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Photo Imaging

3.4 Manufacturers

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Manufacturers

Photo Manufacturers include producers of:
  • Cameras, scanners and printers
  • Film and Digital Memory Cards
  • Other Photographic and Processing Equipment
  • Kiosks
  • Photographic Supplies
While many Photo Manufacturers are international companies, often with only sales and marketing operations (rather than actual manufacturing) in the UK, the UK does host some manufacturing - for example, Kodak, Fuji and Ilford have factories here, although most have been scaled down in recent years and others have closed altogether. Thus the profile of domestic manufacturing has changed25 , with analogue equipment and photochemical manufacturing in particular being very much in decline. Globally there has been consolidation and retrenchment, and in the UK several manufacturers have closed or cut back operations, leading to job losses.

Industry Issues

The decline in sales of analogue cameras, equipment and supplies, and the increasing adoption of digital technology is presenting substantial challenges for UK Photo Manufacturing, reported by the Photo Imaging Council26 . The camera marketplace is becoming crowded, with 'traditional' manufacturers being joined by electronics, computer and even telecommunications companies. In particular, the rise of camera phones is an issue, as consumers perceive them to be free, whereas standalone digital cameras - which camera phones may well soon equal in quality - are not. Camera phones are expected to cause a substantial decline in sales of single-use film cameras.

The falling cost of digital SLR cameras presents a potential threat to analogue SLR sales, although digital technology has not yet come to dominate this market to the same extent as it has that for compact cameras. However, this could equally be an opportunity, as it may stimulate new demand for lenses and accessories.

Many smaller companies are finding their traditional analogue-related business is dwindling (for example, sales of laboratory and darkroom supplies) and are having to adapt in order to survive - by finding new products, services and markets or filling short-term niches vacated by larger companies.

In a rapidly changing industry, keeping up to date with camera and media developments is an issue for Kiosk manufacturers in particular, as they need to ensure their products can accept the vast array of media types available.

In addition, there may potentially be costs associated with the implementation of new European directives relating to waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances.


25   Photo Imaging Council Industry Overview, August 2005

26   Photo Imaging Council Industry Overview, August 2005
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