Link for Ilford news (recent)

[ISO 2]

Some of you might have already seen this:

http://biz.yahoo.com/deal/040825/ilfordswapsblackandwhiteforred_2.html

For anyone else waiting for Ilford supplies in the UK, after a week or two of dismal news about the state of Ilford's plight, I feel like I can breathe again as my suppliers specify a likely date of arrival for film, instead of being told to come back when some news breaks out.

[ISO 2]

Oops.

Sorry wrong link.

Try:

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/News204.html

[Andrew O'Neill]

Well, it looks like Ilford's going to be okay. I hope so!

[Brian Vuillemenot]

Ironical?!?

[Michael Kadillak]

Fabulous News! Now that Ilford has made it official that they have started the financial process of seeking bankrupcy protection and can continue to make product available our concerns are greatly diminished. We are not yet in the money per se because a buyer still needs to be found but at least the process has begun. Surely given interest rates and the market share that Ilford has maintained even with the recent hit someone will step up and give it a go.

Not excited about cash transactions needed to re-stock, but such are the issues for cash flow that eminate from the courts. We just have to deal with it so if your local supplier of Ilford products balks about accomodating you, consider the pre-pay route to assist them work through the credit gap.

The ball is in our court so it is time to re-stock your Ilford requirements. I ordered 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 film last week.

Cheers!

[Eric Jones]

One of the definitions of ironical is: Poignantly contrary to what was expected or intended

So yes, the author was saying that it is sad and poignantly contrary to what was intended, which was a celebration of 125 years of business. And to those who do not see the poignancy in lay offs and great products disappearing from the shelves, poignancy also has way to many meanings, from: Physically painful, Keenly distressing to the mind or feelings to Profoundly moving or touching.

All definitions courtesy of www.dictionary.com. Also, this post is intended to all of those who are/were befuddled by the authors sentence, as was I.

[Bob._3483]

This year is Ilford's 125th anniversary of producing photographic materials and it has been celebrating the fact - it may also be its last. Hence the irony: the juxtaposition of celebrating your birth just as you (hopefully not!) die.

Although I would have preferred "ironic" to "ironical" (they are synonyms) that's just 'cos I am lazy and don't like the current trend for adding syllables to the end of words... (OT: on the other hand, any other Brits noticed that the word "slippery" has almost universally become "slippy" in the last few years?)...

I saw this on the Silverprint site today too as I was preparing a list of purchases.

Unfortunately Andrew, you can't draw much more conclusions from this than the fact they have stock and are running at least some of the production lines. The fact they want cash with order suggests they are still in trouble with the bank as they will be unable to borrow much, which is one reason why they need payment up front. The good news is that it suggests they are confident of paying the wages of the workers left for a while at least.

Here's hoping. Cheers.

[ISO 2]

It's hard not to feel quizzical as to why North Americans get befuddled about syntax and grammar.

Bob: Ilford's previous supply to independent photographic retailers has always been headed for disaster (imho). Ilford UK has traditionally supplied wholesalers who only distribute to independent retailers when orders are placed. It's bad enough that independents have a tough time competing in a digital market, as well as against offshore warehouse internet retailers who undercut their economic survival margins. Most independent retailers don't have sufficient financial reservoirs to hold slower moving lines, such as sheet film, with idiosyncratic consumer demand in mind. Thinking about this, Christopher Nesperos's posting on boycotting digital, proposing buying film on fixed rotation during the month makes more sense to me now: in the context of supplying a regular demand to the independent retailers who then order Ilford film.

It would send out a strong enough financial smoke signal to the big tee-pee over in Ilford headquarters perhaps.

I've been sleeping terribly lately since Ilford's announcement, but not tonight.

Good night!

[evan clarke]

The core problem remains the capacity of Ilford's coating machinery and the relative amount of sales. They have 3 coating machines with the capacity of about 85 million square yards per year each. These machines need to run around the clock and if the sales cannot keep them running will not be commercially viable..Evan Clarke

[Philippe Gauthier]

From what I gather from the discussions on the Ilford site, the UK plant was actually shut down for a week or two; operations have resumed, now.

There also are lay offs in the US and you'll be sad to hear that two people well known to the community are among the casualities:

source: http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/ILFOPRO/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6144 --------

On a personal note, I'm sad to say that both myself and David Carper are casualties of the job cuts. My last day is September 17th- it's been a great 25 years here at ILFORD. It's been fun woking on this forum too, and talking with you all. Kind regards, Wendy Erickson Marketing Communications Manager

wendy.erickson@ilford.com ------------