Photo Systems Inc. signs chemicals licensing deal with Eastman Kodak Co.

Dexter, Mich.- based chemicals company Photo Systems Inc., announced the company is the new authorized brand licensee for Eastman Kodak-branded photo chemicals worldwide. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Photo Systems says the chemicals would be available in early 2024.

Formerly a contract manufacturer for Kodak Alaris and Sino Promise, Photo Systems brings more than 50 years of photographic chemical manufacturing experience to the table, the company said. As part of the deal, the company will take over the manufacturing and distribution of Kodak Professional Photographic Chemicals, previously licensed to a company in China. Sino Promise in discontinued Kodak Professional Photographic Chemicals in April 2023.

“Analog photography and analog photo chemicals have always been the focus of (our company),” says Alan Fischer, CEO of Photo Systems. “We were very concerned that a vital link to analog photography would be lost. We are pleased to become the licensee of Eastman Kodak and carry on the more than 150-year tradition of Kodak Professional Photographic Chemicals.”

Photo Systems Inc. plans to introduce black and white chemicals as early as January 2024, followed by C41 color chemicals, E6, and RA4 by the end of the third quarter. Over five decades, the company has manufactured an array of other in-demand chemicals, including photographic, micrographic, and X-ray chemicals.

“Photo Systems Inc. has manufactured analog photographic chemicals for over 50 years from our plant and headquarters in Dexter,” says Fischer. “We will continue to use our many years of experience in photographic chemical manufacturing, as well as the specific experience in manufacturing Kodak Professional Photographic Chemicals we have garnered over the past four years, to deliver the quality and reliability that consumers have come to expect.”

Consumers will see additional new products shortly, including 1- and 2.5-liter kits of conventional C41, and conventional E6 will also be introduced. Minilab chemicals will be reintroduced in C41, RA4, and E6.