HARMAN PHOTO What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
The story of Harman Photo is fairly straightforward. How it rose, like a Phoenix following a family break up is a little more complex but we’ll try to keep it as simple as we can. Most of the origin story of Harman Photo can be understood by reading the history of ILFORD Photo which you can find here.
Essentially, when the original ILFORD company went into receivership back in 2004, it resulted in two new companies, both able to use the brand name ILFORD! Ilford Imaging Europe is what remains of the original company and concentrates mainly on its Ilford Galerie inkjet paper products.
We can pick up the story of Harman Photo from its birth in 2005.
A RESPECTFUL NOD TO THE PAST
2004 was a sad year for what was one of the worlds oldest and most respected photographic businesses. Market forces had led to receivership and fragmentation of the original company.
From the ashes in 2005 came 6 shining knights in the form of former managers of Ilford Imaging UK Limited who formed Harman Technology Ltd, taking their name from the originator of the Ilford company way 1879.
Trading originally under the name ILFORD Photo, the business concentrated on Black & White photographic products in the existing film and chemistry portfolios as well as announcing that they would aim to bring back some old discontinued classics and introduce new products as soon as possible. As colour products were added to the product mix, it was decided that to avoid confusion, all colour products would be marketed under the brand name of Harman Photo.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT, THE FUTURE IS COLOURFUL
HARMAN technology Ltd was acquired by Pemberstone Ventures Ltd in 2015 and the traditional pioneering spirit is alive and well with company a thriving imaging specialist blending the traditions of manufacturing excellence with a passion and commitment to its customers and the future of analogue film photography.
With fresh impetus came fresh designs with the whole product portfolio of Ilford Photo and Kentmere Photo products having a packaging design revamp. Harman technology have continued to make significant investment in world class R&D facilities which, combined with their commitment to innovation has resulted in them becoming one of the world’s last remaining companies capable of producing high quality analogue products in an end-to end process of developing, coating and finishing.
Today, the Harman technology manufacture millions of units of film, paper and chemicals under the Ilford Photo, Kentmere Photo and, of course, Harman Photo.
LIKE A PHOENIX FROM THE FLAMES
The only thing missing from the broad portfolio of products was a colour film, but that would all change in 2022. A new project was launched with the aim of manufacturing a new colour reversal film. The result was PHOENIX, a 200 ISO C41 35mm processed film characterised by its visible grain and bright colours. The original has now been joined by a 120 version.
And with all that technological expertise at their fingertips, who knows what may be on the horizon. I suggest we all watch this space!
HARMAN PHOTO What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
The story of Harman Photo is fairly straightforward. How it rose, like a Phoenix following a family break up is a little more complex but we’ll try to keep it as simple as we can. Most of the origin story of Harman Photo can be understood by reading the history of ILFORD Photo which you can find here.
Essentially, when the original ILFORD company went into receivership back in 2004, it resulted in two new companies, both able to use the brand name ILFORD! Ilford Imaging Europe is what remains of the original company and concentrates mainly on its Ilford Galerie inkjet paper products.
We can pick up the story of Harman Photo from its birth in 2005.
A RESPECTFUL NOD TO THE PAST
2004 was a sad year for what was one of the worlds oldest and most respected photographic businesses. Market forces had led to receivership and fragmentation of the original company.
From the ashes in 2005 came 6 shining knights in the form of former managers of Ilford Imaging UK Limited who formed Harman Technology Ltd, taking their name from the originator of the Ilford company way 1879.
Trading originally under the name ILFORD Photo, the business concentrated on Black & White photographic products in the existing film and chemistry portfolios as well as announcing that they would aim to bring back some old discontinued classics and introduce new products as soon as possible. As colour products were added to the product mix, it was decided that to avoid confusion, all colour products would be marketed under the brand name of Harman Photo.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT, THE FUTURE IS COLOURFUL
HARMAN technology Ltd was acquired by Pemberstone Ventures Ltd in 2015 and the traditional pioneering spirit is alive and well with company a thriving imaging specialist blending the traditions of manufacturing excellence with a passion and commitment to its customers and the future of analogue film photography.
With fresh impetus came fresh designs with the whole product portfolio of Ilford Photo and Kentmere Photo products having a packaging design revamp. Harman technology have continued to make significant investment in world class R&D facilities which, combined with their commitment to innovation has resulted in them becoming one of the world’s last remaining companies capable of producing high quality analogue products in an end-to end process of developing, coating and finishing.
Today, the Harman technology manufacture millions of units of film, paper and chemicals under the Ilford Photo, Kentmere Photo and, of course, Harman Photo.
LIKE A PHOENIX FROM THE FLAMES
The only thing missing from the broad portfolio of products was a colour film, but that would all change in 2022. A new project was launched with the aim of manufacturing a new colour reversal film. The result was PHOENIX, a 200 ISO C41 35mm processed film characterised by its visible grain and bright colours. The original has now been joined by a 120 version.
And with all that technological expertise at their fingertips, who knows what may be on the horizon. I suggest we all watch this space!