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Posts Tagged ‘Alaris’

Report: Kodak Alaris has sold off its paper and chemical division to its largest Chinese distributor

13 Jul

According to Australian photo industry publication Inside Imaging, Kodak has sold its ‘Paper, Photochemicals, Display and Software’ business unit to its largest Chinese distributor, Sino Promise Group (Sino also distributes Canon, Epson and Noritsu photo printers and scanners) and transferred its film business to its Kodak Moments business unit.

The confirmation from Inside Imaging comes on the heels of a report that an announcement of the proposed sale was distributed internally within the company.

Sino has been manufacturing Kodak photochemicals as well as silver halide photo paper and dye-sub paper destined for the Asia Pacific market in its Xiamen factory since 2015 and has been manufacturing Kodak medical X-ray film, industrial film, photographic film, photographic paper and photochemicals at its Wuxi factory since 2016.

A screenshot from the ‘About’ section on Sino Promise Group’s website.

We reported back in February 2019 Kodak Alaris was looking to offload its paper and film division, estimated to be worth roughly $ 34 million at the time. Kodak Alaris went so far as to say in its 2019 financial report (page 16) that it expected ‘the successful completion of the sale of [its] PPF business in the next year.’

According to Inside Imaging’s report, there were multiple entities interested in the division, including Sino, Eastman Kodak (separate entity from Kodak Alaris) and even Chinese film company Lucky Film. In the end, it was Sino Promise Group that sealed the deal. Sino Promise Group was originally planning to purchase more of Kodak Alaris than just the paper and chemistry business, says Inside Imaging, but ‘withdrew at the last minute […] due to concerns with the accounts of the document scanning business unit.’ There’s no information on exactly how much the final deal was worth.

We have contacted Kodak Alaris ourselves to independently confirm this information and will update accordingly if we receive a response.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Kodak Alaris warns the TSA’s new airport CT scanners can damage undeveloped film

29 Jan

Kodak Alaris has alerted its customers to the risks of CT scanners being used by the TSA to scan carry-on luggage in a number of airports throughout the United States. According to the company, it tested the effects of these scanners on film products to determine just how risky they are. The results, according to a long Facebook post from Kodak Alaris, were ‘not good.’

In March 2019, the TSA announced a $ 96.8 million contract that had been awarded to Smiths Detection for 300 CT scanning systems that will be installed in 145 U.S. airports to screen carry-on bags. Some of these CT scanning systems are now in use at select airports and others will go live over the coming year.

‘To better assess the risk to film from the new carry on scanners we brought a small quantity of Portra 400/135 to John F Kennedy Airport,’ Kodak Alaris explains on Facebook. The film was put through these scanning systems one to 10 times and then was later evaluated by Eastman Kodak Research experts.

Kodak describes the results as ‘not good,’ saying:

Just 1 scan shows significant film fogging, leading to smoky blacks and loss of shadow detail. This will be more significant for higher speed films. Although it’s possible that a roll of 100 speed film would show less degradation, we strongly recommend against putting any unexposed or exposed but unprocessed film through a CT Scanner.

In order to avoid this, Kodak tells photographers to keep their film products in a carry-on bag and to request that TSA agents hand-check the film rather than sending it through the CT scanner. The TSA confirmed to Kodak that its agents are trained in hand-checking movie film, roll film and single-use film cameras.

The TSA warned Kodak that ‘a limited number of [carry-on] screening checkpoints’ feature X-ray equipment that may damage film. In these cases, the airports have put up warning signs at the checkpoints to warn passengers who may have undeveloped film in their bags. The majority of X-ray screening equipment used for checked baggage rather than carry-on baggage will damage undeveloped film as well, according to the TSA.

Kodak says it is developing ‘warning stickers’ that photographers will be able to print out at home and put on plastic bags containing their film products when traveling.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Kodak Alaris is actively looking to sell off its paper and film unit for an estimated $34M

06 Feb

A surprising report has revealed that Kodak Alaris, specifically its film unit responsible for bringing back Ektachrome 35mm film products, is up for sale. The business move was revealed by Inside Imaging, which reports that at least part of Kodak Alaris may be split off and sold as soon as next month.

Though the company had not publicly revealed its plans, some details emerged from a recently discovered financial report lodged with the UK’s Companies House in December 2018. According to the report, which covers a time period of January 1 to March 31, 2017, Kodak Alaris’ Paper, Photochemicals and Film (PPF) unit has been up for sale since January 2018 following the board’s decision to ‘actively divest the business to a buyer with greater market synergies.’

The report indicates the unit has a conservatively estimated value of $ 34 million and that ‘advanced discussions with a bidder’ for the PPF unit are currently underway. Kodak Alaris, at least based on the financial report, anticipates the sale will happen by March 31, 2019, but with the potential for spilling over to a later date.

Kodak Alaris’ sole shareholder is the Kodak Pension Plan, a UK pension fund referred to as KPP2 that acquired Kodak Alaris from Eastman Kodak for $ 325 million in 2013. With Kodak Alaris came £1.5 billion / $ 2.7b in debt, and though Kodak Alaris is a profitable business, its bottom line after taxes has seen huge losses.

Kodak Alaris CEO Marc Jourlait confirmed to Inside Imaging that the company has ‘privately briefed’ potential customers on its intention to ‘explore sale of some or all of our assets.’ The PPF unit is already ‘at an advanced stage of negotiations with a potential buyers [sic].’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Kodak Alaris to release Ektachrome 120 and sheet film this summer

29 Jan

Kodak Alaris has revealed plans to ship its revived Ektachrome product in 120 format and sheet film variants later this year. The revelation was made by Kodak Alaris UK Quality Manager Andy Church on the Sunny 16 podcast last week (approx. 16 minute mark), during which he stated that the new products may launch in around three months, depending on production.

Kodak began shipping its new Ektachrome E100 film product globally in September 2018, followed by the Ektachrome 7294 Reversal Film in Super 8 format in October. The company previously indicated it would likely launch the E100 product in 120 format and sheet sizes, something it is now actively working on due to the 35mm product’s success.

The company must deal with some ‘technical hurdles,’ according to Thomas J. Mooney, Kodak Alaris’s film capture business manager who spoke with Kosmo Foto. According to Mooney, ‘Based on the very favourable response to our 135 format launch of Ektachrome E100, we recognise there is definitely a market need/demand for these additional formats, and activity is now underway.’

Church breaks down the technical issue during the podcast, stating the 120 format and sheet film require ‘slight adjustments’ to the formula. The company has ‘started having some pilot coatings and as things progress we’re going towards a more production-scale coating,’ Church explained.

Assuming everything proceeds smoothly, Church estimated the products may arrive in around three months, while Mooney provided ‘mid-summer’ as the company’s estimation.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Kodak Alaris brings 35mm Pro Image 100 film to Europe

06 Jul
Mani.Rae/Flickr used under CC BY-ND 2.0, shot on Kodak Pro Image 100

Kodak Alaris has announced its 35mm Kodak Professional Pro Image 100 film is now available in Europe.

Until now, there was no official means of acquiring Kodak Professional Pro Image 100 film in the European market. Released in 1997, the film has a strong presence in Asia as well as a handful of South American countries, but it’s never been distributed through official Kodak retailers in Europe (or North America for that matter).

The decision to bring the film stock to Europe comes after Kodak Alaris ran a trial period in the UK, which apparently proved successful. Andrew Church, Printing and Operational Supplies and Film Capture Product Manager of Kodak Alaris, says ‘Pro Image 100 gained such positive feedback during its trial period in the UK that the decision whether it should be made available in further countries became easy for us. We are really pleased to offer this popular film to the whole European market.’

In Kodak’s own words, Pro Image 100 color negative film ‘is a medium speed (EI 100) film that features high color saturation, accurate color and pleasing skin-tone reproduction, and good underexposure latitude.’ Kodak adds ‘it is intended for portrait and social applications, and can be stored at room temperature—even in hot, humid climates. Its printing characteristics are similar to those of KODAK GOLD Films to help simplify printing for photofinishers.’

Both Lomography and Flickr have a great collection of photos captured on Pro Image 100 film.

Kodak Professional Pro Image 100 is currently available in packs of five rolls through all Kodak film dealers in Europe.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Kodak Alaris is bringing back T-Max P3200 high-speed B&W film

24 Feb

Film photographers are celebrating today after news broke that Kodak Alaris will resurrect another popular product: Kodak T-Max P3200 high-speed black-and-white film. After teasing the resurrection on Twitter, a brief press release confirmed the news this morning, revealing that the debut will happen some time next month.

Kodak originally discontinued T-Max P3200 film in October of 2012 due to a severe drop in demand, directing its customers toward the T-Max 400 as an alternative. However, the film photography market has seen an increase in demand over the last few years, and Kodak Alaris is using that demand as proof that products like T-Max P3200 and the soon-to-be-rereleased Ektachrome film deserve another shot.

The ‘rebirth’ of T-Max P3200 began on social media. In a tweet posted yesterday, Kodak shared an image that reads “Are you in the dark?” followed by a series of numbers that total 3200. The combination hinted at the T-Max P3200 film, which Kodak says can be push processed up to ISO 25,000.

Though the company didn’t provide any additional details via that tweet, someone did spot an image shared by Australian film store Ikigai Camera on its Instagram account. The image—which has since been removed, hinting at an ‘accidental’ leak—showed the T-Max P3200 film box alongside the words, “Welcome back March 2018.”

Screenshot from the Kodak Alaris website.

Fortunately, it’s not just teasers and leaks anymore. The company followed up the unofficial news with an official announcement earlier today, saying it will begin shipping the product to US stockhouse dealers and distributors starting in March, followed by other markets “shortly thereafter.”

The company says the resurrected film is best suited for handheld street photography, as well as night shots and work in any “dimly lit venues where you can’t use a flash.”

Press Release

{PressRelease}

Kodak Alaris Revives KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Film / TMZ

Multi-Speed B&W Film to be Available in March, 2018

ROCHESTER, N.Y. February 23, 2018 – Kodak Alaris announced today that it is bringing back KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Film / TMZ, a multi-speed panchromatic black-and-white negative film. While the nominal film speed of P3200 TMZ is ISO 800, the “P” means it’s designed to be push processed to EI 3200 or higher. This film excels when shooting in low light or when capturing fast action. It is ideally suited for handheld street scene photography, night work, and in dimly lit venues where you can’t use flash.

“It’s no secret that we’ve been looking for opportunities to expand our portfolio” said Dennis Olbrich, President – Kodak Alaris Paper, Photo Chemicals and Film. “Darkroom photography is making a comeback, and B&W Film sales are clearly on a positive trajectory. Given these very encouraging market trends, we believe P3200 TMZ will be a great addition to our lineup”.

Kodak Alaris plans to offer KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Film in 135-36x format. Shipments to Distributors and Stockhouse dealers will begin in March in the U.S., with other regions around the world following shortly thereafter.

To learn more, please visit www.kodakalaris.com/go/profilms

Follow us on Twitter @kodakprofilmbiz and Instagram @KodakProfessional

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/kodakprofessional

{/PressRelease}

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Kodak Alaris launches revamped Moments app

12 Mar

Kodak Alaris has announced a major update to its Moments image sharing app, which allows for direct printing to Kodak Picture Kiosks and online ordering of print products. The company has added to the app what it calls visual storytelling capabilities. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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