think we can expect to hear about some layoffs.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Whatever you do do not miss the National Portrait Gallery... its my absolute favourite London Gallery
by a country mile.

At the moment David Bailey's exhibition is also on....

And if you do get to Mobberley I will stand you a pint... don't forget our summer is cold but our beer is warm !

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited.

 

[mr rusty]

We have lots of fabulous pubs near by... The Red Lion / The Church / The Bird In Hand / The Roebuck and thats before you get to Knutsford

You forgot the Bulls Head :munch::munch:

Had many a work meeting there with a colleague. Became our "Northern Office" for a while..........

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Me thinks you are reading too much into the detail....

Just as a quick aside, for those who recall my comments regarding the maintaining of a presence on APUG to serve as a deterrent to rampant unfounded speculation by the natives borne of fear of the unknown, this would be a prime example. We're all neurotic. Having a calming presence to occasionally tell us that is a good thing.

And conversely, not having one is a bad thing...

(Apologies for the intrusion, Simon.)

Ken

 

[Simon R Galley]

Hey Mr.Rusty

You are spot on...I forgot the Bulls Head.... had lunch there the other day, the attached bowling green has now sadly gone...

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited