Friday, February 21, 2014

Clark, our film plant

Our Clark film plant was patterned after  duPont factory.        Du Pont was till then dominant in graphic arts film market with their quick developing characteristics.        The market was, however,
  changing at the time of Clark facility construction. ( or modification as the building was already there.)  Instead of hand/tray development,  automatic film processors are increasingly installed.       Both Kodak and Fuji Film adopted slower initial development speed in favor of consistent overall quality.      Our R&D effort in early 80's centered around realigning base technology to more stable Kodak type emulsion as well as emerging high quality rapid access type film.       Now after 30 years, all these memories are blurred and even the film itself disappeared in favor of the digital technology.       Clark facility was closed soon after the joint venture with Kodak in 1998 and the facility reverted back to a commercial rental property.         I have looked and looked but found only this photo of Clark / Clark Tech Center.        Mr. Mizuno, from Process Shizai , is shown posing in front.