Film and TV Technician (1957)

December 1957 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN 171 FILM MANUFACTURE IN EAST KEN ROBERTS, Secretary of the Kodak employees' A.C.T.T. Branch, describes his visits to the Agfa and Dekopan factories GERMANY TOURING a recent stay in U Eastern Germany, I eagerly accepted an invitation from the East German Chemical Workers' Union to visit the raw film manufacturing plants of Agfa and Dekopan. The State-controlled Agfa works is situated at Wolfen, in a greenish area about thirty miles from Leipzig. It is indeed an astonishingly large plant employing over 15,000 workers of whom 60% are employed on film and sensitised goods production and 409f on the manufacture of rayon, artificial silk, chemicals and magnetic tapes. Dressed in White Before commencing my extensive tour accompanied by the factory manager, interpreter and officials of the Chemical Union, I was dressed from head to foot in white protective clothing, which is the usual precaution taken when entering workrooms where sensitising is taking place; this helps to prevent dust contamination on the film emulsion surfaces. At my own request the programme was concentrated round the actual making of the raw film base, the viewing of the emulsion coating machines, the spooling sections, melting departments, etc., in fact, all the processes which are essential in making it possible to put that treasured roll of film in the technician's camera. I was shown everything I wanted to see with the greatest friendliness and readiness. During discussion I learnt that the Agfa works emerged from the last war almost undamaged, all the machinery and technical installations were unscathed, making it possible to start production immediately after the end of hostilities. Seemingly a great obstacle to the competitive capacity of Agfa in the world market was the compulsory release of all their patents and processing methods. However, I saw for myself that today they are working to full capacity. The working week generally is 44 hours. In the main departments, a round-the-clock, three-shift system is worked, consisting of eight hours per shift. Numerous grades, positive, negative, colour and X-ray are being produced for internal consumption and for export. Ninety-nine per cent of production, I learnt, is now on safety film base. It was pointed out to me how in pre-war days, under the economics of private ownership, thousands of pounds were often spent and countless man-hours invested, in an attempt to discover a process or a production method which another local film competitor had already discovered. Constant antagonism between companies existed. But today, I was informed, in Eastern Germany all film companies pool their ideas and exchange personnel and experiences. Joint meetings are held, too, between German, Russian, Czechoslovakian and other film workers. This has tremendously minimised raw film defects, overcome production bottlenecks and has revolutionised methods. Industrial secrets are shared, full co-operation is the motto. Advanced Techniques This united co-ordination has not meant a destruction of the competitive spirit, or a stagnation in production. On the contrary, it seems to have had the opposite effect. My attention was drawn to the high degree of mechanisation, with the most advanced techniques I have ever witnessed. I observed by the speed of the machines and the intelligent team work, that even under darkroom conditions there was extremely high productivity, without signs of sweated labour. As a trade unionist, I of course took interest in the activities of the factory union. Membership of the Chemical Workers' Union, which caters for all Agfa workers, is voluntary. There is no closed shop. I was told that the main duties of the union were to deal with items appertaining to the welfare of the workers, among them being wages, social insurance, safety measures, etc. From what I saw and heard it is not failing in its job. Wages by present East Ger Ken Roberts at Agfa Factory man standards are good. Every kind of factory amenity one could wish for is available, canteens, children's nurseries, dental treatment, X-ray units, and excellent medical facilities. I was assured that dermatitis which can arise from the handling of chemicals, raw emulsions, etc., is extremely rare owing to protective measures which are in operation. At the Dekopan film works at Kopenick, East Berlin (prior to 1945 this plant was owned by Kodak Ltd.), over 1,000 workers are employed. It suffered substantial damage during the war but is now fully reconstructed with new extensions. It produces its own film base. Owing to space I must sum up my impressions in a few words. Work conditions and amenities, in common with Agfa, are first rate. Modern perfected darkroom techniques exist. A recent achievement by Dekopan is the development of (continued on page 172)