Kodak's predecessor was the Eastman Dry Plate Company, founded in 1881 by inventor George Eastman and businessman Henry Strong. As the developer of film, film and the first cameras for non-professionals, such as the Brownie and the Instamatic, the company remains one of the world's largest suppliers of film to both the amateur and professional markets. It has also entered other imaging-related fields, such as medical imaging, and remains committed to gaining a stronger foothold in the growing digital photography and digital imaging industry. The company was formerly known as the Eastman Company, which was renamed after the first foolproof film camera, the Kodak. When asked about this, George Eastman replied, "Linguistically, the word 'Kodak' is as meaningless as a baby's first 'goo'! -simple, abrupt, even a little rude, literally truncated at both ends by firmly uncompromising consonant letters that sound as dry as the shutter of the camera in front of you. Isn't that the best name ever!" The camera was such a success that the word "Kodak" was added to the company's name. On January 9, 1986, Kodak lost a patent lawsuit against Polaroid and withdrew from the instant camera industry. On January 13, 2004, Kodak announced that it would cease production of traditional film cameras in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. By the end of 2004, Kodak will stop making cameras using the Advanced Photo System and 35mm film. Film production will continue. These changes reflect Kodak's shift in focus to the emerging digital market. Since completing the acquisition of Clio in June 2005, Kodak Graphic Communications Group has officially entered a new era of digital graphic communications. At present, Kodak Graphic Communications Group has become the world's only large-scale multinational company capable of providing a full range of graphic communications products and services. Customers in the printing industry can get the widest range of integrated industry solutions and services in the world of Kodak Graphic Communications, ranging from the intelligent input, design, and output of graphic communications, to the management of the graphic communications process, remote management, and storage management, and a range of consulting and management products and services. The success of the merger and acquisition marks the success of Kodak Graphic Communications Group's transition to digitalization, basically realizing the transition from the traditional imaging industry to the digital graphic communications industry, and initially completing the strategic deployment of Kodak Graphic Communications Group in the digital field.
Eastman Kodak Company Since its founding in 1880, Kodak has been a leader in the global imaging industry, with a diversified business that encompasses all aspects of traditional silver halide technology and digital imaging technology. Today, Kodak is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of traditional and digital imaging products, services and solutions to general consumers, professional photographers, healthcare providers, the entertainment industry and other commercial customers. The company has four business units: Photography Division, Medical Imaging Division, Commercial Imaging Division and Components Division. Leveraging its technological strength, market scale and numerous industry partnerships, Kodak is committed to providing customers with innovative products and services that fulfill their needs for the rich information contained in images. Kodak's more than 120-year history epitomizes the evolution of the world's imaging industry.
In 1880, George Eastman, then a bank clerk, began mass-producing photographic dry plates using a patented technology he had invented, which became the predecessor to Eastman Kodak Company. In 1881, Eastman resigned from the Rochester Savings Bank and devoted all his energies to running his new company, while continuing to research ways to simplify photography. 1883 saw the invention of film, which revolutionized the photographic industry. With the introduction of the Kodak camera in 1888, Eastman laid the foundation for the popularization of photography. After several changes, Eastman's company changed its name to Eastman Kodak Company in 1892.
In 1880, George Eastman, a bank clerk at the time, began mass-producing photographic dry plates using a patented technology he had invented, which became the predecessor of Eastman Kodak Company. Eastman was so successful in the dry plate business that he partnered with businessman Strong the following year to form the Eastman Dry Plate Company.
Late in 1881, Eastman resigned from the Rochester Savings Bank and devoted all his energies to running his new company while continuing to study ways to simplify photography.
In 1883, Eastman invented film, and the photographic industry was revolutionized.
In 1888, the Kodak camera was introduced, and Eastman laid the foundation for the mass popularization of photography.
In 1889, Eastman Photographic Materials Ltd. was founded in London.
In 1891, Eastman built a photographic materials factory in Harrow, near London.
In 1896, Kodak became a major sponsor of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
By 1900, Kodak's sales network had spread to France, Germany, Italy, and other European countries.
In 1921, Kodak entered China and created a photo school. The event was reported in The Declaration. Declaration" on December 23, 1921, "Kodak photo company founded a photo school" article: Kodak photo company, recently in Jiangxi Road, No. 64, founded a photo school, three weeks after graduation, tuition and materials and equipment fees are exempted from the company has recently sent letters to the agents and photo museums, please send people to study the cloud. [2]
In 1976, Kodak developed digital camera technology and used digital imaging technology in aerospace.
On January 9, 1986, Kodak lost a patent lawsuit against Polaroid, and as a result, withdrew from the instant camera industry.
In 1991, Kodak had a 1.3 megapixel digital camera.
In 2000, Kodak sold only $3 billion in digital products, just 22 percent of its total revenue.
Kodak's product digitization rate was also only about 25 percent in 2002, while rival Fuji had reached 60 percent. That's a sharp contrast to the rate at which Eastman decisively abandoned glass dry plate for film technology 100 years ago.
On September 26, 2003, Kodak announced a major strategic shift: abandoning its traditional film business and shifting its focus to emerging digital products.
In January 2004, Kodak announced layoffs of 20 percent of its current workforce, or 12,000 to 15,000 of its then 70,000 employees in production and administration.
On January 13, 2004, Kodak announced that it would cease production of traditional film cameras in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
By the end of 2004, Kodak will stop making cameras using the Advanced Photo System and 35mm film. Film production will continue.
In January 2005, Kodak appointed a new CTO: William Lloyd, a 31-year technologist at Hewlett-Packard, who was dubbed the "Digital CTO".
On Friday, October 1, 2011, 131-year-old camera maker Eastman Kodak Company (EK) may file for bankruptcy protection. On the news, Kodak's stock plunged 68 percent in the U.S. stock market at one point during the trading session, marking the company's biggest one-day drop since 1974.
On Jan. 3, 2012, Kodak announced it had received a warning from the New York Stock Exchange after its average closing price fell below $1 for 30 consecutive days. If the stock price does not improve in the next six months, Kodak will face delisting.
On Jan. 19, 2012, Eastman Kodak Co. announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York in a bid to tide over a liquidity crisis and ensure that the business continues to operate.
On April 20, 2012, Eastman Kodak Company of America officially declared bankruptcy and is in the process of evaluating and auctioning its assets!