Good News for Film Users!

[peter_n]

I'll hope and pray they start producing Agfa multicontrast classic again. One of the finest black and white fibre based papers.

Jaap did you find a close alternative to MCC?

 

[Andy Andrews]

With automated equipment, 50 well-trained employees can equal 500 that used to be required. Yes, like it or not, robots are taking over the planet. But would you let your daughter marry one?

 

[wtl]

Good News for Film Users!

what was the bad news before?

 

[bmattock]

what was the bad news before?

Agfa Photo going out of business, I presume.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Daniel,

I felt the same way. However, if I mention it, certain parties fly into a tizzy, fall on the ground, spin in circles, cry like small babies, and plead with the powers-that-be to close the thread.

So I just say 'groovy' and wait until reality blows chunks in their cheerios. Let someone else learn to read beyond what they 'want' it to say. De inimico non loquaris sed cogites.

Oops.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - Seriously, though - I hope that they really meant photo film.

 

[bmattock]

With automated equipment, 50 well-trained employees can equal 500 that used to be required.

But give the unions a chance, they can slow things down until 500 employees are required again.

Yes, like it or not, robots are taking over the planet.

Actually, we already did. But we don't like it much. Want it back?

But would you let your daughter marry one?

Gbzzetd. Does not compute. Get the intruder, get the humanoid.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Speak of the devil...

Sorry folks. It is bad news, I think. Despite my pessimism, this was not something I wanted to be right about.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200604/kt2006041219380711910.htm

Hyosung Acquires Agfa Film Factory

By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter
South Korea’s Hyosung group said Wednesday it took over for an undisclosed price the industrial film manufacturing department of Agfaphoto, the German photographic film maker bankrupted last year.

The facility in Leverkusen, Germany, will produce plastic films for industrial use, such as automobile windshield coatings, construction materials or films used in LCD and PDP TV panels.

Hyosung said the factory will be operated by its new German subsidiary OpCo, which became the group’s 40th affiliate.

Wilfried Sill, AgfaPhoto’s managing director, was named head of the new firm which has some 50 employees remaining for production. The new company is expected to raise the number of employees to 70 by the end of the year.

``It is meaningful that a Korean company acquired assets of a foreign firm that has a global brand and advanced technologies,’’ Hyosung said in a statement.

Hyosung, a Korean industrial conglomerate, was founded in 1957. It operates in diverse fields including chemicals, textile and industrial synthetic fibers, machinery, construction, information technology and trade.

The group said acquisition of Agfa will further boost its expansion into the chemical material industry, though it does not have immediate plans to produce photographic films which is what Agfa has been renowned for.

``Agfa has a strong competency in the field. If a company is able to make photographic films, that means it can easily make any other industrial films,’’ said the group’s spokesperson Cha Yu-na.

Agfa was founded in 1867, and has been a prominent maker of consumer products such as cameras and photographic films. However, its consumer imaging division spun off from the company in 2004 as the traditional film industry suffered downturns due to rising demand for digital cameras.

Agfaphoto eventually filed for bankruptcy after just one year of the separation in May of 2005.



indizio@koreatimes.co.kr

04-12-2006 19:37

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Bubble burst. Sad day indeed. Thanks, Bill.

[Sheds a timid tear] 🙁

 

[Trius]

Sorry you were right, Bill. Hate that when it happens. 😉

 

[Uncle Bill]

Pity, oh well what can you do. There is always Ilford, Kodak Plus-X/ Tri-x, and Fuji neopan

Bill

 

[bmattock]

It was just a suspicion when I read "specialty films" in the original German article. That has a meaning in the plastics industry that is not a reference to photographic film. I really did not want this to happen - I like Agfa APX 100 very much, and we need as many choices as possible.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[fgianni]

I want SCALA back!

 

[Rey]

Somebody needs to bring back a few varieties of AGFA film. Last month a single roll of ULTRA color (35mm) sold for $30.00 or so on ebay! Now theres got to be some profit in putting out limited amounts of this stuff.

 

[Rey]

Yeah, Agfa's ULTRA was fantastic. I know some folks who still have a few rolls stashed in their freezer for that "special occasion". I wonder how long it will stay fresh?

 

[plexi]

At least we have Rollei`s Retro 100/400 wich IS APX 100/400, Rollei bought the remaining master rolls. Use it while it lasts. And no, this is not a rumour.