Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/06/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tom, probably mainly known to Australian LUG members, Kodak some time ago closed their facility for Kodachrome processing (six weeks turnaround for Swiss processing) and ceased importing the film here. The closed facilities also included all paper and chemical manufacture. This was after large Government tax assistance was accepted to keep the plant open, which just delayed the closure. Several of us still have the letter from Kodak, sent to users of the processing. I think of it whenever I make a brand decision when buying film. Certainly transparency and black and white film users will only now be a subset of an already niche market. However a number of photographic concerns are making a living servicing that niche. For big companies, I think there are considerations regarding loyalty in both directions, market presence and flagship products. Plan B is ignore that traditional customer base and those products, and your self fulfilling prophecy is guaranteed. Still, only 20 million people in Australia, there'd never be enough niche customers to retain, now would there? Did I read correctly that the Swiss plant only employed 20 people and that USA processing is currently outsourced? Regards Hoppy Astia and Delta in my gadget bag -----Original Message----- ------------------------------ Message: 22 Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:38:51 -0500 From: Tom Westbrook <tom@tomwestbrook.com> Subject: [Leica] Koachrome lab to close in Europe To: lug@leica-users.org Message-ID: <44A56FBB.8080403@tomwestbrook.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed /June 30, 2006 Kodak is to close its European Kodachrome 35mm film processing plant in Switzerland and move operations to the United States, just weeks after denying rumours of any such plans.../ http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Kodak_closures_spell_job_losses_ne ws_87785.html or http://tinyurl.com/ezt2a Tom* * ------------------------------