Postby Mick Fagan » 23 Oct 2021, 14:44
I think that this time around, the reduction in available films is driven by the unavailability of chemicals, not the economic feasibility.
Kodak, Fuji and Ilford have been heavily hit by chemicals and base product no longer available due to EU regulations. To a much lesser extent, Adox also had some supply issues, but as far as I know they are now running along quite nicely.
In the business world for some years now, chemical companies worldwide have been changing mainly due to new, read; restrictive laws coming into being. This has been felt the most in the EU market, which, along with the US market, are the biggest colour film markets going.
Kodak had the ability to become one of the worlds biggest chemical manufacturers, their patent list read like a who's who of inventions.
Fuji also had an incredible list of chemicals that they invented and manufactured, by utilising this inventory of stock lines and inventions, they have re-invented themselves mainly as a chemical company manufacturer and supplier. Film manufacturing is super important to them, mainly as a legacy product and how they made their name and fortune, but they decided not to manufacture anything, unless it made money, or at worst, was revenue neutral. This has been a tough thing, but it meant the company as a whole, survived and is thriving.
Last time I was in Germany, I had a lengthy discussion with one of my wife's nephews. He lives in Germany but works in Switzerland, has a doctorate in chemistry and works for a huge chemical company. He also knows a few people who worked for Fuji and Kodak in their respective chemical R&D departments; everyone in the chemical manufacturing business is in the same boat, as far as I understood him. Meaning products sometimes disappear because of legislation changes in one or more markets, whether they are liked or not.
Neopan 100 (Acros) is a wonderful product, but Neopan 400 was brilliant. However if you look at my film refrigerator, they are both still brilliant!