FYI from Steve Simmons
UNITED KINGDOM: HARMAN technology Limited, the company behind ILFORD
PHOTO and HARMAN PHOTO, has announced the addition of Kentmere
Photographic Limited to its business. The move, which comes following
a period of extensive negotiations, is being welcomed as a good thing
for the brands involved as well as for the wider photographic community.
An interesting development (pun intended!) It should certainly strengthen Harman Technology Ltd.'s position in traditional photography. Something thats been a concen is that apparently Harman acquired Ilford but not title to the production facility's real estate. If Kentmere comes with the land then Ilford may have a home for production when that lease runs out, as well as a passel of great photo papers!
Thanks, Steve!
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White
I wonder what this means for Freestyle's agreements with Kentmere to rebrand their products as Arista. I hope Ilford does not kill Kentmere products like their MC FB paper. It is different than Ilford and very nice.
Well, here is an answer to one of my questions, for now anyway:
"Following the buy-out, HARMAN is keen to stress that the Kentmere brand will remain relatively unchanged. It will continue to offer the same resin coated and fibre based monochrome papers and inkjet products, including Opaljet, whilst employing the same marketing approach."
This from Ilford's press release.
I see this as really bad news. We've lost Document Art (probably for ever now) and I can't see a pack of gold diggers like Harman continuing to produce POP. A sad day!
Pete.
Crap, up goes the prices, sure the product might remain unchanged but sure enough some excuse or any excuse to up the price is most likely in the works. Sad, very sad.
Neither Ilford nor Kentmere is making POP paper as far as i know. I wish they didI see this as really bad news. We've lost Document Art (probably for ever now) and I can't see a pack of gold diggers like Harman continuing to produce POP. A sad day!
I think Kentmere still manufactures Centennial POP, distributed in the US by Chicago Albumen Works.Originally Posted by Jan L Pedersen
Kentmere DO make POP as far as I know. I understand that due to certain problems it's not made all year round, but they make it.
Pete.
Did we lose Document Art because of a decision on Kentmere's part or because of the availability of the paper base? I know that Charcoal R was discontinued because the paper base became unavailable, and this happened with some of the other special surface papers they were making.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks