Oh yeah...

Kodak spun off Eastman Kodak Chemical into Eastman Chemical a few years back. They produce the chemicals used by Kodak (and others) to make and develop film, photographic-process paper, and so on. But as the film-photography industry has sagged, so has the need for raw chemicals.

Now comes this news:

http://deltafarmpress.com/news/060216-biodiesel-arkansas/

Chemical company goes with biodiesel
Feb 16, 2006 9:00 AM
By David Bennett
...
“At that time, we were part of the chemical division of Eastman Kodak. We made photographic and other chemicals for the company.”

In 1994, Kodak spun off its chemical division and set it up as an independent company, Eastman Chemical. Today, the Batesville plant has roughly 408 employees. Only a fraction of the plant site’s 2,200 acres is in use.

“We specialize in chemicals and have for 25 or 30 years. In a year’s time, about 35 to 40 different chemicals come off our site. We sell those to around 200 customers around the world. We bring in raw materials from around the world and also ship around the world.”
...
At one time, the plant had over 700 employees. Every company building was “pretty much” filled with production and product. Today, the plant has too much unused capacity.
...
Last October, the Batesville site was able to produce 3 million gallons of biodiesel annually. Since then, the company has added reactors to the production line and is now able to produce 6 million gallons per year. By mid-2006, McDonald says, capability will be up to 15 million gallons annually.

See, this is important (and not just because biodiesel is way cool and way ontime for the recent State of the Union address where President Bush indicated that alternative fuels are a high priority for the US in the near term. It is also important for photographic reasons. There are those who say that when Kodak, Fuji, et al, finally quit the film manufacturing business, other companies will step into the gap and produce film instead - albeit on a smaller scale. It won't happen, and here's yet another reason why - there won't be any raw chemical manufacturers to support such an operation anymore.

Glad to see Eastman Chemical moving on. They've got a shot at survival.

Smooches,

Wiggy

PS - Here's an interesting blog entry on the subject of Kodak survival:

Show Me The Money - Eastman Kodak - Sinking or Surviving?

posted by Unknown at 1:25 PM

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