Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/07/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The american paper manufacturer International Paper, owner of Ilford, announced a restructuring plan that should result in 9.000 people less on their payroll. As part of the project they want to sell the Image Group of which Ilford Switzerland is a part.The Ilfochrome unit should be sold before the end of the year. So far no buyers. International paper bought Ilford Switzerland, the producers of Ilfochrome (formerly Cibachrome) in Switzerland in 1989, from Ciba-Geigy. Today, Ilford employs 360 people in Fribourg and Marly. I think that these events are part of the slow (but accelerating) dying process of the chemical darkroom. As digital imaging becomes more important more manufacturers and more equipment will bite the dust (remember the Focomat V35AF enlarger?). What probably will remain is a serie of small manufacturers, producing expensive small runs of hardware, paper and chemicals for silver based image processes, for fine art photographers, amateurs, quality freaks and other assorted nuts. Will progress ever stop?