How do we get Ilford to take over on making Polaroid products. They seem very committed to analogue products. Polaroid are looking for a company to take over from what I read in a press release.
I think the title of this thread needs a question mark, as a statement it could be misleading!
Agreed, a question mark at the very least.
And... as much as I would love to see continued availability of Polaroid products, I'm not too keen on Ilford taking this up. Yes, they are commited; yes, it may seem a logical choice, but let's be honest, in the end, it's the money that counts. There's a reason for Polaroid ceasing production. 24000 APUGers, even if they would *all* shoot polaroid, is not enough to keep a full range of Polaroid products. At least, that's my guess. I wouldn't want to see Ilford going down again... One time is more than enough!
I'm just guessing here, there are people who have a much better grasp on sales, costs of production and all other numbers involved (I don't know how helpful the Polaroid company would be in providing their recenet figures?)... So, if HARMAN or any other company would want to look into this, I'm sure they can come up with a more funded conclusion...
And of course, I would be happy if that conclusion would be "we'll DO it!"
I think Fujifilm would be more likely to take it up because they already produce B&W and colour instant film (in pull-apart pack films and in integratal varieties). I'd hate to see Ilford go under purely because they tried to take on something they're just not set up to produce.
Everybody knows that the biggest issue with HIE making is quality control. On the major part of films, quality control is made with Infra red reading of the film surface. It's impossible with HIE. So kodak had a special plant for this film, with employees working in total darkness. This type of plant is not economically possible, now.
With polaroid clearance of all films, it's a part of photography that is going away. Lots of great photographers are still going using instant films and the loss of their working material is really a pity. So, whoever it is, if a company could make new instant films (I think Fuji could) it would be a great new.
Presumably, the problems of IR are also problems for Ilford with SFX. And as for working in darkness... Do you think they make HP5+ with the lights on? :-D. All panchromatic films require manufacturing in total darkness.
(Not suggesting IR sensitive films don't have their own special manufacturing problems - I was just rather tickled by the idea that normal film wasn't made in the dark. I seem to recall the lightswitch on the coating line at Ilford had three positions - total darkness for films, safelight for paper, and 'regular' for maintenance. I may be misremembering though.)
__________________ Another day goes under; a little bourbon will take the strain...
Ilford do not have a particularly significant footprint in the world photography market place, their products aren't mainstream and are only sold by more specialist photo stores.
On the other hand most towns and cities have many shops and stores selling Kodak and Fuji products, and so Fuji would be the only logical company to market Polaroid compatible alternatives, plus they already have all the technology.
It has to be realised that the market outside the North America and Europe is very different, where I live there must be a eight or nine "photo" shops, none sell any B&W materials or 120 film, but they all sell Kodak or Fuji consumer colour films.
So to think Ilford would want to even contemplate taking over manufacture of Polaroid materials is rather far fetched.
Presumably, the problems of IR are also problems for Ilford with SFX. And as for working in darkness... Do you think they make HP5+ with the lights on? :-D. All panchromatic films require manufacturing in total darkness.
(Not suggesting IR sensitive films don't have their own special manufacturing problems - I was just rather tickled by the idea that normal film wasn't made in the dark. I seem to recall the lightswitch on the coating line at Ilford had three positions - total darkness for films, safelight for paper, and 'regular' for maintenance. I may be misremembering though.)
Of course, all films are made in total darkness. But with panchromatic films, or near IR films, quality control is made autimatically, with an IR reader (I don't know the wavelength, but it is compatible with SFX, of course). So employees have not to work and to manipulate films in total darkness. Machines do it.
Sorry about the missing questionamark. I am sure that it is not worth the trouble for any company to continue Polaroids entire line of products, but I am sure that there must be a market for the 4x5" and larger products used for all the fancy artwork. That would limit the number of producst and make it easier for any company to continue this production. Who knows, Polaroid may even end up doing some limited productions from time to time for this market. I just hope that we can continue to get these product for many years.
Could Ilford make Polaroid? 
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