Continuing our film discussions of the past---
Kodak plans to reduce costs, find new markets
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/6592492.htm
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Grappling with the rapid rise of digital photography,
Eastman Kodak announced yet another reorganization Thursday aimed at cutting
costs and accelerating growth in consumer and commercial imaging.
Kodak hired Hewlett-Packard veteran James Langley to run commercial-
printing operations, a new business that reflects Kodak's struggle to find
new markets to compensate for the slump in sales of traditional,
chemical-based film.......
The consumer and professional photography businesses, which account for
about 60 percent of Kodak's annual sales of $12.8 billion, were consolidated
last month in an effort to pool resources.
The switch by consumers to digital photography is coming on faster than
expected, cutting deeply into the film, paper and photofinishing businesses
that anchor Kodak's profits and image. Industry analysts say that by the end
of the year, digital cameras will begin outselling film cameras in the
United States for the first time.
Kodak is slashing 4,500 to 6,000 jobs this year, shrinking its global
payroll to around 62,000 from a peak of 136,500 in 1983. Kodak blames the
three-year slump in film sales largely on a sluggish economy and the rise of
filmless digital cameras.
About half the cuts, mainly in the traditional-photography divisions, will
be made in Rochester, where Kodak is based and employs about 22,000 people.
Three weeks ago, Kodak said it is shifting its 35 mm film-finishing
operations to Mexico and China and eliminating as many as 900 jobs in
Rochester.
yours looking around for replacements,
Garry D. Lewis
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