Excerpted from British Journal of Photography
Title: Fujifilm quashes 35mm rumours
Date: 15 March 2006
Fujifilm has strenuously denied reports published in a national newspaper that it is to withdraw from the film and 35mm camera business.
The Times published a piece on 02 March claiming that the company is going to quit the traditional market, which the newspaper has since pulled from its website. Fujifilm immediately responded by releasing a statement declaring The Times' report to be in no way representative of 'the company's true position on traditional photography'.
It added: 'Fujifilm remains totally committed to the production, supply and marketing of silver halide film, both in the consumer and professional sectors. Three new films were launched in 2005 and there are already plans for another two new films for early this year. The company has also introduced two new 35mm film cameras, the Fujifilm Clear Shot V ll and Clear Shot M ll.'The report in The Times came after Fujifilm announced widespread job losses from its Imaging Solutions division. In a statement from Japan, the company's president and CEO, Shigetaka Komori, explained that this division, which accounts for 30% of the company's consolidated revenue, 'has faced rapidly intensifying competition due to reduced demand for colour film and slowing growth in the digital camera market'.
As a result, the company will slash 5000 jobs by the end of March 2007.
Jobs losses are expected in the company's colour film laboratories and distribution departments, and the digital camera factories in China.
The company also announced that it plans to reorganise its film R&D department, and is to increase its line-up of digital cameras, prioritising features such as high sensitivity.
Richard Linney of Fujifilm UK concluded: 'Obviously the onset of digital technology means that the market has changed, but this change does not mean that film no longer has an important part to play in our industry.'
Source: © Incisive Media Investments Ltd 2005
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Title: Fujifilm quashes 35mm rumours
Date: 15 March 2006
Fujifilm has strenuously denied reports published in a national newspaper that it is to withdraw from the film and 35mm camera business.
The Times published a piece on 02 March claiming that the company is going to quit the traditional market, which the newspaper has since pulled from its website. Fujifilm immediately responded by releasing a statement declaring The Times' report to be in no way representative of 'the company's true position on traditional photography'.
It added: 'Fujifilm remains totally committed to the production, supply and marketing of silver halide film, both in the consumer and professional sectors. Three new films were launched in 2005 and there are already plans for another two new films for early this year. The company has also introduced two new 35mm film cameras, the Fujifilm Clear Shot V ll and Clear Shot M ll.'The report in The Times came after Fujifilm announced widespread job losses from its Imaging Solutions division. In a statement from Japan, the company's president and CEO, Shigetaka Komori, explained that this division, which accounts for 30% of the company's consolidated revenue, 'has faced rapidly intensifying competition due to reduced demand for colour film and slowing growth in the digital camera market'.
As a result, the company will slash 5000 jobs by the end of March 2007.
Jobs losses are expected in the company's colour film laboratories and distribution departments, and the digital camera factories in China.
The company also announced that it plans to reorganise its film R&D department, and is to increase its line-up of digital cameras, prioritising features such as high sensitivity.
Richard Linney of Fujifilm UK concluded: 'Obviously the onset of digital technology means that the market has changed, but this change does not mean that film no longer has an important part to play in our industry.'
Source: © Incisive Media Investments Ltd 2005
ALSO
Leica backs FourThirds Leica has officially endorsed the FourThirds standard, putting out a joint statement with Panasonic announcing a new lens - the first of a new range of optics first mentioned in BJP, 01 March
