posted 07-18-2004 12:59 AM                       

• Qualex, Fair Lawn, NJ, USA
• Dwayne's Photo Service, Parsons, KS, USA
• Kodak, Lausanne, Switzerland
• Horiuchi Color Lab, Tokyo, Japan
• KJ Imaging, Tokyo, Japan

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NOTE: KODAK is now using Dwayne's Film Lab for their USA K-14 processing.

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posted 07-19-2004 02:48 PM                       

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Kodak closing eight labs because of decline in film processing

Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., will close seven film processing labs around the country and an eighth lab will close in January, verified Kathy Rauschenberg, director, Public Relations, Kodak Digital and Film Imaging Systems. Rauschenberg says the reason is partly because traditional photofinishing is declining. In addition to the closings, there will also be some changes in the amount of turnaround time for traditional photofinishing, she says.

"To reduce costs and remain profitable, we are moving our customers to a two-day delivery, six-day pickup," Rauschenberg explains. "As a result of those two factors we are able to consolidate the volume in fewer labs."

The remaining wholesale labs can handle both the traditional photofinishing, Rauschenberg says, as well as handle any growth in digital printing.

Regarding the change in service for customers, Rauschenberg says Kodak did some analysis and found fewer than 30 percent of consumers who ordered the overnight processing service actually picked up their prints the next day.

"We don't feel like the move to a two-day turnaround will affect consumers greatly. We feel they will still be satisfied with the service they get," she explains.

Rauschenberg noted the Perfect Touch Processing service has always been a two-day service and that will not change. Perfect Touch Processing was launched last year, she says.

"I think the changes represent the company's need to accelerate growth for our digital products while examining how the traditional business is going and making changes appropriately," Rauschenberg explains.

Among the eight lab closures was the company's Fair Lawn, N.J., facility, which is known as Kodak's last Kodachrome processing lab. Kodak representative Charles S. Smith advises, however, seven-day processing service of Kodachrome will be uninterrupted. "Kodak has entered into an agreement with an outside lab to provide the service," he explains.

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