ILFORD´s history

ILFORD was founded

by Alfred Hugh Herman as Britannia Works, who produces gelatin plates in the basement of his home.

Britannia Works Co. ltd.

she became as Britannia Works Co. ltd. accepted.

Alfred Harman

(then 50) abandons his line for health reasons but has provided his expertise and experience over several years.

ILFORD Limited

The Company name was changed to ILFORD Limited, after the city of ILFORD in Essex, England, where the company was based in 1902.

WWII

Ilford’s factory was hit by an air raid in London during World War II.

ICI

Member of the world’s leading chemical company ICI.

Swiss Ciba

The Swiss Ciba (Ciba) acquires part of Ilford’s portfolio and begins commercial development of a printing material based on the silver dye bleaching process (direct printing material for positive films). The original product name was Cilchrome (Cillchrome) and “Cil” was named after the initials of Ciba, ILFORD and Lumiere, but eventually the product name was Cibachrome. Ciba absorbed Lumiere and Telko together with ILFORD. Ciba has built in Marly (Marly), a suburb of Freiburg (Friborg), a plant for coating Cibacrome (1992 renamed ILFOCHROME). The former Telko factory in the center of Friborg served as a processing plant.

ICI and Ciba

ICI and Ciba all acquire shares in ILFORD.

Ciba

Ciba acquires all ILFORD shares held by ICI and becomes sole owner of ILFORD Limited.

Ciba-Geigy

Ciba merged with JR Geigy to Ciba-Geigy.

Lumiere

Lumiere, acquired by Ciba in 1962, is recognized as ILFORD France. Lumiere Imaging continues today and is a major ILFORD agent in France.

International Paper

That in the USA-based International Paper, which owns the printing material manufacturer Anitec, acquires ILFORD.

ILFORD Anitec

The merger of ILFORD and Anitec and the renaming in ILFORD Anitec.

Cibachrome

The name Cibachrome needs to be changed because the relationship with Ciba-Geigy has been resolved. The new name ILFOCHROME Classic (Ilphochrome Classic) was announced at this year’s PMA in Las Vegas.

ILFOJET

Ink jet photo paper “ILFOJET” for large format printers – market.

ILFOSTAR

Sales and Administration move from London to Moberly, Cheshire. Market launch of the large-format inkjet printer “ILFOSTAR” and the high-strength dye ink “Archiva Ink”.

Doughty Hanson Co

International Paper sells ILFORD to Doughty Hanson Co.

ILFORD Imaging Ltd.

ILFORD Limited changed its name to ILFORD Imaging Ltd. Introduction of the PRINTASIA Inkjet Photo series and entry into the consumer inkjet market.
Laminated film “ILFOGUARD” published.

GALERIE Inkjet Photo

Publication of the GALERIE Inkjet Photo series.

125th anniversary

ILFORD Imaging celebrates its 125th anniversary.
A separate company, ILFORD Imaging UK Limited, is controlled by the bankruptcy trustee.
The name of the media for water-based large-format printers for inks has changed from “ILFOJET” to “OMNIJET”.

GALERIE Prestige

Fine Art Paper Series changed the name “GALERIE Prestige”, strengthening the cotton paper like a line-up.

OMNIJET Nanosolvent & ILFOPROOF

Ultra-fast drying photo paper for solvent ink “OMNIJET Nanosolvent” series started.
In May 2014, the ILFORD brand and related assets were acquired from Chugai Photographic Chemicals, Inc., Japan, and CR Kennedy Company Pty Ltd, Australia. Foundation in the ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH Germany. Released proofing medium “ILFOPROOF”.

ILFOJET

Latex and solvent ink media “ILFOJET” series released.
Released media series “KIOSK Roll” for inkjet mini lab.

L-26 PRO

Table laminator “ILFOGUARD L-26 PRO”, which has come on the market.
The sublimation transfer system “ILFOCHROME” has been published.

FineArt Printing Solutions

Published new product range: GALERIE FineArt Printing Solutions.

140th anniversary