PQX Team

This signature collection was sent in by Rob Middleton who was a research chemist in Clark involved in various film product.         When I was first involved as the temporary and part time research director of film research laboratory, the first major project was to convert "random grain" film emulsion (which came from du Pont) to "cubic crystal" emulsion which became the mainstream technology of the industry for its more stable performance.         The first product, Rapid Access film was code named as PQX in the laboratory and when it became a product the code name itself became the product name.            The product launch was organized by Mike Adelman then the Film Product marketing manager very successfully and the PQX product became one of the major line of Polychrome products.           The success came in my humble opinion not by the outstanding quality of the product but by the excellent cross departmental launch team essential in modern product launch.      You will recognize many familiar names in the list from all the departments concerned, R&D, QC, production, marketing and sales.          Rob was able to decode the difficult handwritings and added typed note which was not in the original signature assembly.       Hope someone can recognize the last signature yet to be decoded! 

P

1997 Telephone Directory

We received internal telephone directory from time to time.      They were usually pasted on the wall of office or neatly filed for easy access.       In my case these were pasted on a note book and was carried around.       Some scribbles are my own handwriting.            How many names do you recognize?

Integration of Polychrome into Sun Chemical . ... from Mr. Iwata's book

DIC’s plan to integrate Polychrome into Sun Chemical was very complicated.      Polychrome produced more plates in Europe than in US.     When president Piot showed his plan to bring European technical staff to US and concentrate R&D effort, DIC technical staff stationed in Polychrome GmbH R&D loudly opposed his plan and accused him of his amateurish management.       Given this S Kawamura had to decide to retire J Piot.        Don Wheeler who came from McKinsey was picked to be the next president to ensure smooth  integration into Sun Chemical run by E. Barr.
At around that time there was an overture from Kodak, but DIC did not trust J Piot to be able to handle such a delicate issue.          In addition there was another issue of disposal of resin company Polychrome owned and it was run by a self promotiing "next president of Polychrome".      It was considered rather difficult to remove him.      And S.Kawamura himself needed to persuade him to go along with J Piot.

New Condo at old PC HQ

Ron Muzillo sent me his recent scouting report on the progress of old Polychrome HQ conversion to residential complex.        Appears to be a pretty big building covering both HQ ground and the next door (used to be someone's parking lot) .          Thanks Ron for sending the info and the photo.


I was in Yonkers this AM and stopped by the Polychrome Corp Offices and

the plate mfg facilities-I'm sending your pictures of the condo's that have

been built-you have to love waterfront property:

Ron M

Aug, 2018

And Ron writes further

You have no idea how big this is! I would guess at least 2500 condo's

from the Polychrome site down pass the Yonkers pier:

Ron M

PC Film Division old photo from Joe Broshowitz

Joe Broshowitz unearthed another photo ca. 1992 from gathering of film division.

He writes "Hello Ken-

I hope this email finds you and yours well. Found another old picture, circa 1992 of PC film division people. I’m sure you already recognize many. They include; Jack Weithoff, Bert Waxman, Viktor Tkaczenko (my mentor), Ed Wisniewski, John Raglione, Don Pollack. Al Garcia, Bob Burslem, Bill Meise, Bob Pierce, Doug Benham, CoreyMeitchik, Ed campanella and myself.

Wishing you the best-

Joe Broschowitz

Thank you Joe very much for your contribution.

How DIC came to bid for Polychrome (from Mr. Iwata's book)

In 1978, Mr. Shigekuni Kawamura was made new president of DIC with a mandate from his father-in-law and former president Kattsumi Kawamura to increase sales 13% annually and reach approx 1000 mil yen within 10 years.        He identified overseas expansion as the mean to answer  the challenge.        One product DIC had their eye on was the presensitized printing plate to supplement their ink business.        A several years back they had discussion with Hoechst to build joint venture company for production of presensitized plate in Japan.         The discussion crumbled as Hoechst wanted leadership in overall management of the joint venture company.        Just at this moment they learned that a French company Rhone Poulanc was interested in disposing their 40% holding of Polychrome shares.       DIC initiated conversation with Polychrome and agreed with Mr. Halpern that DIC would be a good partner to acquire this 40% share.           Rhone Poulanc, however,  tried to delay the discussion and then not only changed their initial plan to sell Polychrome shares but started to have a TOB (take over bid) to obtain majority of Polychrome shares.          In the TOB, Rhone Poulanc had advantage of already owning 40% but was unfriendly to the management.    On the other hand for DIC the situation was completely opposite.    TOB ended successfully for DIC at the price of $26 / share.         Mr. Iwata's note says that there was a secret meeting between Rhone Poulanc and DIC management in which only K and S Kawamura were present.         Mr. Iwata speculates the meeting may have been to discuss amicable settlement but he also suggests that this was part of Rhone Poulanc delaying tactics until they have developed their own strategy.

Mr. Hideshi Iwata, DIC

I first met Mr. Iwata right after the successful bid by DIC to buy most of the Polychrome share on the market and when members of Polychrome management visited DIC in Tokyo.

The president Shigekuni Kawamura was of course right in the center of bidding activity and was very visible to us.         But once we were in Japan, we were impressed by Mr. Iwata's behind the scene hard work.         I was very impressed to see him 7 am at the hotel with minutes of conference we had one day before with agenda for the day he prepared early in the morning.        This is of course after the customary sake-drinking at the official reception and follow up night expedition hosted by Mr. Kawamura into very late at night to which Mr. Iwata was present.         As the manager of oversea development department with the experience in financing he was the right hand man for Mr. Kawamura and supported him in expansion into overseas market.           Just prior to Polychrome, DIC bought Kohl and Madden, an American ink manufacturer, and afterwards Sun Chemical and Reichold Chemical and Mr. Iwata was right in the middle of financial arrangement.     He was made Vice President and director when he was 52, youngest ever at DIC and he quickly rose to Executive Vice President.

As Dr. Oe who built DIC's PS plant in Gunma and later became President of DIC often said, Mr. Iwata understood the need for speed in business and made a decision for his Gunma plant building needs without usual red tape ever present in large corporation like DIC. 

After his retirement he was diagnosed to have cancer of intestine and prostate.       Nursing his illness, he wrote his "letter from Hakone" in his Hakone retreat and sent out to his friends.        I was one of many, I believe, to suggest to publish it and he completed his manuscript shortly his death in 2005.

In his book, "Two presidents and I", he described background stories during Polychrome purchase.

I will translate some of them to upload in future.

 Mr. Hideshi Iwata

Two Presidents and I