Fujicolor to close film processing plant

[bmattock]

Sorry gang, more bad news.

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Fujicolor to close film processing plant

HACKENSACK, N.J. - Fujicolor Photo Service Inc. will close its Hackensack retail and film processing plant and lay off all 169 employees there.

An attorney for the company said consumers' preference for digital cameras forced the decision to close.

The layoffs will take place over 14 days beginning Dec. 11, according to a letter to the state Labor Department from Fujicolor's human resources manager, John Farah.


Those affected include 31 drivers, along with quality control workers, maintenance workers, film splicers and automatic printer operators.

The facility processes film that is picked up from stores across the region by a fleet of cars.

Elizabeth Alarcon, an attorney for the company, said there has been a “rapidly increasing customer migration from traditional photography, taking pictures on film, to digital imaging.”

”As a result,” she said, “Fujicolor Photo Service of Hackensack has decided to close and liquidate its business.”

Traditional film companies have come under severe pressure in recent years as digital cameras make it easier for consumers to print their own photographs at home or to view them without printing them at all.

Kodak officials cited the trend as a key reason for closing its film processing plant in Fair Lawn at the end of August, at a cost of 220 jobs.

The facility was one of nine similar Kodak plants closed nationwide at the same time.

Some industry analysts, however, have argued that many consumers, even those who use digital cameras, will continue to have their pictures printed through retail stores because that is much easier than doing it themselves.

Three weeks ago, several trade publications reported that Fujifilm had struck a deal with Wal-Mart and Sam's Club to locate a Fuji kiosk in 3,400 of the stores.

The kiosks allow the customer to leave either film or digital images and pick up the prints two days later, at a cost of 13 to 15 cents per print, the reports said.

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

 

[Chaser]

The wierd thing is that the story is from the Billings Gazette on of my old local papers when i lived back in Big Wonderfull Wyoming......as for the closeing it's a damn shame.... both for jobs and for our processing convieniance...

 

[Nick R.]

One of the local places that did my film used them. Now what?

 

[Ariya]

I don't really see this as a major problem. Like the article said - 3,400 Sams and Walmarts will have Fuji processing machines that will handle digital or film. It sucks for the people that are being fired at right at Christmas, and I feel for them. But film photography will endure.

 

[dkapp]

I was told by my local camera shop that Fuji will only be using one processing location for their slide film. The two day turnaround has now turned into 5-7 working days. The last time I had film developed, they took all 7 business days and lost 13 slides from the middle of the roll.

I'm looking for somewhere else to take my stuff....

Dave

 

[Fred]

This is just a sign of the times and I hate it.

The ability to go into a local store and get film processed has limited days. It was the same many years ago when you could get 120 roll film and B&W from the corner store but cannot anymore.

It's not all bad news though, the reduction in the consumer 'happy snappy' printers should see a growth in the better quality smaller processor but at a cost both financially and in time.

I guess this is the time to start thinking about doing the stuff ourselves. Developing film is not that hard and if you prefer not to hand print scanning is done in daylight.

As long as I can get the chemistry for E6, C41 and B&W, I'll do it myself if I have to. For 120 film I have to anyway. I use the local for 35mm because they can do it a lot cheaper and faster than I can. For now...

Film may be down but it certainly is not out.

 

[aad]

I'm not surprised or unduly distressed. I'm now using several local labs that do their own processing, catering to the photographer concerned about quality. In fact, I can get slides done in one day, locally. It takes 2 days for TriX !!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

It's not a "major" problem, but it's a problem, nonetheless. It is major for those employed there, no question about it.

What I find troubling is the dependence the camera manufacturers are now making between their "numbers" and digital sales. When those in power in China go cuckoo (re: Taiwan), the computer market will suffer, and so will digital imaging. Ironically, China has a booming film market.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Another Merry Christmas, what wonderful timing for those laid off.

Bob

 

[jan normandale]

It seems to be heading for a nasty Christmas; layoffs at Canada's venerable Hudson's Bay Co (825 staff) just occurred. It seems like everywhere you turn people are laid off. Who's going to buy things to keep the other manufacturers working if they don't have consumers with jobs in the next city over? I booked a flite to Chicago. The phone was answered in Hyderabad , India! No more jobs for citizens in that airline's country providing phone/customer service .

I'm going to go shoot some film before there is nothing left but digital. The western capitalist 'economic model' is beginning to scare me.

 

[canonetc]

There will be a special factory in Hell for those film executives who worship The Bottom Line. They will be forced to process Tungsten Kodak 64 in 8x10 sheets forever...by hand. And no lunch break. 🙂

Chris
canonetc

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

There will be a special factory in Hell for those film executives who worship The Bottom Line. They will be forced to process Tungsten Kodak 64 in 8x10 sheets forever...by hand. And no lunch break. 🙂

...cross-processed in Pyro.

 

[jan normandale]

My hell will be they will be in a glass room with nothing but digital equ't ; they will be able to see the users of film and hear them but they will not be visible or audible. I like that idea a lot.

 

[ch1]

Jeez...do We Have To Hear Every One Of Your "doom And Gloom" Updates?

Yes - Film Is Dead.

As In - Dead, Dead, Dead.

Last Weekend I Shot Two Rolls Of "dead Film"

Enough - Already!

If You Have A Job - Spend More Time On It.

If You Are Retired - Find Another "fixation"!!!!

But, Really ---

If You Think Your Remaining Virtue In Life Is To Memorialize The "death Of Film"....

Please Don't Agonize Us With Every "friggin'" Episode!!!

As My Italian Grandmother Would Say: "basta"

 

[jan normandale]

Jeez...do We Have To Hear Every One Of Your "doom And Gloom" Updates?

Yes - Film Is Dead.

As In - Dead, Dead, Dead.

Last Weekend I Shot Two Rolls Of "dead Film"

Enough - Already!

If You Have A Job - Spend More Time On It.

If You Are Retired - Find Another "fixation"!!!!

But, Really ---

If You Think Your Remaining Virtue In Life Is To Memorialize The "death Of Film"....

Please Don't Agonize Us With Every "friggin'" Episode!!!

As My Italian Grandmother Would Say: "basta"

WOOT ; Did she leave you any good recipes you can pass along?? Sez Jan the 'foodie'

 

[Trius]

copake: If you don't like a post, you don't have to read it. And you don't have to respond.

Why do layoffs like this seem to happen around Christmas? They couldn't wait another two weeks or so? Bat rastards.

Trius

 

[raid]

Will Fuji still honor film mailers?

 

[ch1]

WOOT ; Did she leave you any good recipes you can pass along?? Sez Jan the 'foodie'

You can never have my secret sauce recipie - no matter how often you ask (but remember - there is no such thing as too much garlic!)

Like photography - it is a mix of science and art (and more the latter than the former!)

Oh - sorry- as to the film issue:

I did notice that my local lab drop off had a stack of cannisters to develop as I was dropping off my Tri-X.

 

[ch1]

copake: If you don't like a post, you don't have to read it. And you don't have to respond.

Why do layoffs like this seem to happen around Christmas? They couldn't wait another two weeks or so? Bat rastards.

Trius

Layoffs happen when layoffs happen.

When would have been better?

At Eastertime? During Ramadan , on Diwali? During the High Holy Days,? At Winter Soltice? etc.

(do you know what religiion workers in northern New Jersey factories worship)?

I do not know what region of the USA you live in - but here in the NYC metro area we are very multi-cultural and diverse.

Sorry, but given where I live, I do not understand your point.

 

[jan normandale]

Cmon gimme a decent soup or pasta receipe I' ll even swap off line/pm