Forte issue?

[Aurelien]

Robert, you were this week in Hradec Kralové to discuss of the future of forte. So this is my question: what's going on?

Aurelien

[Jersey Vic]

Hello ? Anyone hear anything since the flurry of optimism a few weeks back?

[Aurelien]

I am sorry to tell you that Forte seems to be definitely dead.

[Fotohuis]

http://www.schwarzweiss-magazin.de/

[Ian Grant]

Translated by Babel Fish:rolleyes:

FORTE at the end

For 5 weeks the machines stand still with FORTE. After our information there is no hope that production is ever again taken up. The past years were too involving heavy losses, to largely the value of properties and the buildings. Whereupon it runs out now: one uses the area and the buildings or one tears her off. Depending on, who buys everything. FORTE of papers sold by several offerers under own name, also in Germany. From this circle there are efforts, with another manufacturer from the eastern European Union area a paper manufacture to leave, which approximates the popular Polywarmtone plus FB. This idea stands however completely at the beginning. It is still completely open, which from it becomes.

[Uncle Bill]

So translated, someone else (Foma perhaps) is going to try an clone Polywarmtone Plus FB, I heard a few formulations are off to Kentmere, the film business is dead in the water and the plant will be flattened for a shopping mall. That is unless someone makes an offer they can't refuse.

Bill

[aldevo]

Uncle Bill,

Back when Forte's closure was first announced Kentmere did tell the British Journal of Photography that they were taking a look at making a deal to produce some of the papers in the UK.

I don't think anything ever came of that. Certainly, at this stage, there has been no further news from Kentmere that I know of.

Have you heard anything concrete?

It does sound like somebody will have to buy the Forte "cow" outright in order for us to have the photographic "milk" - at least from Vac. That doesn't sound likely unless a general credit crunch emerges...At the moment, the present ownership seems content to sit on the property and let it appreciate.

Perhaps the papers can be produced elsewhere. We will have to see.

[Aurelien]

What I know is "some other paper maker will try to produce PW14 paper" but nothing is assured about cloning died Polywarmtone paper by Forte. When you take a recipe and make it in another kitchen, the taste is often different.

[Fotohuis]

Well I am busy with my last Forte PW14 paper on 50x60cm now and I hope we can bring back this paper soon on a very equivalent base again. But you're right about reproducing papers on another location with other equipment so in fact impossible to reproduce 100% exactly the same type of paper but I am sure we will be very close to it .

Best regards,

Robert

[aldevo]

Thank you for the update, Robert.

Is there any possiblity that the neutral-toned Polygrade papers may also be produced again under such an arrangement?

As always, your continued efforts on behalf of the analog photographic community are appreciated.