Editing Agfa-Gevaert

{{Short description|Belgian-German imaging company}}
{{Redirect|Agfa}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
| logo = Agfa logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| image = File:Agfa logo.jpg
| type = [[Naamloze vennootschap]]
| traded_as = {{EuronextBrussels|AGFB|BE0003755692|XBRU}}
| slogan = 
| foundation = 1867 (Aktiengesellschaft für Anilinfabrikation)<br/>1894, Gevaert & Co.<br/> 1964 (Agfa-Gevaert)
| parent = [[IG Farben]] (1925{{endash}}1952)
| location = [[Mortsel]], Belgium
| key_people = [[Pascal Juéry]], [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]]
| num_employees = 10,177 (2017)
| industry = Imaging and IT company
| products = 
| revenue = € 2,2 billion (2018) <ref name="revenue">[https://www.agfa.com/corporate/news-item/agfa-gevaert-comments-on-its-achievements-in-2018-regulated-information/ Agfa-Gevaert publishes its full year 2018 results], agfa.com. Article dated 2019-03-13, retrieved 2019-04-01.</ref>
| net_income = 
| homepage = [http://www.agfa.com/ www.agfa.com]
}}
'''Agfa-Gevaert N.V.''' ('''Agfa''') is a Belgian-German [[multinational corporation]] that develops, manufactures, and distributes [[Analog photography|analogue]] and [[digital imaging]] products, software, and systems.

The company began as a dye manufacturer in 1867. In 1925, the company merged with several other German chemical companies to become chemicals giant [[IG Farben]]. IG Farben would go on to play major role in the economy of [[Nazi Germany]]. It extensively employed [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labour during the Nazi period]], and produced [[Zyklon B]] poison gas used in [[the Holocaust]]. IG Farben was disestablished by the Allies in 1945. AGFA was reconstituted (as a subsidiary of [[Bayer]]) from the remnants of IG Farben in 1952.

Agfa [[photographic film]] and cameras were once prominent consumer products. In 2004, the consumer imaging division was sold to a company founded via [[management buyout]]. [[AgfaPhoto|AgfaPhoto GmbH]], as the new company was called, filed for [[bankruptcy]] after a year,<ref name="dpreview">[http://www.dpreview.com/news/0505/05052701agfa_end.asp AgfaPhoto files for insolvency], dpreview.com. Article dated 2005-05-27, retrieved 2007-03-04.</ref> and its brands are now licensed to other companies by AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH, a holding firm. Today Agfa-Gevaert's commerce is 100% business-to-business.

== History ==
[[File:Paris_expo_1937.jpg|thumb|An [[Agfacolor]] slide dated 1937 from [[Paris]], France]]
[[File:Female foreign workers from Stadelheim prison work in a factory owned by the AGFA camera company.jpg|thumb|Production of bomb detonators by imprisoned foreign female workers from [[Stadelheim prison]] in [[Agfa-Commando|a factory owned by the AGFA camera company]] during the Nazi regime, May 1943]]
* 1867 The company Aktiengesellschaft für Anilinfabrikation ''(Corporation for [[Aniline]] Production)'' was founded in [[Berlin-Rummelsburg|Rummelsburg]] (now in the [[Lichtenberg, Berlin|Lichtenberg]] borough of [[Berlin]]) as a manufacturer of dyes and stains. It became a [[public company|public]] [[limited company]] in 1873. The founders were [[Paul Mendelssohn Bartholdy]] (son of composer [[Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy]]) and [[Carl Alexander von Martius]].
* 1894 The company L. Gevaert & Cie was founded in [[Antwerp]], Belgium, arising from the workshop for the manufacture of [[photographic paper]] belonging to [[Lieven Gevaert]].
* 1897 Appearance of the ''Agfa'' trade mark.
* 1898 Introduction of [[X-ray]] plates and film products.
* 1903 Production of first cinematographic film.
* 1925 As part of the consolidation of the German chemical industry, Agfa became part of [[IG Farben]].<ref>Ernst Bäumler: "100 Jahre Chemie", 1963, issued on the 100th anniversary of the Farbwerke Hoechst AG</ref> The photographic activities are combined with those of [[Bayer]], including a [[camera]] factory in [[Munich]].
* 1928 Acquired [[Ansco]], an American photographic manufacturer, whose products were sold under the Agfa-Ansco brand name.
* 1936 [[Agfacolor]] Neu a pioneering color film for amateurs and professionals.
* 1939–1945 Agfa used forced labourers in large numbers, including concentration camp prisoners in the Munich subcamp (Agfa Kamerawerke) of the Dachau concentration camp and in the Dutch transit camp Kamp Westerbork. Forced labourers were also used for Agfa AG in the "Agfa camp" subcamp of the Munich-Stadelheim juvenile prison between 1943 and 1945. Parts of the Agfa company management were indicted after the war in the [[IG Farben Trial|I.G. Farben trial]] before an American military tribunal.
* 1940 Agfacolor negative-positive color material is used for the first time for a feature film ''[[Frauen sind doch bessere Diplomaten]]'' (''Women make the best Diplomats'') by the German [[Universum Film AG|UFA]] film studios.
* 1941 American assets of Agfa were seized by the U.S. during [[World War II]] as enemy property and became [[GAF Materials Corporation|General Aniline and Film Corp.]], whose photographic products reverted to the [[Ansco]] brand name.
* 1942 Introduction of intensifying screen products.
* 1945 When the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] broke up IG Farben to reduce the size of German chemical industry, Agfa reappeared as an individual business. An Agfa plant located in what was to become [[East Germany]] became the foundation of [[ORWO]].
* 1952 Re-establishment of Agfa AG as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer in Leverkusen.
* 1964 Merger of Agfa AG and Gevaert Photo-Producten N.V. with Bayer AG and Gevaert each holding a 50% interest in the new operating company.
* 1970 Introduction of [[Agfacontour Professional]] Sheet Film.
* 1972 Introduction of [[mammography]] film / screen products.
* 1981 Bayer buys out Gevaert and becomes 100% owner.
* 1988 [[Takeover|Acquisition]] of [[Compugraphic]] Corporation (prepress systems).
* 1990
** Sale of [[magnetic tape]] business.
** Introduction of Computed Radiography (CR) products.
* 1994 Introduction of [[Picture archiving and communication system|PACS]] products.
* 1996 Acquisition of [[Hoechst AG|Hoechst's]] printing plate and proofing business.
* 1997 Sale of the company's film recorder division to German CCG Digital Image Technology.<ref name="CCG GmbH">[http://www.definity35mm.com/content/view/64/124 About CCG Digital Image Technology] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129123148/http://www.definity35mm.com/content/view/64/124 |date=January 29, 2009 }}, definity35mm.com, retrieved 2009-01-11.</ref>
* 1998
** Acquisition of [[DuPont]]'s offset printing and graphic arts film business.
** Sale of the company's Copier Systems business to Lanier Worldwide Inc.
** Acquisition of CEA AB (X-ray film products).
** Acquisition of [[Monotype Corporation|Monotype Typography Inc.]]
* 1999
** Acquisition of Sterling Diagnostic Imaging (X-ray film and equipment).
** Separation of Agfa from [[Bayer AG|Bayer]]. Initial public offering of Agfa-Gevaert shares on June 1. Agfa listed on Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
* 2000
** Acquisition of Krautkramer, a producer of [[Ultrasound|ultrasonic]] systems for non-destructive testing.
** Acquisition of Quadrat, a Ghent-based European producer of radiology information systems.
* 2001
** Acquisition of Autologic, an American producer of systems for prepress automation.
** Acquisition of Talk Technology, a producer of medical [[Speech recognition|voice recognition]] systems.
** Acquisition of the German company Seifert and the American company Pantak, producers of industrial [[X-ray]] equipment for non-destructive testing applications.
** Acquisition of a minority interest in MediVision, a developer and manufacturer of [[digital imaging]] systems for [[ophthalmology]].
** Agfa stopped its desktop scanners and digital camera business in September 2001. Agfa does not provide any further support.
* 2002 
** Acquisition of Mitra Imaging Inc., a developer of [[medical imaging]] and information systems for [[healthcare]].
** Bayer sells its remaining 30% stake in Agfa.
* 2003
** Opening of new printing plate factory in [[Wuxi]], China.
** Sale of non-destructive testing business to [[General Electric]].
* 2004
** Acquisition of Dotrix, a Belgian producer of digital colour printing systems for industrial applications.
** Acquisition of Lastra, an Italian manufacturer of plates, chemicals and equipment for the [[offset printing]] industry.
** Sale of the consumer imaging division to a company founded via management buy out, named [[AgfaPhoto]], and held by an investment company. After one year, AgfaPhoto files for bankruptcy.
** Acquisition of ProImage, an Israeli developer of [[Web browser|browser]]-based digital workflow solutions{{buzzword inline|date=October 2019}} for the newspaper and printing industries.
** Acquisition of Symphonie On Line, a French [[information technology]] company and developer of EPR ([[electronic patient record]]) systems.
** Sale of [[Agfa Monotype]] Corporation, a provider of [[Typeface|fonts]] and font-related software technology, to [[Boston]]-based private equity investor [[TA Associates]].
* 2005
** Acquisition of GWI, a German developer of healthcare [[information system]]s for [[medical records]], [[nursing]], [[business management]], and facility [[Business administration|administration]].
** Acquisition of Heartlab, Inc., a [[United States|U.S.]] developer of cardiology image and information management systems.
** Acquisition of Med2Rad an Italian developer of radiology information systems.
** Introduction of industrial [[inkjet]] products.
* 2009
** Acquisition of Insight Agents, a European developer and producer of contrast media.
** Acquisition of Gandi Innovations, a producer of large-format inkjet systems.
* 2010
** Agfa Graphics and Shenzhen Brothers create the Agfa Graphics Asia joint venture to reinforce their position in the [[Greater China]] and [[ASEAN]] region.
** Acquisition of the Harold M. Pitman Company a US supplier of products and systems for the graphic industry.
* 2011 Acquisition of WPD, a Brazilian supplier of healthcare IT systems.

==Company structure==
Agfa is headquartered in [[Mortsel]], [[Belgium]], with sales organisations in 40 countries. In countries where Agfa does not have its own sales organisation, the market is served by a network of agents and representatives. At the end of 2011, the company had 11,728 employees (full-time equivalent permanent) worldwide. Agfa has manufacturing plants around the world. The largest production and research centres are based in Belgium, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and China. Net sales for 2011 totalled 3,023 million [[euro]]s.

Since January 1, 2019, two new entities emerged within the Agfa-Gevaert Group: Agfa HealthCare (ITCo) and Agfa (MainCo). [[Agfa HealthCare]] groups all IT-related activities of the former Agfa HealthCare business group. The newer Agfa includes the activities of the former Agfa Graphics and Agfa Specialty Products business groups, as well as the Imaging activities of the former Agfa HealthCare business group.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.agfa.com/corporate/news-item/agfa-gevaert-comments-on-its-achievements-in-2018-regulated-information/|title=Agfa-Gevaert comments on its achievements in 2018|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref>

=== Agfa Healthcare ===
Agfa Healthcare is a developer of medical imaging information systems, with main offices in [[Mortsel|Mortsel (Belgium)]], [[Leeds|Leeds (United Kingdom)]], [[Ghent, Belgium|Ghent (Belgium)]], [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)]], [[Shanghai|Shanghai (China)]] and [[Vienna|Vienna (Austria)]].

=== Agfa division business groups ===
The activities of the Agfa division have been subdivided into three groups: Offset Solutions (the prepress business of the former Agfa Graphics business group), Digital Print & Chemicals (the inkjet business of the former Agfa Graphics business group and the activities of the former Agfa Specialty Products business group) and Radiology Solutions (the imaging activities of the former Agfa HealthCare business group).<ref name=":0" />

==Products==
[[File:Agfa Box 50.jpg|thumb|Agfa Box 50 (ca.1949)]]
In 2004, Agfa-Gevaert withdrew from the consumer market, including photographic film, cameras and other photographic equipment.

Because Agfa-Gevaert still produce photographic films for the aerial photography market, it is still possible to buy fresh, Agfa-produced photographic films for use in consumer cameras. They are sold by the [[Lomography]] Society and '''[[Rollei]]''' and are branded accordingly. This is because those companies purchase the aerial photography film from Agfa-Gevaert, and then cut and package it into consumer photographic formats.

As of 2012, such products carry a small Agfa logo discreetly on their packaging, but are not sold as Agfa branded products.

By contrast, [[Agfaphoto]] branded photographic films are not made by Agfa-Gevaert at all, originally having been made by the now closed '''[[Ferrania]]''' plant in Italy. Agfaphoto films are now produced by '''[[Fujifilm]]''' in Japan for [[Lupus Imaging Media]].

===Agfa cameras===
[[File:Agfa Compur-Rapid.jpg|thumb|Agfa Compur-Rapid]]
[[File:Agfa Isolette with film.jpg|thumb|[[Agfa Isolette]]]]
[[File:AGFA Agfamatic 300 sensor.jpg|thumb|Agfa Agfamatic 300 Sensor]]
[[File:Agfa Movex.jpg|thumb|Various Agfa Movex [[8 mm film|8&nbsp;mm]] home movie cameras]]
[[File:Agfa Optima 1035 Sensor (5992320464).jpg|thumb|[[Agfa Optima 1035 Sensor]]]]
[[File:AGFA Optima 335 Sensor.jpg|thumb|[http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Optima_Sensor_335 AGFA Optima 335 Sensor]]]
[[File:Agfa Agfachrome CT18 Diafilm mit Originalverpackung 2.jpg|thumb|Agfachrome CT18 colour slide film, with packaging (1981)]]

Agfa produced a range of cameras which included:
* [[Agfa Ambiflex|Ambiflex]]
* [[Agfa Silette|Silette]] series
* [[Agfa Clipper|Clipper]]
* [[Agfa Billy|Billy]]
* [[Agfa Record|Record]]
* [[Agfa Iso Rapid|Iso]] series
* [[Agfa Isolette|Isolette]]
* [[Agfa Isola|Isola]] series
* [[Agfa Click|Click]]
* [[Agfa Clack|Clack]]
* Optima series, e.g. [[Agfa Optima 1a|Optima 1A]]
* Optima Sensor series, e.g. [[Agfa Optima 1535 Sensor|Optima 1535 Sensor]] and [[Agfa Optima Flash Sensor|Optima Flash Sensor]]
* Selectronic S series
* Agfamatic series
* Agfamatic Pocket series
* Agfa Mini
* matching accessories, such as flashguns

==== SLR ====
* Agfa Flexilette
* [[Agfa Selectronic|Selectronic]] series (rebranded products of [[Chinon Industries|Chinon]])<ref>{{cite web|author=alf sigaro Alfred+ Add Contact |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/alf_sigaro/501954221/in/photostream/ |title=Agfa Selectronic 2 |publisher=Flickr.com |access-date=2012-01-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=alf sigaro Alfred+ Add Contact |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/alf_sigaro/501044689/in/photostream/ |title=Agfa Selectronic 3 |date=16 May 2007 |publisher=Flickr.com |access-date=2012-01-07}}</ref>

=== Agfa slide projectors ===
Including, roughly in chronological order:
* [[Agfa Opticus 100]]
* [[Agfa Agfacolor 50 automatic]]
* [[Agfa Diamator]] series, like models H, m, 1500

===Agfa consumer and professional films===
Black & White films:
* Agfa PD16
* Agfapan 25, 100 and 400
* Agfapan APX 25, 100 and 400 (revivals of 100 and 400 emulsion were announced by Adox)
* Isopan ISS (Super Special)
* Isopan F (Fine Grain)
* Isopan Ultra
* Isopan Record
* Agfa Vario-XL ([[C-41 process]] chromogenic film)
* Dia-Direct (reversal film)
* Scala (reversal film)
* Agfacontour Professional film

Colour [[Reversal film|reversal (slide) films]]:
* [[Agfacolor|Agfacolor Neu]]
* Agfachrome CT 18 and CT 21
* Agfachrome series
* Agfachrome R 100 S
* Agfachrome 50 S and 50 L Professional
* Agfachrome RS and RS Plus Professional series
* Agfachrome RSX and RSX II Professional series
* Agfachrome CT, CTx and CT Precisa series (excluding New Agfaphoto CT Precisa 100)

Colour [[Negative (photography)|negative films]]:
* Agfacolor CN14, CN17, CN17M, CN17 Special, CNS and CNS2
* Agfacolor series
* Agfacolor XR series
* Agfacolor XRG series
* Agfacolor XRS Professional series
* Agfacolor Optima, Optima II and New Optima Professional series
* Agfacolor Portrait 160 Professional
* Agfacolor Ultra 50 Professional and Ultra 100 
* Agfacolor Vista series (excluding New Agfaphoto Vista 200)

While Agfa has retired from the photography branch, and the Agfaphoto brand was sold to a reseller named Lupus Imaging, the surviving Belgian industrial branch of Agfa continues to produce, among other things, B/W, colour negative and colour reversal materials for aerial photography. Some of these are cut to the usual 135 and 120 formats by Maco and distributed under the brand name [[Rollei]]. Specifically, these re-branded Agfa materials include Rollei Retro 80S, 200S and 400S, Digibase CN200 and CR200.

===Scanners===
Agfa produced many [[image scanner]]s in the Arcus, DuoScan, SnapScan, StudioScan and StudioStar ranges. While they have all been discontinued and up-to-date [[Device driver|drivers]] for them are not available from Agfa, [[Vuescan]] software supports many Agfa scanners on current computer [[operating system]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/agfa.html |title=Agfa Scanner Drivers |website=Hamrick (Vuescan)|access-date= 19 April 2020}} Lists 29 Agfa scanners.</ref>

===Agfa darkroom equipment===

* [[Agfa Varioscop]] enlargers
* [[Agfa Variomat]] print easels for automatic exposure
* Darkroom safety lights
* Agfa [[Rondinax]] and [[Rondix]] daylight developing tanks

==={{anchor|Paper}}<!-- [[Agfa paper]] and [[AGFA paper]] redirect here-->Agfa papers===
Agfa photographic papers were of very high quality; lines included:
* Brovira
* Portriga Rapid
* Lupex

The production of material identical to the last generation of fibre-based and resin-coated photographic Agfa Multigrade papers has been resumed by Adox.<ref name="adox.de">[http://www.adox.de adox.de]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Companies}}
{{Commons category}}
*[[AgfaPhoto]]
*[[Agfacolor]]
* [[Gevacolor]]
*[[André Leysen]]
*[[List of photographic equipment makers]]
*[[Christian Reinaudo]]
*[[List of photographic films]]
*[[List of discontinued photographic films]]
*[[Mixlink]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.agfa.com}}

{{IG Farben}}
{{Authority control|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Agfa]]
[[Category:Photographic film makers]]
[[Category:IG Farben]]
[[Category:Belgian brands]]
[[Category:German brands]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1964]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Belgium]]
[[Category:Photography companies of Belgium]]
[[Category:Companies listed on Euronext Brussels]]