Fujifilm

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation
Fujifuirumu Kabushiki-kaisha
富士フイルム株式会社
Public
Traded as TYO: 4901
Industry Document solutions
Digital imaging
Medical imaging
Cosmetics
Founded January 20, 1934 (1934-01-20)
Headquarters Midtown West, Tokyo Midtown
Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Key people
 Shigetaka Komori
(President & CEO)
Products Digital imaging and photographic materials, equipment and services, cosmetics
Revenue ¥ 2492.6 billion (2014)[1]
¥ 172.4 billion (2014)[1]
Number of employees
 79,235 (as of March 31, 2015)[2]
Slogan Value from Innovation
Website www.fujifilm.com

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, (富士フイルム株式会社 Fujifuirumu Kabushiki-kaisha), better known as Fujifilm or simply Fuji, is a Japanese multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo.

Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of business document solutions, medical imaging and diagnostics equipment, cosmetics, optical films for flat panel displays, optical devices, photocopiers and printers, digital cameras, color film, color paper, photofinishing equipment, photofinishing chemicals, graphic arts equipment and materials.

History

20th century

Former Fujifilm logo

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. was established in 1934 with the aim of being the first Japanese producer of photographic films. Over the following 10 years, the company produced photographic films, motion-picture films and X-ray films. In the 1940s, Fuji Photo entered the optical glasses, lenses and equipment markets. After the Second World War, Fuji Photo diversified, penetrating the medical (X-ray diagnosis), printing, electronic imaging and magnetic materials fields. In 1962, Fuji Photo and U.K.-based Rank Xerox Limited (now Xerox Limited) launched Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. through a joint venture.

From the mid-1950s, Fuji Photo accelerated the establishment of overseas sales bases. In the 1980s, Fuji Photo expanded its production and other bases overseas, stepping up the pace of its business globalization. Meanwhile, Fuji Photo developed digital technologies for its photo-related, medical and printing businesses.

Like its rival Eastman Kodak which dominated in the US, Fuji Photo enjoyed a longtime near-monopoly on camera film in Japan. By becoming one of the title sponsors of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (an opportunity that Kodak passed on), offering cheaper camera film, and establishing a film factory in the US, Fuji gained considerable market share there, while Kodak had little success in penetrating Japan. In May 1995, Kodak filed a petition with the US Commerce Department under section 301 of the Commerce Act arguing that its poor performance in the Japanese market was a direct result of unfair practices adopted by Fuji. The complaint was lodged by the US with the World Trade Organization. On January 30, 1998, the WTO announced a "sweeping rejection of Kodak's complaints" about the film market in Japan.[3][4]

21st century

The new millennium witnessed the rapid spread of digital technology in cameras. Demand for photographic films plunged in line with the growing popularity of digital cameras. In response, Fuji Photo implemented management reforms aimed at effecting drastic transformation of its business structures. Even as early as the 1980s, the company had foreseen the switch from film to digital, so "it developed a three-pronged strategy: to squeeze as much money out of the film business as possible, to prepare for the switch to digital and to develop new business lines." While both film manufacturers recognized this fundamental change, Fuji Photo adapted to this shift much more successfully[3] than Eastman Kodak (which filed for bankruptcy in January 2012). Fuji Photo's diversification efforts also succeeded while Kodak's had failed; furthermore Kodak built up a large but barely profitable digital camera business that was undone quickly by smartphone cameras.[3]

In September 19, 2006, Fujifilm announced[5] plans to establish a holding company, Fujifilm Holdings Corp. Fujifilm and Fuji Xerox would become subsidiaries of the holding company. A representative of the company reconfirmed its commitment to film, which accounts for 3% of sales.[6]

Subsidiaries

Fuji Xerox is a joint venture between Fujifilm and Xerox Corporation of North America. Fujifilm bought Sericol Ltd., a UK-based printing ink company specializing in screen, narrow web, and digital print technologies in March 2005.[7]

Company interrelation

Products

A Fujifilm blimp
A 100-foot tin of 16 mm Fujifilm
Fujifilm FinePix F30 camera
Fujifilm FinePix S5000

Photographic film

Cameras and lenses

Other

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Fujifilm Annual Report 2010" (PDF). Fujifilm Holdings Corporation. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
  2. ↑ "Company Profile for FUJIFILM Holdings Corp (FUJI)". Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  3. 1 2 3 Stay informed today and every day (2012-01-14). "Technological change: The last Kodak moment?". The Economist. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  4. ↑ "The Kodak - Fuji Rivalry |Business Strategy Case Studies|Business Strategy Articles". Icmrindia.org. 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  5. ↑ Fujifilm Global | About Fujifilm | News Releases
  6. ↑ Fuji Photo to diversify, shift to holding company system | The Japan Times Online
  7. ↑ Fuji Photo Film Acquires Sericol Group of the United Kingdom
  8. ↑ Everything but the kitchen sink
  9. ↑ "Fuji Astia 100F Slide Film Review". Nathangriffin.com. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  10. ↑ "Awards：GOOD DESIGN | 富士フイルムのデザイン". design.fujifilm.com. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

External links

Fujifilm F-mount DSLR timeline
Family Level Sensor 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234
Fujix Professional 2/3 inch DS-565
DS-560
FinePix Industrial APS-C S3 Pro UVIR IS Pro
Advanced APS-C S1 Pro S2 Pro S3 Pro S5 Pro
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, December 29, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.