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.