245:
591:
457:
still retains the license rights to the Agfa-Photo brand. InovisCoat brought together technical expertise in film emulsions and coating with acquisition of one of the former
Leverkusen wide coating machines for film production, and a smaller narrow coating machine for testing, relocated to new premises in Monnheim on Rhein, the new smaller scale facility capable of multi-layer film coating for both photographic and other applications. It undertakes the manufacture of coated films for a number of companies including
607:
555:
579:
169:
483:
627:
453:, based in Monheim am Rhein, Germany to offer products for the film industry under the traditional brand “ORWO”, both companies sharing AGFA heritage. In particular the new ownership structure with Filmotec and InovisCoat together with a number of other companies unites the ORWO brand, its Intellectual Property, Recipes and Research & Development with film manufacturing capabilities for the first time since ORWO AGs liquidation in 1994.
410:
567:
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27:
224:. As the plant was located in what was to become the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, the US forces then handed it over to the Soviet military administration, which dismantled large parts of the plant and moved it, with key German staff, to Svema in Shostka, Ukraine, where it formed the basis for the Soviet colour film industry.
252:
On the last day of 1953, Agfa Wolfen was returned to the GDR by the USSR as one of the last reparations companies. At this time the company still shared the AGFA trademark with Agfa
Leverkusen and both companies produced films under the AGFA brand with the same names, such as Isopan F. To distinguish
146:
The partition of
Germany after the Second World War saw AGFA divided, into Agfa AG, Leverkusen in West Germany, and VEB Film und Chemiefaserwerk Agfa Wolfen in East Germany, which later adopted the brand ORWO. The company was privatised in 1990 as ORWO AG, but film production ceased at Wolfen in 1994
256:
In 1953 in a trade agreement it was agreed that VEB Film- und
Chemiefaserwerk Agfa Wolfen would have the sole rights to the AGFA brand in Eastern Europe and Agfa AG, would retain sole rights to the AGFA brand in the rest of the world. This hampered Wolfens exports and therefore after 1964 films from
456:
InovisCoat was founded by former employees of the consumer film division of Agfa-Gevaert, with its film coating plant based at
Leverkusen, Germany which was spun off into a new company Agfa-Photo in 2004. The company (Agfa-Photo GmbH) folded a year later in 2005, although a separate holding company
345:
liquidated the company in 1994 and film production ceased. Attempts were made to revive the company and in 1995, Berlin-based photo merchant
Heinrich Mandermann joined ORWO, and on April 1, 1996, ORWO films were put back on the market. However, they were no longer produced locally, merely assembled
176:
A color dye factory was established at the
Rummelsburger See near Berlin in 1867, its name was changed to AGFA (Actien-Gesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrikation) in 1873. The Wolfen factory was established by AGFA in 1910 and its original Leverkusen works (nr. Cologne) around the same time. In 1911, the
468:
Filmotec announced the introduction of two new films to the market in 2022, a new black & white film for still camera use (expected April 2022) and a new colour cine film stock using ECN-2 development process (expected July 2022), which would provide cinematographers with an alternative to the
464:
The companies being brought together under the ORWO name; holding company Seal 1818 GmbH, FilmoTec GmbH and InovisCoat GmbH underwent an organised restructure in 2022, to enable the introduction of new working practices and products, which due to legacy issues would otherwise prevent the company
324:
In 1989, at its peak, a total of 14,500 employees were employed at the Wolfen site, encompassing an area of 165 hectares. They produced 40 million square meters of base material, of which 50 percent was processed to raw film. There were 2,500 assemblies, producing a total of 200 different film
150:
One of the successor companies, FilmoTec GmbH was founded in 1998 to produce high quality black and white cinema and technical films, based in Wolfen under the ORWO brand (license rights are held by the ORWO Net GmbH). Currently, the ORWOFilm range incorporates negative film for motion picture
421:
was formed in 1998 to continue to manufacture a range of Black and white camera and technical films for motion picture use under the ORWO brand. Film coating was contracted out, to Ilford and later InovisCoat. In 2020, twenty employees work in the areas of research, development, production,
425:
Products are particularly aimed towards the technical needs of the world's archiving, motion picture, and holographic industries. FilmoTec is, with Kodak, now one of only two companies still producing black and white films for motion picture use.
154:
In 2020 FilmoTec was brought under common ownership under Seal 1818 GmbH with film coating company InovisCoat GmbH, also based in
Germany and with shared Agfa heritage to offer films for the film industry under the traditional brand “ORWO”.
491:
UN54, Universal
Negative Film 100 ISO, Panchromatic medium speed black-and-white negative camera film for both outdoor and indoor usage. Formats: 16mm/35mm, 122m/400ft (16mm/35mm) on core and 305m/1000ft on core (35mm).
325:
types. The production height of magnetic recording materials was 2 million square meters, and in the chemical fibre sector, around 100,000 tons of various pulp, viscose products and special products were delivered.
227:
AGFA was split into two companies each with one of the two plants: Agfa AG, Leverkusen in West
Germany, and VEB Film und Chemiefaserwerk Agfa Wolfen in East Germany. Agfa AG (Leverkusen), by then a subsidiary of
495:
N75, Negative film 400 ISO, High speed black-and-white panchromatic camera film for both outdoor and indoor usage. Formats: 16mm/35mm, 30.5m/100ft, 122m/400ft (16mm/35mm) on core and 305m/1000ft on core (35mm).
958:
714:
441:. For example, black-and-white movies that have been selected by the US Library of Congress for archival copy preservation in the last five years have been most likely reprocessed onto ORWO film.
465:
being able to quickly launch new products under the licensed ORWO name and Logo. The ORWO Net GmbH is holding all brand rights and they sell personalized photo products under the brand ORWO.
298:
became available in the United Kingdom in the 1970s through magazine advertisements for mail order suppliers. It was a cheaper alternative to the mainstream brands available at the time.
382:, founded 1998, Triacetate Cellulose (TAC) film production using former ORWO Wolfen facility, for photographic (film base) and optical markets, largest cast film manufacturer in Europe.
181:, Wolfen was specialising in film production and Leverkusen photographic paper. In 1932, the process of making Triacetate Cellulose (TAC) film was patented at the Wolfen facility
124:
147:
following the liquidation of the company, with its constituent parts closed or sold off. The Industry and Film museum Wolfen now occupies part of the original factory.
212:, the Wolfen plant was taken over by US forces, and important patents and other documents regarding the Agfacolor process were confiscated and handed over to
177:
first casting plant at Wolfen for polymer films (nitrocellulose) was built by AGFA. By 1925, with AGFA now part of the industrial conglomerate
151:
production (UN54 and N75), duplicating film, print film, sound recording film, and film leaders for the processing and distribution business.
253:
them, the film edge markings were L IF for Agfa Leverkusen, and W IF for Agfa Wolfen. Trading of materials however continued between plants.
450:
291:. The now Kombinat also began developing and producing other information recording materials, such as magnetic, video and computer tapes.
578:
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665:
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Their motion picture camera films UN54 and N75 are also widely re-packaged by third parties as still camera film.
1230:
626:
554:
959:"North Channel Bank Provides Financing for Acquisition of Film Material Producers InovisCoat and FilmoTec"
715:"North Channel Bank Provides Financing for Acquisition of Film Material Producers InovisCoat and FilmoTec"
1182:
670:
295:
1055:
357:
A number of separate successor companies emerged from the remnants of the former industrial behemoth;
1008:"ORWO managed Financial Restructuring Plans Agreed by Courts and Dates Released for New Film Stocks"
813:
401:
The ORWO Net GmbH retained the rights to the ORWO trademark for a variety of photographic products.
1158:
1134:
244:
1082:
646:
provides a permanent exhibition about the history of the Filmfabrik Wolfen and the ORWO products.
908:
509:
NC500, 400 ASA, Colour film. Formats: 16mm (100ft & 400ft) & 35mm (400ft, 1000ft, 2000ft)
434:
1210:
566:
438:
334:
261:
8:
430:
271:
became its headquarters. Factories integrated into the new Fotochemisches Kombinat were
613:
655:
112:
838:
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black and white industrial films, in addition to high-profile archival clients like
131:(Aktien-Gesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrikation) in 1910 and developed the first modern
739:
690:
342:
184:
The Agfa Wolfen plant developed the first modern colour film, which incorporated
97:
93:
62:
983:
232:
was subsequently merged with Gevaert based in Mortsel, Belgium in 1964 to form
449:
In 2020 FilmoTec was brought under common ownership with film coating company
1219:
937:
617:
458:
364:
founded 1991, PET films for packaging, printing, medical and industrial uses.
338:
213:
192:
Neu, in 1936, which simplified processing compared to its contemporary Kodak
116:
859:
317:, which led to decreasing sales figures in the western countries, where the
310:
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In partnership with ORWO North America, ORWO film currently supplies all
185:
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354:. Due to the owners illness the company was again insolvent in 1997.
314:
302:
189:
178:
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92:) is a registered trademark of the company ORWO Net GmbH, based in
101:
68:
1205:
422:
configuration, and distribution of ORWO black and white films.
398:
All suppliers for the optical, electrical and film industries
351:
584:
1980s ORWO CHROM Reversal film slide taken in UK (before 1990)
341:
as ORWO AG with Folienwerk Wolfen GmbH an early spin off. The
461:, Adox, Bergger, Lomography and more recently ORWO Filmotec.
318:
229:
217:
26:
486:
ORWO UN 54 in 30,5m / 100ft can (ORWO FilmoTec GmbH, 2016)
248:
ORWOChrom UT21 - 135 film for colour slides (before 1990)
1110:"A New Motion Picture Film Stock Arrives Thanks To ORWO"
1032:"ORWO confirms two new films are being released in 2022"
789:"A short history of colour photography - agfacolor-neu"
388:, founded 1998, Cine films and related technical films.
394:,founded 1999, Digital photo supplies, photofinishing.
239:
79:
Photography film, motion picture film, archiving film
637:
1217:
477:
1056:"Technical information Orwo Negative Film UN54"
909:"The Chemical Park – Companies at the location"
346:from products from other manufacturers such as
1083:"Technical information Orwo Negative Film N75"
376:, founded 1997, speciality and fine chemistry.
257:Wolfen were rebranded ORWO (ORiginal WOlfen).
328:
370:, founded in 1995, organic fine chemistry.
204:On 20 April 1945, following the defeat of
25:
538:
481:
408:
289:VEB Foto- und Lichtpauspapierwerk Berlin
243:
167:
666:List of discontinued photographic films
1218:
503:
469:Kodak vision 3 colour camera stocks.
199:
127:). The Wolfen factory was founded by
16:German film and magnetic tape company
934:Wirtschaftshistoriker Rainer Karlsch
632:ORWO PAN 400 cartridge (before 1994)
96:and is also traditionally known for
691:"Industrie und filme museum Wolfen"
472:
321:C-41 process dominated the market.
309:, similar to considerations in the
240:ORWO (VEB Film und Chemiefaserwerk)
13:
661:List of motion picture film stocks
444:
313:, but had not completed until the
301:ORWO prepared the changeover from
265:VEB Fotochemisches Kombinat Wolfen
14:
1262:
911:. Chemical Park Bitterfeld-Wolfen
820:. Chemical Park Bitterfeld-Wolfen
638:Wolfen Industrial and Film Museum
513:
1236:Photography companies of Germany
1204:
1183:"Industry and Filmmuseum – ERIH"
793:www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
644:Industrie- und Filmmuseum Wolfen
625:
605:
589:
577:
565:
553:
404:
337:in 1990 the holding company was
119:, mainly produced at the former
53:1909 (Wolfen plant), 1964 (ORWO)
1175:
1151:
1127:
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1048:
1024:
1000:
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368:Organica Feinchemie GmbH Wolfen
125:Chemical Park Bitterfeld-Wolfen
104:and sold under the ORWO brand.
876:
852:
831:
806:
781:
756:
732:
707:
683:
380:Island Polymer Industries GmbH
285:VEB Fotochemische Werke Berlin
277:VEB Fotopapierwerk Wernigerode
1:
1241:Defunct photography companies
1159:"ORWO 35mm NC500 Colour Cine"
1135:"Orwo 16mm NC500 Colour Cine"
814:"The Chemical Park – History"
676:
478:Black & white camera film
7:
1251:Photography in East Germany
936:(in German). Archived from
890:. Island Polymer Industries
770:. Island Polymer Industries
649:
260:After the formation of the
172:Agfa-Filmfabrik Wolfen 1929
10:
1267:
795:. Science and Media Museum
671:List of photographic films
273:VEB Fotopapierwerk Dresden
158:
1246:Companies of East Germany
560:ORWO NP 20 (before 1980s)
329:Privatisation and Breakup
75:
57:
49:
41:
33:
24:
1226:Photographic film makers
107:ORWO was established in
963:www.northchannelbank.de
719:www.northchannelbank.de
600:packaging (before 1990)
572:ORWO NP22 (before 1990)
163:
111:in 1964 as a brand for
100:film products, made in
487:
431:US Library of Congress
414:
362:Folienwerk Wolfen GmbH
296:35mm colour slide film
281:VEB Gelatinewerk Calbe
249:
173:
121:ORWO Filmfabrik Wolfen
1213:at Wikimedia Commons
888:www.islandpolymer.com
768:www.islandpolymer.com
539:Discontinued Products
485:
413:ORWO Filmotec in 2012
412:
269:VEB Filmfabrik Wolfen
247:
216:competitors, such as
171:
135:, which incorporated
1231:Volkseigene Betriebe
525:Sound Recording Film
335:German reunification
21:
620:tape (before 1990)
504:Colour Camera film
488:
415:
386:ORWO FilmoTec GmbH
374:FEW Chemicals GmbH
250:
200:After World War II
174:
19:
1209:Media related to
988:www.inoviscoat.de
818:www.chemiepark.de
695:www.ifm-wolfen.de
656:Photographic film
544:Still camera film
528:Holographic films
522:Duplicating films
113:photographic film
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473:Current Products
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445:The ORWO family
435:the Smithsonian
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186:colour couplers
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137:colour couplers
98:black-and-white
90:ORiginal WOlfen
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940:on 2019-01-22
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534:Special films
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459:Polaroid B.V.
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419:FilmoTec GmbH
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405:FilmoTec GmbH
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1191:. Retrieved
1187:www.erih.net
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1166:. Retrieved
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1118:. Retrieved
1116:. 2023-03-13
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1012:www.orwo.wtf
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965:. 2020-08-25
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942:. Retrieved
938:the original
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744:www.agfa.com
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721:. 2020-08-25
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531:Leader films
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210:World War II
206:Nazi Germany
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109:East Germany
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89:
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58:Headquarters
34:Company type
1189:(in German)
864:www.orwonet
392:ORWO Net AG
196:from 1935.
179:I.G. Farben
143:, in 1936.
133:colour film
1220:Categories
1193:2021-06-21
1168:2023-03-24
1144:2023-03-24
1120:2023-03-24
1095:2021-10-26
1068:2021-10-26
1041:2022-02-12
1017:2022-02-12
993:2021-10-24
969:2021-10-24
944:2019-01-22
915:2016-10-27
894:2021-11-07
884:"About us"
869:2021-10-24
845:2016-10-27
824:2016-10-27
799:2022-02-25
774:2021-11-07
764:"About us"
749:2021-10-24
725:2021-10-24
700:2021-10-24
677:References
451:InovisCoat
339:privatised
333:Following
194:Kodachrome
1163:ORWO Film
1139:ORWO Film
984:"history"
860:"History"
839:"Rohfilm"
740:"History"
596:Magnetic
303:AgfaColor
190:Agfacolor
650:See also
618:cassette
343:Treuhand
287:and the
76:Products
42:Industry
262:Combine
214:Western
159:History
102:Germany
69:Germany
50:Founded
45:Imaging
616:Audio
614:Chrome
352:Ilford
222:Ilford
94:Wolfen
63:Wolfen
37:Public
1086:(PDF)
1059:(PDF)
612:ORWO
348:Forte
319:Kodak
230:Bayer
218:Kodak
123:(now
88:(for
1211:ORWO
642:The
598:tape
439:MOMA
437:and
417:The
350:and
311:USSR
307:C-41
220:and
164:AGFA
129:AGFA
115:and
86:ORWO
20:ORWO
305:to
208:in
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