Yesterday, Kodak announced it had "completed the sale of certain assets of its microfilm products and equipment business to Eastman Park Micrographics, Inc." Eastman Park is a Dallas-based entity founded by former Kodak executive and long-time document imaging entrepreneur William "Sonny" Oates. Basically, Eastman Park will be taking over all sales and distribution of Kodak microfilm and micrographics equipment. However, the film will continue to be manufactured by Kodak in Rochester and carry the Kodak brand name.
I caught up with Tony Barbeau of Kodak Document Imaging who indicated the move was designed to enable Kodak to focus more completely on its digital business - which is the strategic direction of the company. Kodak's document scanner and imaging business grew out of the micrographics business in the late 1980s and 1990s. In early 2001, we reported that Kodak's digital document imaging and micrographics businesses combined were approaching $1 billion - with digital sales poised to overtake micrographics sales for the first time that year.
Barbeau indicated that the sale would affect about 10 Kodak employees. He said that while sales of many forms of traditional microfilm are shrinking, archive, preservation microfilm sales continue to grow.
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19 comments:
I'm interested in the follow-up article on this. How can I get a copy of the premium issue?
Thanks
Rich:
I just sent a copy to your info@yourcompanyname.com
expect layoffs, no raises
It is the Sonny way
Kodak microfilm prices have risen significantly as a result of the transaction. AGFA film is a reliable alternative specifically formulated for the digital archive writers in today's market.
I've heard similar comments about service/maintenance contracts for equipment.
Thanks
As you have stated that about Kodak Sells Micrographics Business.I like very much Kodak microfilm and micrographics equipment.You are right that Kodak's document scanner and imaging business grew out of the micrographics business 2 decades ago.
I'm also interested in further information regarding Eastman Park. Have they begun trading yet, noting there website is still under construction?
Sonny oayes bought Browns River Bindery and the marotti company located in vermont in 2009. He combined the two companys and layed off over 50 people from the two companys.In 3 years of ownership he has given no raises and has kept using the excuse of the economy as to why no employee has recieved a raise in over three years. Upon laying off over 50 employees he has opened up a book restoration bindery in Dallas and is hiring workers for 7 dollars an hour in the fort worth area.Many of the Vermont employees that were let go had worked at the companys for ove 20 years.
Had to remove that last comment that was fairly disparaging to Sonny Oates. I've only once I think had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Oates over the years and absolutely could not reach him in regards to the formation of Eastman Park Micrographics -which, for the record now does have a working Web site: www.epminc.com. Mr. Oates is obviously a successful businessman - being ranked #63 on the list of the Dallas-Fort Worth area's most popular businessmen (one spot ahead of Dirk Nowitzki, of course the rankings were compiled a couple months before last year's NBA championship). But, like many successful people Mr. Oates certainly has his detractors. This 1999 article from the Dallas Observer compared him to a vampire.
Im not a fan of Sonny Oates. He buys company's and lays off senior workers and then rehires workers at entry level pay.
Eastman Park has AGFA making the former Kodak Imagelink Film. AGFA will no longer sell film under AGFA brand. Eastman Park is jacking up the prices on all the films. They are trying to create a monopoly. They are also going to destroy what is left of the micrographics industry as no one will be able to afford to buy film.
I'd say it would be counter-intuitive for EPM to destroy the micrographics industry. I would expect them to regulate prices accordingly.
Im not a fan of Sonny Oates..He buys companys and lays off senior employee's. Which in turn detroys their live's.Im talking about people who have worked at a company for 15 to 30 years. Sonny Oates comes in and buys the company. Oates stops giving annual raises. He lays off senior employee's and the remaining employee's he tells them that they have to start paying more for their health care. An example would be for an employee who worked for this company before Sonny bought it, who was paying about 150 dollars amonth for a health plan for a family of 3. After Sonny bought the company, this employee is now having to pay about nine hundred dollars amonth for his family health plan. This is what happened to employee's at a company that Sonny purchased.Sonny is Rich because he is a shrewd bussinessman. He takes and takes and takes with no regard to the people's lives he has wrecked.
When Sonny buys a company expect prices to rise. Sonny usually buys out competition as well. Look at for an example..Louisianna Bindery,Browns River Bindery,Marrotti company, Enduro Binders....These are companys that were once competitors in archival products and archival book preservation, they are now all owned by Sonny Oates.
glad everyone is talking about what Sonny Oates really is. Sonny does not work magic, he doubles maintenance, lays off senior people, hires low level employees, then sells the company. It takes years to rebuild the company with long hours for those of us left. Not magic, greed!!!!!!
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