New own-brand paper from Germany

[miha]

I came across what it seems a new own-brand paper Silverchrome: https://www.fotobrenner.de/search?sSearch=silverchrome

It lacks any description but it sure looks like made by Harman.

 

[miha]

They also offer chemistry under the same brand. What little is available from their web store is does say Made in Japan. Most interesting!

 

[Bikerider]

As far as I know Ilford don't sell paper to any other company to be sold as 'branded' paper. They took over Kentmere and reduced the range including the exceptionally good fibre based multigrade to promote the Ilford brand. On this principal I think it is highly unlikely they will sell papers to other companies.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Do they speak English, web site does not seem to?

 

[miha]

As far as I know Ilford don't sell paper to any other company to be sold as 'branded' paper. They took over Kentmere and reduced the range including the exceptionally good fibre based multigrade to promote the Ilford brand. On this principal I think it is highly unlikely they will sell papers to other companies.

They produce several own-brand papers (Bergger, Tetenal, Adox Variotone & Easy Print...) and films. I suspect the same for the aforementioned Silverchrome, however the chemistry is made in Japan which puzzles me.

 

[Hilo]

I saw some sample envelopes in Amsterdam and believe it is made by Ilford Japan.

 

[AgX]

Miha, what makes you think that this paper is made by Harman?

Keep in mind that the Ilford brand never was owned by Harman, and that the owners of that brand also still use the Ilford design for their products.

 

[AgX]

I saw some sample envelopes in Amsterdam and believe it is made by Ilford Japan.

Ilford (Japan) has not listed that paper, but the packaging design is identical to that used by them.

 

[miha]

Agx, just because the boxes look incredibly similar in design.

 

[AgX]

Yes, but the reason that this conclusion is not inevitable I just gave above.

Morever, see here:

 

[miha]

Thanks Agx.
I also just found this: https://blog.artgrey.de/2019/03/01/silverchrome-dunkelkammerportfolio/

 

[AgX]

Yes, but already next Photokina is coming and that Silverchrome paper is still not listed at the Ilford site. And the german distributor hinted at in that article does not list it either.

And we still do not know who actually makes it.

 

[macfred]

Agx, just because the boxes look incredibly similar in design.

The photograph on the outer package (by James Simmons) https://www.fotobrenner.de/filme-la...verchrome-flexgrade-25bl.-13x18-glossy-fgrc-g you can also find here https://ilford.com/ilford-masters/james-simmons/
That doesn't have to mean anything but it's kind of curious.

 

[AgX]

macfred, that is why I showed both packagings, that of the paper in question and that of a different paper made/distributed by Ilford (Japan).
Yes, I assume the paper in question comes frome there. But as indicated it seems rather veiled by themselves... and actual manufacturer is not clear either.


To make it clear for other readers who by now may have got confused:
Anything manufactured by "Ilford" since about six years comes from Japan.
Anything manufactured by or designated as "IlfordPhoto" comes from England.
Anything designated "Ilford" may come from either of them. (As the Japanese own the brand, but the English got it licenced by them.)

Problem though is that the japanese products not all got "Ilford" on the packaging front, some only the prefix Ilfo-, some even not anything Iford related at all, except the design...

Basically that is the problem we got since the splitting of Ilford 20 years ago, but now even more complicated by products not even having got an Ilford designation.

 

[macfred]

macfred, that is why I showed both packagings, that of the paper in question and that of a different paper made/distributed by Ilford (Japan).
Yes, I assume the paper in question comes frome there. But as indicated it seems rather veiled by themselves... and actual manufacturer is not clear either.

Yes, AgX - when I wrote my posting I wasn't aware post #10 - kind of slow on this sunday morning ...

 

[miha]

macfred, that is why I showed both packagings, that of the paper in question and that of a different paper made/distributed by Ilford (Japan).
Yes, I assume the paper in question comes frome there. But as indicated it seems rather veiled by themselves... and actual manufacturer is not clear either.


To make it clear for other readers who by now may have got confused:
Anything manufactured by "Ilford" since about six years comes from Japan.
Anything manufactured by or designated as "IlfordPhoto" comes from England.
Anything designated "Ilford" may come from either of them. (As the Japanese own the brand, but the English got it licenced by them.)

Problem though is that the japanese products not all got "Ilford" on the packaging front, some only the prefix Ilfo-, some even not anything Iford related at all, except the design...

Basically that is the problem we got since the splitting of Ilford 20 years ago, but now even more complicated by products not even having got an Ilford designation.

Thanks for summarizing so well!

 

[Henning Serger]

There is no new "Silverchrome photo paper factory" installed. Just to be clear for those who might have hoped for another new coating plant.
Well, Chugai is a well established and reputable photo chemistry producer in Japan for many decades. With own production facility.
The paper is produced by one of the established photo paper manufacturers for this brand.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[miha]

There is no new "Silverchrome photo paper factory" installed. Just to be clear for those who might have hoped for another new coating plant.

I don't think anybody here at Photrio is that naive.

 

[Henning Serger]

I don't think anybody here at Photrio is that naive.

Unfortunately we've had even much more naive thinking here on apug/photrio, especially concerning industry topics.
Besides what has been written here in the threads, I can tell you from my experience with pm I've got here over all the years that it is not a rare phenomenon.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Kino]

Wildly confusing!

 

[miha]

I'm now 100% sure Silvechrome is a new ILFORD (not Harman!) silver-based paper, and not some German own-brand product as I wrongly suggested in my OP. There are several FB posts showing boxes of Silverchrome paper next to Galery and other ILFORD ink-jet products.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I'm now 100% sure Silvechrome is a new ILFORD (not Harman!) silver-based paper, and not some German own-brand product as I wrongly suggested in my OP. There are several FB posts showing boxes of Silverchrome paper next to Galery and other ILFORD ink-jet products.

Sorry, but don't you need actual hard proof to be 100% sure? Photos of shelves with stocked products are not it.

Not that it matters all that much, if this product meets expectations at given price, it is all that counts.

 

[Henning Serger]

During my market research tour in China last year I've got the information that the Ilford brand owners (Chugai/Kennedy) want to become more active in traditional silver-halide photography. Some future products were mentioned. Which are so far not yet released.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[mshchem]

I will continue to use Ilford of Mobberley, and Foma for paper. Adox is another company worthy of support.

 

[mshchem]

https://procounter.com.au/2014/05/09/exclusive-crk-officially-secures-ilford/