The consumer shift away from traditional photography towards digital products and services has led Eastman Kodak to close a plant in Australia and announce huge redundancies at its manufacturing sites in the UK and France this month.
The Australian plant, located in Coburg, Victoria, primarily manufactures colour photographic paper. Around 600 workers will be affected by the closure, happening at the end of November. Despite this, Kodak insisted it remains committed to the Australian market and will continue to offer traditional and digital imaging services and products.
As many as 870 workers will be made redundant at the British and French sites as part of a three-year restructuring plan to reposition the company in a market geared more towards digital photography.
Kodak SVP Daniel Meek said: "These are very difficult actions because they impact Kodak people who have for decades demonstrated great skill and an unwavering commitment to serve our customers with quality products, but they are required in light of declining overall demand for traditional photographic products."
Rochester (NY)
