Agfa ends holography film and plate sales

17 Jun 2002

In a letter to its suppliers worldwide, Agfa announced that it will cease production of holographic plates and film in August this year. The company will only accept orders through 20 February, however. The announcement stirred a tempest among holographers, as Agfa is currently the only commercial supplier of silver halide-based films and plates for holographic applications.

"Sales of the Holotest plates as well as Holotest films have been declining," said company spokesman Mark Redzikowski. "The continuous R&D; and production efforts are no longer economically justifiable."

Although the materials are prized by holographers, the Holotest division has been closely monitoring sales in its nonconventional products and has decided to concentrate increasingly on its core business, Redzikowski said. Holography experts predicted the cut back by the industry leader might open the door for entrepreneurial distributors of films and plates for silver halide-based holography applications.