Ilford B&W Products unaffected by New ownership at Ilford Imaging Switzerland

Iconic traditional Black and White photographic brand ILFORD is used by HARMAN technology Limited and is not affected by the recent changes in Switzerland

HARMAN technology, the company behind ILFORD monochrome traditional films and papers and HARMAN PHOTO inkjet papers will not be affected by the recent change of ownership at ILFORD Imaging Switzerland GmbH. HARMAN technology has a license from ILFORD Imaging to use the ILFORD brand only for black and white photographic products and manages the branded monochrome products from it’s UK base in Cheshire.

Steven Brierley, Marketing Director at HARMAN technology Limited, the company that saved the traditional line of ILFORD black and white products in 2005, commented:
“The new ownership of ILFORD Imaging Switzerland is good news for the imaging industry. From a HARMAN technology and ILFORD black and white perspective we are delighted that our former partner company is to be re-invigorated by the fresh impetus that the new ownership will bring.”

“Although many of our customers are aware of the separation from the Swiss business when HARMAN technology was founded, there are unavoidable aesthetic connections that meant we wanted to re-assure our customers any changes at ILFORD Imaging Switzerland will have no impact on ILFORD Black and White products or HARMAN technology Limited.”

Named after the original founder of ILFORD, Alfred Hugh Harman, HARMAN technology Limited was born five years ago when six managers of the struggling ILFORD Imaging UK Limited saved the ILFORD monochrome photographic business. The company also acquired the original ILFORD plant in Mobberley, Cheshire that has been manufacturing the products for decades.

Since this time, the ILFORD monochrome brand and the ILFORD inkjet brand have been separate entities and used by two individual businesses related by nothing other than heritage and a common brand.

In 2008, HARMAN technology also launched a range of real Baryta inkjet media under the HARMAN PHOTO brand and Inkjet RC Papers under the HARMAN Crystaljet Brand. These ranges of products have become leading competitors to ILFORD Galerie inkjet products over the past two years and are equally unaffected by any changes at ILFORD Imaging Switzerland.

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