Film News: Fujifilm Europe Selling off Film Factory
Ever wondered what it takes to manufacture film? Well now you can have a glimpse of the equipment used and if you have a few million dollars burning a hole in your pocket you can even buy it! Read on.
Fujifilm Europe ceased production of film at their Tilburg (Holland) facility back in 2006, putting the factory out to pasture. Prior to this the facility had been producing 200 million rolls of film a year apparently! Now, after letting the factory sit idle (you know, just in case) Fujifilm has decided to de-commission the facility and *gasp* sell off the equipment.
This comes as rather a surprise considering their reaction to offers for the peel apart film equipment in Japan (the equipment will be either dismantled or repurposed). It is notable how quiet Fuji are keeping about this.
The information is not clear as to whether it is the complete production equipment, or just part of the equipment, but I am sure that there must be some enterprising groups with funding that would be interested in getting their hands on this stuff. Just imagine getting a hold of some of this stuff and getting it churning out film again, though on a much smaller scale of course.
All of the equipment, including gelatin and emulsion production/installation machinery, roller conveyors, chemical storage tanks, paper presses and much much more will be for sale on auction in Holland next month.
Do you know any investors who might be interested in this? It would be really cool if we could see this go to a current/new film manufacture company.
Cheers
JCH
In the first picture it’s just the canteen’s kitchen… Weird.
Apart from this, that’s good news. Perhaps somebody will finally use those pieces of machinery. New film hopefully…
FERRANIA!
Hi, we use Fujifilm for our photo project with the homeless and under-resourced in our community. We distribute disposable Fuji camera’s asking them to take pictures of the beauty in their world. See website for details.
Do you know where we might find disposable cameras at cost or better?
Thanks,
http://www.unseenbeauty.org
If I could only remember my Swiss Bank account #… :-(
I have just had a wander around some UK-based s/h dealers’ web-sites and there seems to be an incredible & sudden shortage of medium format kit. It has all disappeared in the last six months or so. It would seem that the recent burst of enthusiasm for film is far from over. I wonder what the film sales figures will show for 2014 compared to previous years? Happy New Year everyone. :-)
I hope somebody like ilford will buy the facility and continue to make film so it won’t go away soon.
Ah yes, Fuji. The only film you seem interested in is Instax.
I guess the big producers are on the way out and the small producers are the future. It’s a shame Fuji’s decision didn’t come earlier when Ferrania announced it was making film again!