10 Facts About Ilford Photo

Harman Technology, trading as Ilford Photo, is a UK-based manufacturer of photographic materials known worldwide for its ILFORD branded black-and-white film, papers and chemicals.

Ilford Photo acquired a 14 acre site, adjacent to Woodman Road and planned to provide employment for 350 people.

Ilford Photo holds the rights to the 'ILFORD' trademark for photographic applications but otherwise has no connection to Ilford Photo.

Ilford Photo, now traded as Ilford Photo, produced high quality monochrome photographic products.

Originally designed as a lower priced brand to their Ilford offer to compete in the US market they are now available worldwide with the Kentmere brand particularly aimed at the student market and those new to black and white photography.

On 14 September 2015, ten years on from the original management buy out, Ilford Photo announced that Harman Technology Limited had been acquired by Pemberstone Ventures Limited for an 'undisclosed amount'.

In 2019 Ilford celebrated its 140th year with a 'Silver Ticket Competition' one winning ticket for a factory tour and photographic course being hidden in a 140th anniversary film box and in October the announcement of a number of new products following a teaser campaign on social media.

Ilford Photo sold a number of cameras under its own name but made for it by other manufacturers, starting with a 'box' camera in 1902, but most were made in the 1940s and 50s.

The Ilford Photo Witness was a rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses announced in 1947, but not released until 1953 because of manufacturing difficulties.

Whilst Ilford Photo offers its film products in a wide range of common film formats; including 135, 120 and sheet film sizes, there are many more historic sizes that are no longer produced.