Visiting FOMA factory in Hradec Kralove

I just noticed that the picture with the big Foma logo has a noticeboard showing colour film and colour paper. Is my Czech wrong? Were these old products, or . . . ??

And what is 'lasne' (apart from a US state, according to Google) ?!
 
MartinP said:
I just noticed that the picture with the big Foma logo has a noticeboard showing colour film and colour paper. Is my Czech wrong? Were these old products, or . . . ??
Click to expand...

The last time I was there a couple of years ago, Foma branded repackaged Fuji Superia still was a popular film type in the Czech Republic. But once upon a time they also were colour film makers - they (like Orwo and Forte) made Agfacolor/Agfachrome process compatible film. I don't know whether they ever managed to convert their own colour production to C41/E6, or whether the Fomacolor films sold in Germany in the nineties already were by or some other maker - most Eastern European film maker's C41 conversion projects failed or had a very brief period of success.
 
Wonderful series of photos! Thank you so much for posting these. I have never seen the actual inside of a film-making plant -- and the Foma factory is even more unique than most due to its history.

Disclaimer: I am a big fan of Fomapan 100. That is definitely one of my favourite films.

As a side note, I was looking in the background of the photo with all the hockey players on the walls -- it was funny to see many NHL players, even (what I presume) a Czech national playing for the Edmonton Oilers, my home town!

Again, what a small world we live in!
 
Thanks for this report. Very interesting!

For all interested in film production, I can highly recommend a visit in Wolfen at the Filmmuseum:
http://www.ifm-wolfen.de/

All the original machines are there (partly even running!) and extremely well explained by the guides.

Cheers, Jan
 
Thanks for the interesting pictures and report. Looks like FOMA's standing up pretty well.

It reminded me to order a load of FOMAPAN 400 from Freestyle, now done.
 
On the first picture you can see the large L shaped building where both films and papers are made.
Also on this picture there is areal plan but I guess not that much visible.
You can see the whole FOMA factory on Google maps and street view. Just type in Foma Hradec Kralove.

sepiareverb said:
Thanks much for these. Is the paper coated in the same building?
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Great photos. Thanks for posting. Being reliant on xray film sales makes me a bit nervous about Foma's future, however. Aren't these going digital as well?

If it did close what would it cost to buy up the buildings and equipment and put it back in production? Perhaps the members of RFF could form a joint-stock company and buy it.
 
So, is this a one man operation? I only saw the one dude, with the white smock, that appears to work there, where are all the rest of the workers? :cool:
 
traveler_101 said:
Great photos. Thanks for posting. Being reliant on xray film sales makes me a bit nervous about Foma's future, however. Aren't these going digital as well?

If it did close what would it cost to buy up the buildings and equipment and put it back in production? Perhaps the members of RFF could form a joint-stock company and buy it.
Click to expand...

Now that's the best idea I've heard in awhile. Would be really cool to be shooting RFF B&W brand film in my cameras.
 
70mm or 120 longroll?

70mm or 120 longroll?

They should have at least 70mm perforated film. for 220 lenght one could cut one side(slitter by xkaes at aol.com).
for 35mm unperforated one could cut center-part. for 2x 35mm one could cut center-line.
120 long roll for easy 220-producing would be clever and easy for them to offer. 220 for MF and rotapancams. very important for the latter ones.
i am also exposing 70mm and cut afterwards to match standard reels or labs.
 
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