Kodak has prioritized its patent portfolio and the Eastman Business Park since it declared bankruptcy in 2012. Despite some success, the company might never live up to the legacy of its own past.
Related: Article: At Kodak, Clinging to a Future Beyond Film
Even though presumably most people associate the name with mass-produced consumer goods, it should be remembered that behind that was what was at its peak one of the greatest private industrial research labs in the world, turning out amazing technology that the management barely had a clue what do with.
I also have to give Kodak props for maintaining product quality through all the hardships and bad management. A roll of Portra or Tri-X is just as good now as it ever was. They’ve never cut corners there.
We purchased two chemistry (medical) analyzers from Kodak back in the 90s. Big, high volume machines.
They were based on film technology (layering chemicals on a carrying substrate).
The sales guy took us on a tour of the facilities in Rochester NY.
Massive complex beyond belief. That it could fail in such a spectacular manner was unthinkable to me.
One thing was noticeable; all employees had gray suits white shirts and ties. They affectionately labelled themselves as “Kodakclones”. Big Mistake. Too structured.
They were also very insistent on never using the “F” word. You know, Fuji.
The film was like the razor for Gillette.
K’s REAL business was the darkroom chemicals, for developing it. Unbelievably high margins, which cross subsidised the research, overheads & everything else.