Wephota has been closed down

[AgX]

The german firm started in 1904 as manufacturer of photographic papers. It was the origin of Tura. In times of the GDR it became one of the smallest plants of the Orwo combine, finally next to paper production specialized on sheet film conversion. In the 90's manufacture was stopped, the firm was privatized and reduced to having materials tollcoated and to conversions, next to other small business. Renamed to Wephota it long time was a source of rare papers.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Never heard of them, but always not good news when this happens, especially to a company that has been around for a long time.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Sadly the same old song, another one bits the dust.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

It probably went under as a result of inability to cope with high demand from the "analog revival."

 

[AgX]

They were an oldfashioned business, without social media activity and without influencer-marketeers.


Their better days concerning their analog offer seemingly were some years ago.

 

[AgX]

What made them outstanding was their uniqe offer as extra-thin paper for documentation, single-or dubblesided coated, paper as type 120, film-emulsion on paper, technical sheet films, custom sheet cutting.

 

[mshchem]

I was unaware of this firm. The products you mentioned would be nice to have. Sounds like products that could be used for graphic arts applications as well.
Leica made contact printers that took film and strips of contact paper. How cool would that be if a person could get contact print strips made. Oh the good old days.

 

[RJ-]

Sorry to hear. I didn't realise they were still active as recent as this!

Wephota famously cut NP15 to wholeplate 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch very briefly and rendered it as an affordable 8 x 10 inch sheet format over 10 years ago. It's a beautiful traditional film, also used briefly by Bergger (France) as their limited run of 120 roll NP15 - both the same derived formulation from the original Orwo.

AgX - any further insights into what happened to their die and cutting equipment after the factory closure?

 

[AgX]

No idea. But basically such would be standard graphic equipment.