Kodak closes their French R&D facility

[Tom Hoskinson]

Here is a copy of an email posted (in french) on the Cosina Voigtlander Users Group site:

To: 'CVUG' <cvug@cameraquest.org>
Subject: RE: [CVUG] Bad News..... Kodak : la mort de l'argentique en France
Date: Jan 23, 2007 10:56 AM
Thank you very much for this information, as distresing as it might be. I
would be very eager to hear some of the expert opinions from the group
regarding their assessments and prediction on the future of film overall.
Will film became a niche practice? Will digital so dominate that the cost
of doing film Photography will be prohibitive? I thank you in advance for
your input and observations.

Fernando Yepez
arcanadirect

-----Original Message-----
From: cvug-bounces+fernando.yepez=arcanadirect.com@cameraquest.org
[mailto:cvug-bounces+fernando.yepez=arcanadirect.com@cameraquest.org] On
Behalf Of Nathan Adams
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:47 AM
To: CVUG
Subject: Re: [CVUG] Bad News..... Kodak : la mort de l'argentique en France

English translation:

Kodak: the death of silver in France Yves Grandmontagne January 23, 2007 -
09h13 The deposed giant of silver photography closed his last laboratory of
development in France. Information almost passed unperceived: Kodak closed
last Friday January 19, 2007 its laboratory of development of Creteil. It
was the last laboratory of development of the silver films of Kodak in
France. The traditional and historical system of pre-numerical photography
dies! In 2006, the site of Kodak developed 4,1 million films, against 22
million developments in 2002. A closing which in known as length also on the
desperate attempts at Kodak to survive. In spite of the migration towards
the numerical one, very top-of-the-range impression and health, the group of
cease to lose money. Frank cuts in plans of rectification, Kodak already
removed 27 000 employment in the world. With the center of Creteil, they are
150 removals of additional stations which come to weigh down the assessment
of that which was, a long time, the king of the silver one!

 

[Photo Engineer]

Tom;

What about the facility in Chalon? That was the main research facility and plant in France.

PE

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Tom;

What about the facility in Chalon? That was the main research facility and plant in France.

PE

I'll ask the French cvuggers, Ron

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've just checked French news sources and as I thought, what they've closed is the last Kodak silver D&P plant -- a laboratoire de developpement is a processing lab, not R&D.

Dunno what's happening at Chalons, though.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Curt]

It's about time if Mr. Per. from Kodak is to go all digital before 08.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Yeah, Kodak was rumor millin' nixxing their R&D as far back as 04.

 

[ajuk]

I think Movie film is what is keeping film development going, in that area at least I believe Kodak are at least making an effort to market there products and improve it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

When I worked at Kodak in Rochester in 2003. We were told [over our objections - like we had a say] that the profits from film were going to used to change Kodak from a film company to an imaging company by strengthening the digital focal plane, the digital camera, and printer lines. This is exactly what is happening. The management felt that since the world would go digital fairly quickly, that this was the direction that they would move in.

Furthermore, they stated that film research would continue, but a slower rate than before.

And that they believed that professional, techinical, and serious amateurs would continue to use film. Therefore film would be producted as long as the market could support manufacturing film.

This was in press releases. It is not surprising but certainly not pleasant to see the layoff and closures such as these.

So we know what we must do. Go out there and shoot film!

No WHINING from the usual cadre of anti-Kodak complainers, please.

 

[Earl Dunbar]

Stever: Well put.

 

[PKM-25]

So we know what we must do. Go out there and shoot film!

No WHINING from the usual cadre of anti-Kodak complainers, please.

Absolutely!!!

 

[aldevo]

The closure of the French R&D facility was announced in the summer of 2005 if memory serves.

 

[gr82bart]

No WHINING from the usual cadre of anti-Kodak complainers, please.

That's like asking people not to beat dead horses!

Regards, Art.