| Ilford Buy-Out From Harman Technology Limited |
 MELBOURNE, July 2005 – Ilford, Australia’s leading supplier of digital/inkjet products and photo printing technologies is pleased to announce a solid future for monochrome photography.Following a management buy-out of Ilford Imaging, the UK’s oldest major photographic manufacturer with 125 years in existence, Harman Technology Limited has acquired a package of all company assets and rights to the Ilford name and brand on all monochrome products (i.e. film, paper and chemicals). One of the first items on the agenda when the six-man management team took over (disappointing 21 other companies vying for the sale), was to confirm the complete monochrome range of films and papers would continue indefinitely, as with liquid chemicals. Managing director of Ilford Australia, Andrew Stewart, is also pleased to confirm that Ilford Photo has resumed the supply of powder chemicals including the world-famous ID-11 and Microphen powder monochrome film developers. Mr Stewart, said, “We are very passionate about black-and-white and are happy to be in a position to give this true medium a rebirth.” The future of monochrome has concerned black-and-white aficionados since the statement from Eastman Kodak that it plans to discontinue black-and-white paper. Ilford Photo recently announced its black-and-white paper, film and photochemistry stocks were at full levels. A chart showing Ilford equivalents for Kodak papers can be downloaded from the Ilford Photo website at www.ILFORD.com Howard Howard, Harman’s marketing director, said, “Our strategy in the monochrome business is to be the last man standing. Black-and-white is the platform to which we are all dedicated. Quite frankly, the rebirth of Ilford as a brand concentrating on this genre could not have been better timed.” In Australia, Andrew Stewart seconded this notion. “In view of the uncertainty that has existed in the monochrome consumables field recently, I am happy to ease the understandably nervousness of black-and-white enthusiasts with the relaunch and assured continuation of Ilford’s tried and tested black-and-white products. “Harman is concentrating on what it knows best, and is dedicated to facilitating the truly artistic form of expression created by black-and-white. It’s great to have our full range complete again with the highly anticipated reintroduction of the monochrome powder chemicals.” Ilford ID-11 is a fine grain film developer ideal for all general film processing requirements where fine grain negatives are required without loss of emulsion speed. Hopwood said, “We were very concerned that loyal customers who had used these tried and tested formulations for many years had been deprived of these high quality developers.” “From the customer feedback received, we knew we had to reintroduce these products as soon as possible. Our key priority was to ensure the quality and identical product performance, which we are satisfied has now been achieved.” Ilford Photo continues as the trading name of the director-created Harman Technology Limited, and is the brand which will be used for all monochrome products – film, paper and photochemistry. The Harman brand (drawn from the name of Ilford’s founder in 1897, Alfred Harman) will be applied to other aspects of the company’s business, such as thin-layer film and paper coating for non-imaging purposes, such as the medical sector. The lapse into receivership prior to the Harman takeover came at a time when Ilford’s Inkjet sales were growing at a successful rate but the crossover to black-and-white had not occurred in time, despite a keen interest being shown in monochrome photography among the young. While monochrome rights are held by Harman, trading under the Ilford brand, rights to the Ilford brand on non-monochrome products continue to be held by Marly. The Swiss company’s, now purchased by the Japanese firm OJI, site works co-dependently with Ilford’s UK site, and its manufacture of OEM inkjet paper has continued to be successful throughout. The successful outcome for new owner-directors Peter Elton, Andy Taylor, Simon Galley, Phil Harris, Howard Hopwood and Steven Brierley was welcomed by leaders in the UK imaging industry. International Contact reported “the most prestigious names in the U.K. imaging business had been continuously pressurizing the receivers both verbally and in writing to ensure the final outcome was what everybody desired, and did not culminate in the selling off of the site to some nameless developer.”      
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About Ilford
ILFORD has been a major player in the development and manufacture of photo quality media for both inkjet printing and for photographic processes, and will continue to be so as more and more innovative ideas are realized. As one of the leading manufacturers of photo inkjet media we are able to see trends and developments in the market place and tailor our R&D and manufacturing resources to meet that demand.
Since 2005 ILFORD Imaging Switzerland GmbH is a part of the Oji Paper Co. Ltd. The entire process of taking images has become much more immediate and, as digital camera technology has improved, the demand for photo quality output has increased: ILFORD has risen to this challenge and has become one of the world's leading manufacturers of inkjet media for desktop and wide format applications.
ILFORD has a world class manufacturing facility in Switzerland. ILFORD is selling photo quality digital media to world leading retailers, allowing amateurs and professionals alike to produce photo quality images.
Building on photographic knowledge and expertise, ILFORD has developed inkjet media that have the look and feel of traditional photographs. We are one of the few companies in the world to have integrated research and development initiatives for dyes, inks and coated media used in photo quality inkjet printing, all leading to award winning products.
The unique market position that ILFORD holds ensures that all our photo quality media are compatible with all the latest inkjet printer models and manufacturers.
As a manufacturer, ILFORD is able to offer the flexibility and professional quality products that are demanded in today's market place. Our customers can take comfort in the knowledge they are dealing with one of the world's leading manufacturers, know where to direct their enquiries, and are therefore delighted in the products and services only a company that has been in the industry for over 100 years can offer.
