Seal 1818, InovisCoat and FilmoTec in insolvency

[fs999]

No news yet about a restart?

What do you expect in 8 days ?

 

[Agulliver]

What do you expect in 8 days ?

Anything less than full production of process paid Kodachrome at 3 dollarpounds a roll starting immediately will not be accepted. Nothing short of this is in any way acceptable.

 

[mohmad khatab]

A copy of the last post published about two days ago.
Dear Film Community,
It has come to our attention that discussions have started to spread across forums regarding the insolvency of Seal 1818 GmbH, FilmoTec GmbH and InovisCoat GmbH.
We would like to allay any concerns and stop any rumours.
Today, the courts have officially agreed our plans for an organised management financial restructuring, something that has been months in the planning and that we have committed a large investment to support.
We decided to do this so that we can quickly and successfully introduce new working practices, customers and products; which would have been challenging or impossible, due to legacy issues and agreements, that prevented the company from trading the way it needed to (including working with our own ORWO name and Logo, as well as releasing our full range of products under our brand).
We have recently teased the release of new film stocks and we can now confirm that our new colour cine film will be released in July, with our new black and white 100 ASA film coming before that — with shipping expected in April. More information on each of the stocks and how to pre-order will be coming very soon.
This is a brand-new and incredibly exciting chapter in ORWO’s rich history, and we are so excited to develop the company and brand that we are all so passionate about.
Welcome to the analogue revolution.
Best wishes,
The ORWO Team.
#orwofilm

 

[mohmad khatab]

What at first sounds like bad news could in fact be really good news.

+1

 

[AgX]

At both manufacturers the directors are in charge again, though under supervision.
This means that the courts see a chance for the firms to pay creditors and regain financial stability.

 

[cmacd123]

I know here, using the bankruptcy law (here it is called the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA)) is often a quick and easy way for venture capital types to do a reorganization as the court orders can force shareholders to accept changes in stock-holdings.

 

[AgX]

Here basically the court cannot force creditors.

 

[Ernst-Jan]

At both manufacturers the directors are in charge again, though under supervision.
This means that the courts see a chance for the firms to pay creditors and regain financial stability.

That's slightly positive news I would say...

 

[miha]

Isn't Polaroid also made at InovisCoat?

 

[Ernst-Jan]

Isn't Polaroid also made at InovisCoat?

No, the base material is coated by Inovisproject, which shares the coating line with Inoviscoat.
The product is then further finished in the former Polaroid factory in Enschede, the Netherlands.

 

[miha]

No, the base material is coated by Inovisproject, which shares the coating line with Inoviscoat.
The product is then further finished in the former Polaroid factory in Enschede, the Netherlands.

So that means production of the Polaroid film is not affected by InovisCoat insolvency?

 

[AgX]

So that means production of the Polaroid film is not affected by InovisCoat insolvency?

There is no hint yet at a cease of production.

 

[AgX]

As these days the discussion about a new "Orwo" film arose again, we should be aware that it is actually unknown of what firms "Orwo" actually consists in the current situation of insolvency.

 

[Ernst-Jan]

There is no hint yet at a cease of production.

But are there hints with a cease of to production at Innoviscoat? To me it feels like a "happily ever after" although I am not a regular buyer/user of their products.

 

[AgX]

You misread my answer. I meant to refer to production at Inoviscoat. I thought that was clear.

 

[miha]

So InovisCoat is alive and kicking?

 

[AgX]

Alive

It is not made public yet what creditors decided.

 

[jtk]

kontakt@inoviscoat.de

 

[AgX]

Something is happening at Filmotec.
There is a new website. The company is looking for new employees.

Inoviscoat is also revamping its website.
It seems that a new era is really beginning in Wolfen and Mohnheim.

The ORWO shop lists now 100ft UN54 again.

 

[AgX]

That Filmotec is looking for new employees indeed indicates that somehow they survived their financial crisis (unless those jobs are just old ones where personal has left).

No mention at all of that alleged Cine Orwo-Combine !
They only mention the Wolfen plant.

But they still got their british CEO.


Their product portfolio though remains conservative, except for their new NP 100 film. They now also listed a film that already was on the market and seemingly cancelled their holographic films.

No further news on that new colourfilm, but what they hint at what was known so far.
But there is no hint at a colour cine film whatsoever, only at type 135 and not even the chemical system is mentioned.

 

[cmacd123]

No further news on that new colourfilm, but what they hint at what was known so far.
But there is no hint at a colour cine film whatsoever, only at type 135 and not even the chemical system is mentioned.

last time I looked through all the links on their site, It seems that the "cine film" is based on Agfa X320, but somehow is a daylight stock, For C-41 without Rem-Jet. AND someone (presuably a friend of Mr. Seal) is just finishing up some sort of Movie using it. ALSO they are working on a Tungsten C-41 Movie film.

I wonder is they found some more Pancakes of UN54? I would love to belive, I have been using N74 for several years as my "walk Around" 335mm still film, I have probably gone through 2 400ft cans of it.

 

[cmacd123]

Just looked and the UN54 is only in stock in 400ft and 1000 foot sizes.

 

[AgX]

ALSO they are working on a Tungsten C-41 Movie film.

No such information at the Filmotec site.
And the question remains, as who are "they"? The refurbished website of Filmotec even triggered more questions.

We shall wait and see...

 

[cmacd123]

No such information at the Filmotec site.
And the question remains, as who are "they"? The refurbished website of Filmotec even triggered more questions.

We shall wait and see...

Seal/Orwo Studios/filmotec/orwo.shop the mysterious plans of some dude named Seal it appears. The more they say, the less sense one can make of it. never got that feeling ever for the saga of Ferrania, everything that Those folks said was plausible. Almost every anouncement from the Seal folks seems to me to be slightly removed from my vison of how the Photographic film market works. of course I could be ab old foggy and Seal is the true visionary.

 

[AgX]

So far Inoviscoat themselves did not mention that new Orwo combine, from before the insolvency of these 3 firms.

Now they have a link to Filmotec at their internet site, which indicates that there still is a connection.