ILFORD sold to new company

[chris_livsey]

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No it's not. 

Yet, I think it may be appropriate to add.

 

Elsewhere it is confirmed by Harman that Simon Galley, known to many in the film world, has left the company completely.

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[earleygallery]

Yet, I think it may be appropriate to add.

 

Elsewhere it is confirmed by Harman that Simon Galley, known to many in the film world, has left the company completely.

 

I must say I've no idea who Simon Galley is or what he did at Harman - could you explain some more about him, his role, and what his departure might indicate?

 

Thanks. 

[sblitz]

No it's not my point is simply that there was some impetus to the rumor and the new owners will very likely cull the herd of available product

[chris_livsey]

I must say I've no idea who Simon Galley is or what he did at Harman - could you explain some more about him, his role, and what his departure might indicate?

 

Thanks. 

 

He was one of the six original management buy out team, he was sales director, he was active on film forums elsewhere posting on behalf of Harman answering questions, with patience, good humour and tolerance, he was prominent in organising the factory tours offered over the last several years which I had the pleasure of attending on one occasion. One of the public faces of Harman and a photographer himself.

What it may indicate is as I mentioned in my rather long post higher up is that skills in film production companies are likely to be lost as the  current people retire and the replacements are not immediately there as succession has not been well planned IMHO. I of course am aware that salesmen, non gender specific, are available generally and that a new approach from outside may bring benefits to the company. 

That production on the current site can continue is not in doubt, redevelopment plans may change that, but investment in plant will be required eventually and as film coating machines are not available new "off the shelf" the costs would be high. As I stated above the downsize and consolidation planned was costed at £100 million. I thought then and do now that it would take a confident backer to put that money down to make B&W film and coat paper. The market may lie in that inkjet paper as suggested by some but given how little is printed mass market I have doubts. The site redevelopment is the key I think and I understand Harman has 10 years lease remaining. Make of that what you will. It seems to me that on a personal level the buyout team have made the correct personal decision.

[earleygallery]

Thanks Chris for the info. 

 

I did look at a company report earlier for Harman and whilst they've been profitable, their turnover is circa £20M, which would make a £100M expenditure on the business seem 'challenging'. 

 

As you say, people skills are going to be a key requirement for the longer term future. 

[plasticman]

No it's not my point is simply that there was some impetus to the rumor and the new owners will very likely cull the herd of available product

It's four months since your 'inside' source said that PanF Plus was discontinued. Trying to tie that piece of retrospectively wrong information to this new and totally unrelated announcement is a bit desperate in my opinion. If I were you I'd rather let people forget you ever started that thread. (Though I guess if ilford finally decide to ditch the film in 15 years' time you'll be back to say "I told you so").

[sblitz]

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Absolutely. Especially if in 15 years I can still remember!

 

The point old plasticman is that the rumor came from someone with some industry knowledge that reflected earnings issues of some sort or another that culminated in this sale. The point isn't that I was right or wrong but the rumor signaled some sort of distress. Ilford said no and apparently that wasn't true. There were issues and they sold instead of culling their herd.

 

That's my only point. And from this take all pronouncements from the new entity with a grain of salt.

[pico]

I must say I've no idea who Simon Galley

 

 

He is Sales Director of European and Export Markets and on the technical team and he hangs out at APUG along with two other employees. I don't go there. Too many intractable insiders, but feel free. Mr. Galley seems to be a pleasant, approachable  gentleman.

[chrism]

I don't think Pan F will be the canary in the coal mine - think of the annual special cut film sale, when weird sizes of sheet film are available briefly. Many LF photographers with older and unusual cameras rely on that sale for their only supply of film, and it's hard to imagine it being profitable (they'd do it all year if it was).

[andybarton]

 

I edit to add that the site is NOT suitable for £5 million pound mansions, it is directly under a flight path for Manchester International airport (2Km away) and was a sticking point for housing permission.

 

 

 

Having recently moved house, I looked at a property about half a mile from the Ilford factory near Mobberley. 

 

The continuous aircraft noise was a deciding factor in dismissing it as a decent place to live.

 

A lot of the old Ilford site was sold for housing about 10 years ago, so there is a precedent for residential development in the village. It will be interesting to see what the planning appeal brings. However, if the new owners decide to move the plant out of the area, I doubt whether the majority of the staff will relocate with them.

[andybarton]

http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-west/147734-

 

Anslow said: "We have been tracking the performance of Harman for some time and are very positive about the potential we see. We've made this purchase with the intention of supporting Harman to achieve significant growth over the coming years.

 

"We are very excited by the potential of the analogue photography movement, and believe that Harman is uniquely placed to drive the resurgent film market into the future."

[sblitz]

I sure hope so!!!!!!

[Stealth3kpl]

More info in tomorrow's Amateur Photographer

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/250277-amateur-photographer/

Pete

[amro]

This makes me very sad. The management have done the right thing for themselves but the next generation? I'm not so sure. It's the beginning of the end. I've seen the same happen in my area of expertise - there are no apprenticeships or just school leavers taken on to learn the business.

 

The management buyout occurred in the first place because the management were film insiders and believed in the product after the inkjet paper people messed up.

 

These new people are interested in profits only - and don't know photography. Of course a company must make a profit, but all it takes is a bunch of accountants to throw in the towel and that's it. The head of Leica for instance, isn't just an accountant.

 

Anyway. Good luck to them. I hope they carry on for more than 10 years.

[Leica Fanatic]

I just hope the new owners don't try to do a 'Kodak' and move into the digital market !?!

[adan]

Huge difference. Kodak more or less invented digital photography (CCD manufacturing, Bayer pattern patent) with work dating back to the 1970's. First digital camera was built by Kodak engineer Steve Sasson (0.01 mpixels (100 x 100 pixel image), B&W, stored picture to tape) - 1975.

 

Ilford has never been anything other than a medium-tech chemical/coatings/paper company. Might as well worry about Kleenex™ going into the electric car business. Or Leica trying to enter the inkjet paper market.

 

Ilford in its various incarnations has produced inkjet papers - but paper is still paper. They clearly understand digital printing (printer profiles and color management). Their B2B coatings expertise may have applications in the silicon industries.

 

At the far edges of possibility, Ilford might rebrand a Plustek film scanner, with their own software, to add support to the film business. Although I'm not sure why - it would at best be a break-even prospect. They certainly don't have any expertise in high-tech hardware design and manufacturing to build their own.

 

And if nothing else, they have Kodak as an object lesson: "Hey, here's a company that crashed right into bankruptcy! Let's follow their business plan!!"