"A product portfolio less dependent on silver"

[BetterSense]

For 2011, the company is taking aggressive action to improve the operating results from these businesses. These actions include capitalizing on Kodak’s market-leading position through a continued focus on unsurpassed quality and service and the introduction of innovative, new film products; continuing to aggressively reduce costs in line with industry decline rates; and taking aggressive actions to mitigate silver pricing volatility, including the implementation of an indexed pricing model for key products and a transition to a product portfolio less dependent on silver.

What could that possibly mean? Is there really any way to reduce the use of silver? Use smaller formats?

[brucemuir]

They mean getting out of the film business period, or at least cutting MORE film/paper products.

[BetterSense]

well, I should have quoted the whole thing. The whole paragraph is speaking specifically to the film, photofinishing part of their business.

[lxdude]

How about providing a link, to help with context?

[brucemuir]

perhaps they are talking a more sensitive grain structure (like t grain?) or something.
we already have seen sheet films diminish

i just know I will be real upset when Trix in 120 goes,
hate to be a bummer but...

[Kevin Caulfield]

Let's support Ilford and Fuji and the others who don't feel "dependent on silver".

[brianmquinn]

"This forum is NOT for rumors and speculation"
Let us keep it that way.

[2F/2F]

Perhaps it means going to T-Max films alone, and/or designing new papers.

I wonder if there is a way the manufacturers could set up a way that we all could donate the reclaimed silver from our spent fixer back to them (or sell it back at a lower rate than they normally pay for it), or if this would even help them. If you figure that over 50 percent of the silver in the average piece of film or paper gets removed (and dumped down the drain by most people, it would seem from several old threads here), that is quite a substantial amount of silver that will never be of any use to humans ever again.

[BetterSense]

Someone else mentioned that color technologies are less silver-dependent than B&W ones because all the silver is bleached out and can be reclaimed. Of course this directly benefits the photofinishers and not the person buying the film but one can assume the effect would trickle down somewhat.

Link to the statement on Kodak website

http://kexmd.kodak.com/eknec/PageQue...oreLocale=true

[jnanian]

it is in the paragraph after the one you quoted:

"In addition, Kodak is leveraging its expertise in materials and chemical science and coating technology to expand its participation in large industrial markets around the world, including printed circuit boards, industrial printing, and gelatin for pharmaceutical and other applications. As volumes decline for traditional photographic products, Kodak plans to increase sales in these new markets to mitigate the decline by repurposing existing technology and assets."