|
AgfaPhoto, who had been a manufacturer of Agfa digital cameras in the 1990s, is back for a second go round. European digital camera supplier, plawa has been granted an exclusive license for AgfaPhoto digital cameras. The license was granted by Cologne-based AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH.
Agfa has been one of the most prominent names in the photography industry for over a century. According to a digital camera survey conducted by Stern magazine in 2004, Agfa has an 83 percent brand awareness, making it the second best known camera brand. They were an early supplier of digital cameras from 1995 through to 2001. Agfa's ePhoto line-up offered about fifteen models from from entry-level consumer cameras to pro-oriented models. A number of their camera featured the CLICK! drive storage system.
AgfaPhoto Holding CEO Dr. Frank Nellissen noted the following: "In plawa we've found a licensee that has the product and marketing acumen in this key product sector that is needed for success in this aggressive and fast moving market. The Agfaphoto brand is all about providing photo retailers with quality cameras at good prices. plawa has decades of marketing and manufacturing experience with cameras and is a known quantity in the industry, making them the perfect partner for us".
The first product for the European market will be the AgfaPhoto DC-735, a seven megapixel, 3x optical zoom lens model with a 2.5-inch LCD display, built-in flash, movie mode with sound, Lithium Ion battery, and a metal chassis. It will be on display along with some other new additions at Photokina 2006.
plawa hopes to gain a five percent market share in the medium term on the basis of outstanding products, the robust AgfaPhoto brand and an enticing warranty and technical support package. plawa will be marketing AgfaPhoto digital cameras in Germany, while the other European markets will be serviced by distributors.
When it comes to product development, plawa has extensive experience with leading Asian production and technology partners such as Flextronics, which is already on board as the partner for the new product line. Flextronics, a major supplier in the Asian market, recently signed a production agreement with Eastman Kodak to design, manufacture and distribute Kodak cameras.
For more info, go to www.plawa.com.
|
