Agfa-Gevaert
167752
225615818
2008-07-14T15:55:21Z
193.11.41.58
/* See also */
{{redirect|Agfa}}<!--**** dab line not part of article, so goes above ***-->
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Agfa-Gevaert N.V. |
company_logo = [[Image:Agfa logo.svg|200px]] |
company_type = [[Public company|Public]] |
company_slogan = |
foundation = 1867 (Aktiengesellschaft für Anilinfabrikation)<br/>1894, [[Gevaert & Co]]<br/> 1964 (Agfa-Gevaert) |
location = [[Mortsel]], [[Belgium]] |
key_people = [[Jo Cornu]], [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]]|
num_employees =13,565 (Dec. '07) |
industry = Imaging company |
products = |
revenue = € 3.3 billion (2007)|
net_income = € 42 million (2007) |
homepage = [http://www.agfa.com/ www.agfa.com]
}}
'''Agfa-Gevaert N.V.''' ('''Agfa''') ({{Euronext|AGFB}}, {{FWB|AGE}}) is a [[Europe]]an [[multinational corporation]] which develops, manufactures and distributes analogue and digital products and systems for the making, processing, and reproduction of images. It is an imaging technologies company with three main divisions: healthcare, graphics and materials.
<!--**** Moved paragraph back into intro, as many people will be interested in this aspect of the business ****-->In the past, Agfa film and cameras were prominent consumer products. However, 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 just one 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> (The brands are now licensed to other companies by AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH, a holding firm.) Following this sale, Agfa-Gevaert's business today is 100% business-to-business.
In February 2007, Agfa-Gevaert announced their intention to split into three independent publicly-traded companies (reflecting the activities of their remaining three divisions - healthcare, graphics and materials) to be listed on [[Euronext]] by the end of the year.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/28/ap3471503.html Agfa-Gevaert Splits Into Three Companies], Associated Press via Forbes.com. Article dated [[2007-02-28]], retrieved [[2007-03-04]].</ref><ref>[http://www.euronext.com/news/companypressrelease/companypressrelease.jsp?lan=NL&docid=353005&cha=1721 "Agfa-Gevaert to split into three independent, publicly traded companies"], Agfa-Gevaert press release. Article dated [[2007-02-28]], retrieved [[2007-03-04]].</ref>
End of April 2008, Agfa-Gevaert announced that the split into three independent companies, as originally planned, no longer is a realistic scenario. The Board of Directors is examining a number of alternative options to reinforce the market position of the business groups and create shareholder value.
==Company Structure==
Headquartered in [[Mortsel]], [[Belgium]], Agfa has sales organizations in 40 countries, representation in 120 countries, and 13,565 employees (full time equivalent permanent - Dec. '07) worldwide. Agfa has manufacturing plants in 10 countries, including Belgium, [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Italy]], [[China]], and the [[United States]]. Net sales for 2007 totaled 3.3 billion [[euro]]s.
Agfa is organized into three business groups as follows.
===Agfa Graphics===
Digital and analogue [[prepress]] systems, [[software]] and consumables.
* Computer-to-film and [[Computer to plate]] systems.
* Graphic film, [[Lithography|printing plates]].
* Digital proofing systems.
* Large format printing (e.g. [[Billboard (advertising)|billboards]], [[wallpaper]], [[textile]]s).
* High quality printing (e.g. [[bank note]]s).
* Industrial [[inkjet printer|inkjet]] printing systems.
===Agfa HealthCare===
[[Medical Imaging]] and [[Information Management]] systems.
* [[Digital Radiography]] modality (DR).
* [[Computed Radiography]] modality (CR).
* [[Picture archiving and communication system|PACS]] systems for [[radiology]] and [[cardiology]].
* Information systems for radiology and cardiology.
* Radiology dictation and reporting systems utilizing speech recognition.
* Message-based connectivity broker.
* Protected Health Information auditing system.
* Conventional radiology [[Photographic film|film]] and [[film developing]] equipment.
* Film and paper [[computer printer|printer]]s.
* [[Orthopedics]] workstation.
* Women's Care ([[mammography]]) products.
* [[Electronic Medical Record]] (EMR) and enterprise information systems.
===Specialty Products===
Consumables ([[motion picture]] sound recording and print film, [[microfilm]], film for non-destructive testing) for specific markets.
== History ==
* 1867 The company '''Aktiengesellschaft für Anilinfabrikation''' ''(Corporation for [[Aniline]] Production)'' was founded in [[Berlin-Rummelsburg|Rummelsburg]] (now in the [[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.
* 1912 [[Bayer]] builds a factory in [[Leverkusen]], in which film chemicals and later also photographic papers are manufactured.
* 1922 Introduction of double sided medical film products.
* 1925 As part of the consolidation of the German chemical industry, the photographic activities are combined with those of Bayer, including a [[camera]] factory in [[Munich]].
* 1932 Introduction of low dose X-ray film products.
* 1937 Introduction of Agfacolor-Neu reversal color film.
* 1940 Agfacolor negative-positive color material is used for the first time for a feature film "Frauen sind doch bessere Diplomaten" (Women are the better diplomats) by the German [[UFA]] production company.
* 1941 American assets were seized as enemy property and became [[Ansco]].
* 1942 Introduction of intensifying screen products.
* During the [[World War II|Second World War]] Agfa became part of [[IG Farben]], a conglomerate of all German chemical industries. When the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] broke up IG Farben after it was found guilty of [[war crime]]s, 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.
* 1972 Introduction of [[mammography]] film / screen products.
* 1981 Bayer buys out Gevaert and becomes 100% owner.
* 1988 [[Takeover|Acquisition]] of '''[[Compugraphic]] Corporation'''.
* 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]]'s''' printing plate and proofing business.
* 1998
** Acquisition of '''[[DuPont|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'''.
** Acquisition of '''[[Monotype Corporation|Monotype Typography Inc.]]'''
* 1999
** Acquisition of '''Sterling Diagnostic Imaging'''.
** Separation of Agfa from '''[[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 [[ultrasonic]] systems for non-destructive testing.
** Acquisition of '''Quadrat''', a Ghent based [[Europe]]an producer of radiology information systems.
* 2001
** Acquisition of '''Autologic''', an [[United States|American]] producer of systems for prepress automation.
** Acquisition of '''Talk Technology''', a producer of medical [[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]].
* 2003
** Opening of new printing plate factory in [[Wuxi]], China.
** Sale of non-destructive testing business to [[General Electric]].
** Acquisition of '''Granite Systems''', a producer of software drivers for printers, multifunction devices and digital presses.
* 2004
** Acquisition of '''Dotrix''', a [[Belgium|Belgian]] producer of digital color printing systems for industrial applications.
** Acquisition of '''Lastra''', an [[Italy|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. Agfa grants permission for AgfaPhoto to use the Agfa name in perpetuity. After one year, AgfaPhoto files for bankruptcy.
** Acquisition of '''ProImage''', an [[Israeli]] developer of [[Web browser|browser]]-based digital workflow solutions for the newspaper and printing industries.
** Acquisition of '''Symphonie On Line''', a [[France|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]].
** Acquisition of '''GWI''', a [[Germany|German]] developer of healthcare [[information system]]s for [[medical records]], [[nursing]], [[business management]], and facility [[Administration (business)|administration]].
* 2005
** Acquisition of '''Heartlab, Inc.''', a [[United States|U.S.]] developer of cardiology image and information management systems.
** Acquisition of '''Med2Rad''' an [[Italy|Italian]] developer of radiology information systems.
** Introduction of industrial [[inkjet]] products.
* 2006
** Agfa announced a worldwide restructuring, by [[2008]] 2000 jobs will be lost.
** Belgium bank KBC yields its 27% shares in Agfa <ref>[http://www.cerclefinance.com/default.asp?pub=valactu&stockID=17rBKBC&art=135878&pagec=1 Cercle Finance] (in French) march 10th 2006 12:23AM</ref>.
* 2007
** In February, Agfa-Gevaert announced its intention to split into three independent publicly-traded companies, effective May 1st. Now the companies are '''Agfa Graphics''' for all press and pre-press market, '''Agfa HCES''' for healthcare IT, and '''Agfa Materials''' for the factories.
** Split up postponed to mid-summer 2008
* 2008
** End of April, Agfa-Gevaert announced that the split into three independent companies, as originally planned, no longer is a realistic scenario. The Board of Directors is examining a number of alternative options to reinforce the market position of the business groups and create shareholder value.
==References==
<references />
==See also==
*[[AgfaPhoto|List of Agfa consumer products]]
*[[André Leysen]]
*[[Dirk Colaert]]
*[[Eric Maurincomme]]
*[[Christian Reinaudo]]
*[[List of photographic equipment makers]]
==External links ==
* [http://www.agfa.com/ Agfa] - the official website
* [http://www.agfaphoto.com/ AgfaPhoto GmbH] - website of the sold-off (and now bankrupt) consumer imaging division
* [http://www.agfa.com/en/co/support/scanners/index.jsp Support scanners and digital cameras]
{{BEL20 companies}}
[[Category:Companies of Belgium]]
[[Category:Photography companies]]
[[Category:Photographic film makers]]
[[Category:IG Farben]]
[[Category:Belgian brands]]
[[Category:Printing]]
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