Ilford Imaging is illiquide

Roger Cole · Sep 12, 2013

Does anybody in photography really care one way or the other?

They already axed Ilfochrome and, from what I hear anyway, their ink jet papers are not particular favorites of folks using that output method. So excuse me for the very obvious, but who cares and why should we?

Now if they'd bring back Ilfochrome, with better QC than it was said to have at the end there, and a better price, and better distribution....and then I woke up.

clayne · Sep 12, 2013

If they produce silver gelatin anything at all - I don't care what the product - then I care, regardless if I use their product.

AgX · Sep 12, 2013

Roger Cole said:
Does anybody in photography really care one way or the other?

You might not know:
They offer the highest gloss RA-4 reflective print material. This is unique.

Furthermore, the future of halide photography depends on the industry. So far enterprises as Adox etc. are dependant on products or services of such larger companies.

Yes. I care.

karl · Sep 12, 2013

Ilford Gold Fiber Silk inkjet paper is beautiful. The best semi gloss paper on the market in my opinion. For those of us who do both wet and dry printing it would be a huge loss for this paper to go away.

Roger Cole · Sep 12, 2013

Ok. You're right, I had forgotten about the high gloss RA4. That would be a loss.

Ink jet paper, well I'm sure it's good but there's no shortage of ink jet papers. Analog folks lose favorites with distressing regularity.

Anyway, I wish them well.

AgX · Sep 18, 2013

Ilford Imaging released two statements. They state to have been delivered by major suppliers in those critical days and name their new investing partner, a japanese wholesaler for their ink-jet materials.
Furthermore they hint at their new business plan, but without reference to any further cuts to to their product range. Though all references to products only apply on ink-jet materials.

Brac · Sep 23, 2013

I'm glad the situation is looking better for them. Certainly their range of ink jet papers is widely distributed in the UK and seems to sell well.

AgX · Sep 26, 2013

Ilford Imaging definitely stopped with halide products

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation reported that Ilford stopped with analogue materials.
A leading Ilford engineer, who is made redundant himself, is quoted that only Fuji still makes halide papers (which indeed is a weird statement, but telling about the production situation at Ilford.)
From this and other statements it must be concluded that production of silver-dye-bleach films also ended.

AgX · Dec 9, 2013

Ilford Imaging is illiquide again

after their new investing partner has retracted. Now again it is for the court to decide upon insolvency unless in the mean time a new investor shows up.

Furthermore they refer to difficulties with their suppliers, contradicting their last statement where they just praised them fort their commitment.

ArgentixCa · Dec 9, 2013

Hi Agx
I am on the other side of the Atlantic and I can hardly make things clear between Ilford Frigbourg and the other entities running under the Ilford or Harmann names.
Can you light thing up for me please?
Thanks

AgX · Dec 9, 2013

Put very simple: once the swiss Tellko and the british Ilford merged under the ownership of Ciba under the Name of Ilford. But that was also the time of Cibacolor. In the beginning crisis they split with the swiss entity going on as Ilford Imaging, whereas the british entity re-started as Harman.
With Harman making b&w films and paper, Ilford Imaging making colour films and paper. Both also make ink-jet papers.
Ilford Photo is no company, not even a department as Simon indicated above, but only a manufacturer brand of Harman, designating part of the Harman-made silverhalide materials.

ArgentixCa · Dec 10, 2013

Thanks AgX for putting things in their appropriate perspectives.

AgX · Dec 10, 2013

Ilford Imaging is dead

The judge decided that the company has to be dissolved.

karl · Dec 10, 2013

That's terrible.
So, I guess this is likely the end for Gold Fiber Silk inkjet paper?

railwayman3 · Dec 10, 2013

ArgentixCa said:
Thanks AgX for putting things in their appropriate perspectives.

What Simon and AgX have said is totally correct. I don't think it can be stressed too strongly that, in recent years, "Ilford" is just a trademark, used by the Swiss company for inkjet and cibachrome products, and by Harman Technology in the UK for B&W films, paper, chemicals and other analogue products.

Other than using the word "Ilford" for the two different classes of products, it is public information available on the UK Government company registry, that there are no connections, financial or otherwise, between the Swiss company and Harman, with the latter being rock-solid and, we hope, around for many years.

To complete the story, Harman does make/supply a range of (excellent) inkjet papers under its own name, but these do not carry any Ilford trademarks.

Dr Croubie · Dec 10, 2013

When I bought my Inkjet printer, I bought sample packs from Ilford (Imaging Switzerland), Moab, and Hahnemuhle to test out.
Looks like it's just down to Moab vs Hahnemuhle now...

karl · Dec 10, 2013

Canson (which used to be Arches) is nice as well.

I'm going to have try some of the Hahnemuhle papers.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 10, 2013

I like to think of it as Simon's Ilfordor Simford.

AgX · Feb 5, 2014

Effect on Ilford Photo /Harman

see here for the effect in the Direct Positive Paper:

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

(I did not hint at this issue before because I assumed that Ilford Photo/Harman did take over the production of that Emulsion meanwhile. Especially as they stated not to be affected by the demise of Ilford Imaging at all.)

AgX · Feb 28, 2014

The majority of debitors are unpaid employees. It is not clear whether they will be satisfied.
The other debitors, social service and suppliers are believed to lack any satisfaction as they are ranked 2nd and 3rd after the employees.
Patents are believed major assests.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 28, 2014

Ilford has successfully confused the entire world of photography with their split identity crisis.that just cannot be good for business,If you buy something Ilford these days ,it could come from any number of places.phew... makes me dizzy.

AgX · Feb 28, 2014

RalphLambrecht said:
If you buy something Ilford these days ,it could come from any number of places.phew... makes me dizzy.

Concerning halide materials lately Ilford Photo served more or less the consumer market, Ilford Imaging the commercial market, without offering similar products. Concerning ink-jet papers both manufacturers offered similar materials but under different brands: Harman and Ilford.

So I do not see that issue of mixing up products.
(That does not take away that once in a hurry I approached the wrong booth at Photokina....)

Furthermore, the swiss stock will be sold out soon.

The problem will start if anyone buys the right of the Ilford brand. (Maybe the contract between Harman and Ilford Imaging had some chapter protecting Harman in case of transfer of brand rights.) But I would not be surprised by another case of AgfaPhoto.

Photo Engineer · Feb 28, 2014

As a courtesy to customers, they should publish the formulas for Ilfochrome processing solutions!

PE

AgX · Feb 28, 2014

They?

The bancruptcy liquidator?

Poisson Du Jour · Feb 28, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
As a courtesy to customers, they should publish the formulas for Ilfochrome processing solutions!

PE

I thought you already knew what the formulas were...

Ilford Imaging is illiquide

Roger Cole

clayne

AgX

karl

Roger Cole

AgX

Brac

AgX

AgX

ArgentixCa

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AgX

ArgentixCa

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AgX

karl

railwayman3

Dr Croubie

karl

RalphLambrecht

AgX

AgX

RalphLambrecht

AgX

Photo Engineer

AgX

Poisson Du Jour

Ilford Imaging is illiquide

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