Visiting FOMA factory in Hradec Kralove

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Vobluda

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Lazy as I am I just dig out pictures from last year visit to FOMA factory in Hradec Kralove. As the film production is unchanged since the late 70s or early 80s I guess that it doesn't matter that pictures were taken in November last year.
Pictures shows BW film production from emulsion to warehouse. Seeing the technology the final result seems miracle to me..
How long will it last? As long there is demand for various X-Ray films, which seems to be the core business of the factory now.

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To produce results like the Fomapan films with technology like that (straight from the communist 1980's it seems) indeed is remarkable.

Reading that they rely heavily on X-ray film and conventional film is perhaps a by-product, I'm not sure that this is something to feel secure by...
 
Thanks for the pictorial. That reminds me I really should pay my neighbour Slavomir a visit, OK he´s 15km away - but he´s the main distributor of Foma films in Europe. Funny how I have tried just about all other manufacturers, but Foma.
 
They are also selling color film localy but they are rebranding it - mostly Japanese material as they say (sometimes Italian).

I guess that they will produce film while rentabile but pictures can give some hope as well - you dont need much technology to produce decent film.

I was limited with the number of the pictures in the first thread. They also have those in the warehouse.

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buzzardkid said:
To produce results like the Fomapan films with technology like that (straight from the communist 1980's it seems) indeed is remarkable.

Reading that they rely heavily on X-ray film and conventional film is perhaps a by-product, I'm not sure that this is something to feel secure by...
Click to expand...
 
As someone who uses Foma film these pictures have a certain strange feeling for me– a bit like visiting the kitchen in your favourite restaurant 🙂
I like that the whole operation seems low tech, probably they can keep a cottage industry style range going for longer.
Thanks for posting...
 
Good stuff, thanks for sharing.
Reminds me of driving past the FED factory in Kharkiv, Ukraine a few years ago. I should have paid them a visit.
 
Thanks for the pictures. Looks a bit like heaven to a confirmed film shooter! I have tried several of the various FOMA films over the years - but distribution in Canada seems a bit spotty and I hate to get used to a film and then find that when I want to restock - it's gone.
 
Wow, really interesting stuff. Thanks for posting this!

Is it still possible to visit Foma? I don't speak czech but I guess that an e-mail in English could get me in 😀 since I live about 300 km away from Hradec Kralove.
 
Fascinating. Fomatone MG Classic has been my favourite FB paper for quite a while now. Prices have slowly caught up with other papers, but it's worth every penny.

I'm just getting into Fomapan film now Adox CHS has gone. I just hope they don't go the same way as Efke.
 
I can post the picture from the paper cutting and packing room in the evening.
It is fascinating as it is done in complete dark.

Snapper_uk said:
Fascinating. Fomatone MG Classic has been my favourite FB paper for quite a while now. Prices have slowly caught with other papers, but it's worth every penny.

I'm just getting into Fomapan film now Adox CHS has gone. I just hope they don't go the same way as Efke.
Click to expand...
 
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