Transforming the former ILFORD (Switzerland) trial coating machine

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

Since the trial coatings performed in March (see (there was a url link here which no longer exists) thread) we have started to rebuilt the machine into a production machine.
The most important point is the coating quality so we started with the dryer. All seven huge fans have been removed (through the crawling paths in this "spaceship machine") replaced by modern ones and the resulting increase in pressure is needed to fit air filtration which we dismanteled from ILFORD´s fomer production machine (Tunnel 4).
The fans and filter housings had to be sketched and custom made to fit so we lost a few weeks in the beginning. At present we have all fans installed and are working on the last filter boxes.
Then we can continue with trials (and then we need to trouble shoot as is the case with any large project .

Here´s a short video about the progress:



(The German subtitles explain basically what I wrote above)

 

[Bob Carnie]

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC

I wish you all the success, and admire your efforts.

Bob

 

[ajmiller]

Agree, brilliant to see what you're doing. (I thought the soup at the end was a nice touch.....)

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

I thought the soup at the end was a nice touch.....)

You´re on thin ice in Switzerland if you call a Käsefondue made from a mixture of three local cheese´ a "soup" ;-)

Marly is next to Gruyere btw. (for those who know what I mean).

Some of the best emulsion lab workers had a professional training in cheese making before

 

[Photo Engineer]

Great work Mirko. I wish you all the best.

Thanks.

Ron

 

[miha]

Congratulations!

 

[twelvetone12]

Congratulations! When are you going to offer factory tours? (ps love the fondue at the end!)

 

[Jeff L]

Fantastic. Congratulations as well.

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

Congratulations! When are you going to offer factory tours?

Yes we can do this but then you have to come to Germany and Switzerland....

 

[twelvetone12]

Yes we can do this but then you have to come to Germany and Switzerland....

I'm actually based in Fribourg! But I would surely do a trip to Berlin too!

 

[dwross]

Absolutely outstanding!!

 

[swittmann]

Awesome, Mirko! Already watched this video this morning and had to giggle when I read "Berliner Luft" Great to see the progress, it's like watching a child grow.

Keep up the great work!

LG Sandra

PS: ... und importier ein bisschen vom leckeren Fondue - kannst ja mal ne Fabrikbesichtigung mit anschließender Fondue-Verkostung machen *g* (translation: please import some of the delicious fondue - then you could do a factory tour with a fondue tasting afterwards)

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

.. und importier ein bisschen vom leckeren Fondue - kannst ja mal ne Fabrikbesichtigung mit anschließender Fondue-Verkostung machen *g*

Uns wurde erklärt man muss das frisch bestellen und die Mischung angeben, dann kann man es um 15 Uhr beim Käser abholen und abends wird es gleich verkocht.
Ist also etwas schwierig mit dem importieren.. oder Du fährst gleich nach Marly ;-)

 

[twelvetone12]

Factory tour + fondue would be a winner!

 

[swittmann]

Na na, keine faulen Ausreden hier, mein Magen knurrt schon! :munch: Bad Saarow ist für mich schließlich fast umme Ecke! Wobei ich mir Machine E durchaus gerne ansehen würde, so isses ja nich! Schließlich soll sie gaaaanz viel PW für mich basteln... hmmm...

So, here's a suggestion: You may organize the factory tour with fondue (I'll help you with everything) and then the next day you offer a fine art or Lith printing workshop w/ Wolfgang Moersch for the participants in your darkroom. How does that sound? Wolfgang?? (Sorry, I'm just daydreaming... but yes, I think you should offer printing courses)

 

[miha]

So, here's a suggestion: You may organize the factory tour with fondue (I'll help you with everything) and then the next day you offer a fine art or Lith printing workshop w/ Wolfgang Moersch for the participants in your darkroom. How does that sound? Wolfgang?? (Sorry, I'm just daydreaming... but yes, I think you should offer printing courses)

What a great idea! (and a reminder I should stock on his alkaline fixer)

 

[baachitraka]

Very good deal. But I will take the very first roll from the factory...[emoji14]

 

[swittmann]

Sorry, guys, ladies first The first roll of Polywarmtone is for me :wub:

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Great to see progress on this happening. Congratulations, Mirko!

 

[Xmas]

Hi M

Please could you give us a one sentence update when you can eg just coated an n th prototype run whatever...

Or even next update in three months.

N

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

Please could you give us a one sentence update when you can eg just coated an n th prototype run whatever...

Or even next update in three months.

We are coating every week tweaking our skills and the machine. With just 20" coating width you don´t want streaks or scratches to cut around. In the same time we work on the Polywarmtone emulsion. Things progress on all ends but manufacturing a quality silver halide product is not trivial.
Since this is our first own product (from scratch) we have to learn everything together with Polywarmtone. Once it´s there others will follow faster.
That doesn´t really help if you´re waiting on Polywarmtone- I know.. ;-)

Mirko

 

[Photo Engineer]

Best wishes Mirko.

Ron

 

[Bob Carnie]

Best wishes Mirko.

Ron

plus 1

 

[K-G]

plus 1

plus 2

 

[darkosaric]

Thanks for the update Mirko. Idea: if you have some bad runs with scratches - maybe you can sell it anyhow in 30 or 90 meters bulk roll cheaper, without warranty? I would not mind to buy it, and lomography community will probably also got for it.