Fujifilm Invests $30M to Boost Instax Film Production by 20%
Fujifilm is investing 4.5 billion yen (about $30 million) into its Ashigara Site at the Kanagawa Factory in Japan in order to boost its Instax film production capacity by 20%.
Citing increased global demand for its Instax film, the company says that it will begin enhancing the production capabilities of the Kanagawa Factory in stages starting in the fall of 2024. When complete, Fujifilm will be able to produce much more film than it can now and significantly more than it made just two years ago.
Instax is one of Fujifilm’s most valuable product lines and accounts for the majority of sales in its imaging division.
“Fujifilm will continue its efforts to cater to the demand for Instax films, which is increasing as a result of expansion in Instax product lineup, broadened events and business applications for Instax, and collaborations with partner companies,” the Japanese camera company says.
“By FY2025, when the new production lines go fully operational, Instax films’ production capacity will be approximately 20% more than the current level. Combined with the effects of facility expansion started in 2022, the production capacity will increase by approximately 40% compared to FY2021.”
Fujifilm has been aggressively expanding its Instax line over the last few years in response to a surge in popularity. Even though the Instax brand and line of instant films have existed since 1998 and digital photography has become the norm in high-end applications, lo-fi analog remains popular among young, casual photographers and has fueled not only demand for film but also for new cameras that take advantage of the format.
In response and over the last couple of years, Fujifilm released the mini EVO, the smartphone printer mini Link 2, and the mini 12 — all of which use Instax film — as well as new and different sizes of Instax film including the Square and Wide formats.
The company will not only increase its capacity to produce these films but has also signaled its intention to continue to iterate on the analog system and expand the line going forward. The growth of the Instax line is in contrast to the company’s stance on its other film lines, as Fujifilm has reduced its production capacity of film and photo equipment over the last few years. In 2021, it closed four of its five South Carolina manufacturing plants that were responsible for a range of printing plates, inks, papers, and disposable cameras.
Instax will celebrate its 25th anniversary in November.
Image credits: Photo by Ryan Mense for PetaPixel
