Inside Fujifilm

[RattyMouse]

A fascinating video about Fujifilm and the transition into a post film company. Even so, there is a LOT of information about their film history and how they used film based technology to enter into new markets. Komori-San has to be THE smartest CEO in recent history.


http://video.toggle.sg/en/series/inside-the-storm-s2/ep2/475145

 

[keenmaster486]

Yes, I saw this!

Perfect example of what kept Fuji alive and what Kodak didn't do that ended up in bankruptcy for them.

 

[RattyMouse]

Yes, I saw this!

Perfect example of what kept Fuji alive and what Kodak didn't do that ended up in bankruptcy for them.

I was really impressed how Komori-san felt the intense urgency to save his company. Fujifilm is the only company he has worked at his entire life. That feeling is very palpable in these interviews.

 

[Photo Engineer]

At the start of WWII, Konishiroku (Sakura brand) products led the market in Japan and Fuji was a minor actor. However, the Koni plant was next to the Hachioji Steel mills and if the bombers missed the mills, they dumped on Konica. In need of film, the government turned to a tiny plastic company, Fuji, to help them out. All that was left after the war were some SS vats at Konica and the engineers made and sold whisky to keep solvent (Konisky brand).

With great struggle, they rebuilt the Konica plant, but just as it was going operational, they had a solvent fire and the new plant burned to the ground. They rebuilt but never recovered their former place.

Konishiroku Emon, founder of the company was a personal friend of George Eastman's.

This story was related to me in a meeting with several members of the Konica staff.

OTOH, Dr. Hirozo Ueda of Fuji described to me his pain driving by the research labs of a big electronics company in Ashigara, and his determination to move them into the digital era.

PE

 

[RattyMouse]

OTOH, Dr. Hirozo Ueda of Fuji described to me his pain driving by the research labs of a big electronics company in Ashigara, and his determination to move them into the digital era.

PE

The interesting thing I got out of this video is that Fujifilm really succeeded by moving *away* from photography. Digital cameras didn't save Fujifilm, rather it was cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other non photography related businesses. Fuji's digital cameras (aside from the very first models they ever sold in the '80s) aren't mentioned much at all!

 

[resummerfield]

Excellent video! Thanks for posting this!

 

[miha]

Great insight, thanks for sharing this video.

 

[Trail Images]

I had to watch in a couple takes, but it was excellent and provides insight to the difficult decisions Fuji had to make. Thankfully they kept many film products going.

 

[Paul Howell]

The interesting thing I got out of this video is that Fujifilm really succeeded by moving *away* from photography. Digital cameras didn't save Fujifilm, rather it was cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other non photography related businesses. Fuji's digital cameras (aside from the very first models they ever sold in the '80s) aren't mentioned much at all!

Quite true, Fuji picked winners and Kodak picked losers.

 

[Wallendo]

In retrospect, Eastman Kodak spinning off Eastman Chemical was not a good thing. Maybe bad management would have brought down both companies, but currently Eastman Chemical is quite profitable and possibly could have helped keep EK afloat.

Fuji survived because it is a conglomerate. EK specialized and failed.

 

[RattyMouse]

In retrospect, Eastman Kodak spinning off Eastman Chemical was not a good thing. Maybe bad management would have brought down both companies, but currently Eastman Chemical is quite profitable and possibly could have helped keep EK afloat.

Yeah....what might have been had Kodak kept their chemical division. That was a horrible move for sure.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Digital cameras didn't save Fujifilm, rather it was cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other non photography related businesses.

Kodak tried that in the late '80s when they bought Sterling Drugs.

 

[RattyMouse]

Kodak tried that in the late '80s when they bought Sterling Drugs.

Which they sold a mere 5 years later. Not much commitment there was there?

 

[Photo Engineer]

Sterling is still using facilities at Kodak Park West where they have a 3 hopper coating machine and are building new equipment.

As for other failures, it is pretty hard to keep your head above water when every time you turn around, someone is suing you.

But also, don't forget the Verbatim, Wang Computer, and Drivetec disasters as well.

PE

 

[nbagno]

Excellent, thanks for posting the link.

 

[RattyMouse]

Sterling is still using facilities at Kodak Park West where they have a 3 hopper coating machine and are building new equipment.

As for other failures, it is pretty hard to keep your head above water when every time you turn around, someone is suing you.

But also, don't forget the Verbatim, Wang Computer, and Drivetec disasters as well.

PE

PE! You changed your avatar!!! Updated?

 

[Photo Engineer]

PE! You changed your avatar!!! Updated?

I explained the reasoning elsewhere. It fits my current visage better! And, perhaps my attitude, but I have a few others that might serve as well. I'm thinking of it.

PE

 

[keenmaster486]

I explained the reasoning elsewhere. It fits my current visage better! And, perhaps my attitude, but I have a few others that might serve as well. I'm thinking of it.

Hahaha this is great lol

 

[Ai Print]

Yes, I saw this!
Perfect example of what kept Fuji alive and what Kodak didn't do that ended up in bankruptcy for them.

Quite true, Fuji picked winners and Kodak picked losers.

Fuji survived because it is a conglomerate. EK specialized and failed.

Poor Kodak, even on a thread about Fuji, with the reintroduction of Ektachrome & great PR all around lately, they just can't seem to get a break on good ol' APUG.

Good thing the world of film photography is MUCH bigger than this site.

 

[RattyMouse]

Poor Kodak, even on a thread about Fuji, with the reintroduction of Ektachrome & great PR all around lately, they just can't seem to get a break on good ol' APUG.

Good thing the world of film photography is MUCH bigger than this site.

You must have missed the the half dozen threads exclaiming how wonderful the reintroduction of Ektachrome was. Funny how you consistently, like clockwork, miss the good news.

 

[Ai Print]

Actually, it is the fact we have so much great news from Kodak ( you missed but quoted me on? ) that makes this Fuji turned Kodak bankruptcy reminisce thread so bizzare.

 

[flavio81]

Actually, it is the fact we have so much great news from Kodak ( you missed but quoted me on? ) that makes this Fuji turned Kodak bankruptcy reminisce thread so bizzare.

He means that there is also a significant amount of posters that are cheering Kodak for what they are doing lately.

You just chose to pick on the people who had a different opinion on Kodak.

The world is surely an ugly place if one only looks at the things that one considers "negative".

 

[Ai Print]

The world is surely an ugly place if one only looks at the things that one considers "negative".

In this case it is not hard to miss, it went from what Fuji did right to what Kodak did wrong in short order.

It gets old man, really.

 

[RattyMouse]

In this case it is not hard to miss, it went from what Fuji did right to what Kodak did wrong in short order.

It gets old man, really.

And yet you keep coming back....over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

 

[Film-Niko]

@Ai Print and Ratty Mouse:
Please stop your personal fight. It is going on for such a long time now, and it is totally boring us and is counterproductive for this (and other) interesting topics.
Thanks.

Back to topic:
This documentary is very interesting, both from an industry historic and current photographic point of view.
Concerning history:
We know what happened, and we (now) know the most important reasons why it has happened.
It is the past.

Much more interesting for us enthusiast film photographers is what is said about the current state of film at Fujifilm. In general:
The last published financial data (detailed data) I've seen last year explained that about 14% of Fujifilms total revenue is from photography (both film / silver-halide products and digital products). So it is right that Fujifilm is now less a photography company compared to 2005/06, but nevertheless photography remained one of their core fields. With lots of innovations and new products.
From this 14% interestingly about 2/3 is from the numerous silver-halide products (conventional film, instant film, archival film, technical films, instant cameras, RA-4 photo paper, BW photo paper, photo chemistry, lab equipment, industrial scale labs..... ) and only about 1/3 from digital photo products. And the silver-halide segment is slightly increasing, whereas the digital segment is significantly decreasing (because of the decreasing digital camera market).
That about the background.
Now to the statements in this film:
I find the statements of Fujifilm's CEO Komori very interesting:

1. Photography is their hertitage. Despite being a smaller business today, they will definetely continue with it.
2. Photography is an essential culture for human beings: Therefore Fujifilm will be active in photography in the future.
3. There is a film resurgence.
4. Fujifilm is committed to film.

Also very fascinating: The production of the Fuji instax films. The Fujifilm manager explained they are producing 24 hours a day without interruption. And it is clearly seen that the finishing / packaging machine has an output of about one film-pack per second!!
Now calculate that for one year: More than 31 million film-packs!
And that seems to be only for Instax mini format (which was demonstrated in the film). But there are also Instax Wide (probably finished on a different packaging line), and the new monochrome BW film. Perhaps they even have a second finishing line for Instax mini.
So it is really a huge amount of Instax film they are producing.
Kudos to Fujifilm concerning Instax: You are doing a very good job!

But I think most film photographers will agree with me when I say:
Your standard photo films are outstanding, often the benchmark in the industry.
Please be more active in this market, too!!!
You have demonstrated that you are able to be successful with film in the current age with Instax. Please extend your activities on your other film products, too.
Your CEO Komori has said it: There is an analogue revival. Take the chance and benefit much more from that! You have all the potential to become the leader in this again growing market.

Regards,
Niko