Press Release by Ilford today

When stumbling around Ilford's website today, I saw this press

release, relased today<br><br>

<a

href="http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/pr/pr_gt.html">http://www

.ilford.com/html/us_english/pr/pr_gt.html</a><br><br>

 

Reading through the middle section, it certainly seems to me that

they are looking to sell off the film-based aspects of company and

commit to digital media output interests.

 

Anyone with some spare change in their pocket?

It would be an interesting private equity play to take private their "traditional" business as a separate concern.

 

The way you make money in the investment world is staying rational when other people are panicking, and my view is that while traditional photography will be a smaller business, it will thrive for many years to come. So someone rational could probably buy that business at a huge discount in this climate.

 

I couldn't put a transaction of that size together myself, but I know a lot of people who could...

It does make it clear that they are presently still manufacturing and shipping product.

Well, they nearly cut the company in Half as far as employees. From 740 to 375. Prehaps they have only been doing enough business for a half company. It will be interesting to see if this huge 50% layoff corrects the profit issues. I still plan to stock up on Ilford products until I see some stability come about in the company. It would be a real shame if a company that has been in business since 1879 goes under. I know the inkjet business is good, but there must be a way to save the quality of Ilford Black and White business.

 

Have a great day !

With the billions of cameras out there - over a century's worth - there are bound to be a fair number of folks who want to continue to use film. My guess is that some smaller firm might see this as an opportunity. Let's hope they don't just jack up the prices.

<i>Well, they nearly cut the company in Half as far as employees.</i><p>

 

Yeah, probably like a guy that weighs 400lbs cutting his caloric intake in half feels like he's starving to death.<p>

I would guess part of the personnel cut was based on lower sales needing less people to produce the goods. But possibly a good percentage of the people were working on R&D which obviously ain't gonna happen at Ilford anymore.

I'm not sure R&D matters much for Ilford. What's their core, traditional products like Pan F+, FP4+, HP5+. Any time Kodak "improves" their B&W films, there's an outcry from people saying it's not as good as before.

 

Ilford's problem is not their market but their union, who'd apparently rather NO-ONE work there, than a smaller workforce. But hey, that's unions for you, they wreck everything they touch. If Ilford can break their's, all this hassle will be worthwhile.

unfortunately David Carper is a casualty.....

Yeah, it'll suck for those involved. I've been laid off myself before, so I know what it's like. But that's just the way of the world, if less money's coming in, fewer salaries can be paid. Try it any other way and you end up with North Korea.

"unfortunately David Carper is a casualty....."

 

If that's the case I am doubly sorry. Which other important photo materials company had a human voice, who wasn't even one-eyed?

 

Thanks David

More than likely... knowing British firms, getting rid of half the workforce was some manoeuvre to avoid pension liability or something similar while propping up (read here "kiting") the bottom line to attract buyers.

Some months ago I bought a De Vere 504 enlarger with an

outdated Ilford Multigrade 500H head, but no manual.

 

Feeling over optimistic, after experience with today's

economically rational corporations, I e-mailed Ilford Australia

who went to the lengths of finding a manual, photocopying every

page and posting it to me, all free of charge. This is, of course,

no way to succeed in modern business practice!

 

After tests, I switched to the fine Ilford papers, and now to Pan F.

 

Great company, great product, my wishes are with your survival.

 

Ross

"Ilford's problem is not their market but their union, who'd apparently rather NO-ONE work there, than a smaller workforce. But hey, that's unions for you, they wreck everything they touch. If Ilford can break their's, all this hassle will be worthwhile."

 

Guy,

As a union member I take offense to your statement. Unions are by no means perfect, but without unions, you would still have sweatshops,child labor, and a whole host of other problems. I DO hope that whatever happens Ilford films are around for a long time.

 

Gary

Now how about we put all our pennies together and buy the film part of the company?

 

Let's see a show of hands/money.

 

Chee - 20K

"Ilford's problem is not their market but their union, who'd apparently rather NO-ONE work there, than a smaller workforce. But hey, that's unions for you, they wreck everything they touch. If Ilford can break their's, all this hassle will be worthwhile."

 

Like Gary, as a trade unionist and proactive member of my employers workforce I get just a little pissed of at ignorant,stupid, thoughtless comments such as the one above.

 

My father and forefathers had to fight bloody hard to win me the rights that I enjoy today. The right to a 40 hour week, the right to have the weekend off, the right to have paid leave, the right to a safe working enviroment, the right to a clean changing area, the right to take a break every 4 hours and so on and so on. The fact is that the healthy, liberal democratic life that I enjoy today is entirely down to the labour movement and the unions.

 

I also find it completely increadible that while people here will question the union arrangement at Ilford, or pehaps I should say blame that arrangement along with the workforce while not understanding what it is, most seem very reluctant to question the mangement along with the venture capitalist owners. I get a funny feeling where the problem lies and I doubt it's the workforce.

 

Meanwhile if you want to understand unionism I suggest you read Orwells The road to Wigan Pier, then perhaps do a little research on the global economy and western employment practises in the third world.