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Author Topic: Franke & Heidecke became insovent  (Read 179742 times)

flashfredrikson

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« on: March 02, 2009, 12:06:24 pm »

German Photography News site Photoscala reports that F&H, manufacturers of the Hy6 and AFi bodys, became insolvent:

http://photoscala.de/Artikel/Franke-Heidecke-ist-insolvent

(in german)


cheers,
martin
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paulmoorestudio

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2009, 12:11:57 pm »

how about a translation for us that are german impaired.
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David Grover / Capture One

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2009, 12:14:50 pm »

You could use google translate...

http://translate.google.com
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David Grover
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bob mccarthy

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2009, 12:16:11 pm »

Google translation,  not very good but you get the idea




Franke & Heidecke is insolvent

of Editorial photo scala On Monday 02 March 2009 - 17:57
Bad news from Brunswick: Franke & Heidecke GmbH, recently by Hans R. Schmid Beteiligungs GmbH, has declared bankruptcy - because of financial and other contaminated sites:

Franke & Heidecke agrees with this:

Franke & Heidecke declares insolvency

Franke & Heidecke GmbH, Precision & Optical, headquartered in Brunswick has declared insolvency.

The Hans R. Schmid Beteiligungs GmbH, Offenburg, had in September 2008 a majority of the company involved. For the majority shareholder Hans R. Schmid, an avowed follower of the products of the house, his commitment as a "heart issue" had said, there was no longer an alternative as to insolvency.

Although at the time of the takeover it was clear that a successful rehabilitation with significant effort would be, Schmid took the job and acted decisively: Additional specialists were recruited, the weaknesses in the company and millions of rays including manufacturing and quality assurance invested.

These measures succeeded in quickly to make progress, however, were the massive failures of the past, not in the required time to remove. When finally - the new shareholders at the time of the takeover is not known - financial and other contaminated sites were revealed, it became clear that a self-remediation, using millions of other amounts to be consulted. This even more than was added that negotiations with key business partners, banks, and the attempt to obtain public funds, also failed.

The new shareholders had until the last several times, and despite significant loss risk additional funds invested into the company and gave the society and the hope of receiving the 131 jobs so long alive. Now was the bankruptcy no longer be avoided. Schmid has invested a 2-digit million amount.

Brunswick, 27 February 2009


What now with Franke & Heidecke, but also with the cameras Hy6 Sinar and Leaf Afi (Franke & Heidecke prouzierte the case for both) happens, we try to know.
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David Grover / Capture One

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2009, 12:27:58 pm »

Thats a big pity.  :-(

I hope that maybe Kodak or Leaf could step in and take them over.

Best,



David


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David Grover
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paulmoorestudio

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2009, 12:40:17 pm »

I thought of kodak too.. but I am afraid they are in no position like they were when they did buy a german camera company in the 30's.
the last all european medium format system.. would be a shame for it to disappear.. we have a real dominos game going on now.. what is next?
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Carl Glover

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2009, 12:48:31 pm »

Maybe Jenoptik will step in and keep Rollei going.

The Hy6 is a mighty fine camera.

roskav

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2009, 01:18:33 pm »

Not good news.  Just looking at their previous press release in September 2008 "The future belongs to us"   How things change so quickly.  I have had to put off an equipment upgrade for at least 2 years ... it's really hard to make my minimum monthly target since November 2008 and everybody is looking for deals.  Would end user demand have an effect on a product manufacturer in such a short space of time?

Ros


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Guy Mancuso

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2009, 01:24:18 pm »

Simple not good for the whole industry and owners of there products.
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free1000

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2009, 01:42:54 pm »

I think that this should cause some careful thinking about the viability of new MF systems, especially expensive ones from the likes of Leica.

As for Canon and Nikon... this should give some pause for thought.

All rather sad. I had this dream that I'd win the lottery, or wake up one morning and find I was a rich orthodontist and not a photographer,  and buy an AFi with a f2 100mm AF lens... ahh... the dream has died.
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mcfoto

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2009, 02:06:05 pm »

Hi
In the current market when there is comment that the Nikon D3x is too expensive, I am not surprised. I have handled the Hy6 & it is a very beautiful camera. MFD has been hit hard here in Australia over the years. The wedding/portrait sector which is the largest have all gone over to 35D except for a handful. When it comes to the pro market most of the digital operators I talk to prefer the Phase One software. In the rental market the H2 is very strong. However Phase/Mamiya seems to be coming back. Personally what I like about Mamiya is that it is affordable. I still own one kit & rent the Leaf Aptus ( I love the quality ) when required. Bottom line is cost & I think photographers are going for the biggest bang for there buck these days. I find the cost of doing business is higher because of digital. Every 2-3 years you have to upgrade your camera/digital back, computer, software, monitor, the countless hard drives.............
Denis
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Denis Montalbetti
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michael

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2009, 02:51:53 pm »

I have just put online an Egnglish language version of the insolvency announcement. It's linked on my What's New page.

Very sad. But likely not the last of the shakeup announcements in the industry that will be seen in the days ahead.

Michael
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Snook

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2009, 03:00:48 pm »

I agree it is the first of many to come for sure!!
I guess they are even lucky it lasted this long really.
The D3x,5DII and 1DsMIII have killed the MF market.. PERIOD
You can talk all the technical BS you want. In most mediums you will not see the differnce in quality and many are going to internet sale where quality is even less important.
I have had 3 Big catalogue companies go to WEB ONLY catalogues since the "depression" and many more are following hen Paper expenses are out of control for pritning so many catalogues and then putting them in the local newspaper is even more expensive for the wieght.

I seriuosly DOUBT the leica S2 will go anywhere. Hopefully not but I doubt they are anybody else will be investing in MF.
Ashame specially when I got into MF righ before the shit hit the fan.
I see a difference in quality, but my clients do not...:+{
Medium format was on a bumpy road before the crisis. I think mpossible to keep up during a crisis..?

I wonder how many people are buying the P65+.. My guess is very few are or will. Certainly not enough to keep Phase above the water for very long.

They should all start offering better deals and closer to Canon/Nikon prices or simple they will all start to fold.


Snook
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klane

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2009, 03:07:14 pm »

I would think Jenoptik will buy them, then they can have the hy6 to themselves shutting down the AFI.  Seems logical.
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michael

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2009, 03:12:21 pm »

Sorry Snook, but things are not always what they seem.

I can't speak for other products but I know that the P65+ is now in a backorder situation for months to come because demand has been so high.

Some photographers need and can afford what it offers, others don't.

But, having said that, I do agree that the lower end of the MF industry is starting to suck wind.

Michael

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csp

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #15 on: March 02, 2009, 03:13:34 pm »

does this really come as a surprise ?  it is only sad for those how believed that they have bought a product with future which it never had.
 i'm very sure this is not the end of bad news.  the market is to small and i very much doubt that leaf or jenoptik could or will save the sinking ship
this days. further more i `m convinced that it is realistic that jenoptik/sinar will stop its mf business soon. but the positiv side is that this development makes hasselbald and maybe mamiya/phase stronger.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2009, 03:14:46 pm by csp »
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pixjohn

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #16 on: March 02, 2009, 04:35:38 pm »

I wonder how this will effect Leaf's business?  The only new camera  Leaf will be able to mount on is Mamiya.   I shoot with an H2 and Leaf, and hate having to search high and wide to just find a good shape 2nd  H2 body.
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arashm

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #17 on: March 02, 2009, 04:44:48 pm »

Yes I think Mamiya will be a logical choice for Leaf...
sad to see this play out this way
am
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TMARK

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #18 on: March 02, 2009, 05:00:38 pm »

Quote from: Roskav
Would end user demand have an effect on a product manufacturer in such a short space of time?

Ros

Not really, but lack of credit can shut a company down unless there are significant cash reserves.  I don't think they will be gone forever.
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woof75

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Franke & Heidecke became insovent
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2009, 05:30:54 pm »

God, if there's any sign that Mamiya is going out of business and I'm buying 3 spare bodies and 2 copies of the lenses I use. So far though so good. To be honest that Hy6 always seemed an odd solution and with the economy as it is, a very odd one.
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