Minilab News
FUJIFILM FACTORY STRENGTHENS PAPER CHAIN, SHOWCASES INNOVATION BPI News reports on what happened when a group of the UK’s leading pro labs visited Fujifilm’s impressively vast photographic paper manufacturing plant in Tilburg, Holland, witnessing the manufacturer’s innovations first hand and discovering silver halide technology alive and well
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ack in July/August 2017, BPI News reported on an initial visit by some of the UK’s leading pro labs to Fujifilm’s impressive 150-acre paper production plant in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Now another similar group from the UK photo trade has made the pilgrimage to the same site to bear witness to where the likes of Fujifilm’s Crystal Archive Photographic Paper is developed and produced, the media of choice for professional and hobbyist photographers due to the reverence for its exceptional quality and archival properties. The idea of the trip over to Holland was to provide Fujifilm’s customers with an insight into the manufacturer’s production methods and product development, allowing them to see first hand how the innovations they are offered – and in turn deliver to their customers – take shape. With the behind-the-scenes hard work showcased, as we learnt last time, one emerging and quite staggering fact is that the Tilburg site produces the Inspired by innovation: Experts from UK pro labs were wowed by the level of expertise and knowledge displayed by Fujifilm
photo paper on which over a third of the prints made worldwide are output. “It’s been fascinating to see all the processes used to manufacture Fujifilm photographic papers and to actually meet with the manufacturing team,” acknowledges Andy Ford, master printer at Brighton’s Spectrum Photographic. “It
with their own vast knowledge and skill sets to deliver stunning prints for their customers, time after time. And, not only does Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe BV produce a range of high quality photo papers, offset plates and membranes at the Tilburg plant; it additionally has its
It’s been fascinating to see all the processes used to manufacture Fujifilm photographic papers and to actually meet with the manufacturing team.” Spectrum Photographic master printer Andy Ford was very reassuring to witness so much technology, knowledge and innovation, particularly for digital C-Type printing.” Dressed in mandatory white overalls and blue hard hats, visitors were further reassured by Fujifilm’s obvious commitment to producing high quality products, which the experts at the UK’s independent photo labs can combine
own research facilities where the development takes place – enabling it to continue to innovate even as exciting new products are already being introduced to the market. Visitors were able to preview in person some exciting innovations scheduled for the future that could soon be available for them to utilise in their own photo labs.
To discover how Fujifilm can inspire ideas and help boost the profile and bottom line of your own store or minilab, 20 December 2019 / January 2020 | BPI News
www.bpinews.co.uk
