CHAMPION PHOTOCHEMISTRY
1978. Champion Litho Products Ltd (CPL) founded as a Canadian distributor of US made graphic arts photochemicals.
1980. CPL commenced manufacturing of graphic arts photochemicals in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
1981. Established Champion Chemtech Limited (CCL) a holding company to facilitate growth internationally and by acquisition.
1982. CCL opened Research & Development laboratory in Mississauga.
Established Champion Photochemistry Incorporated (CPI) in USA to acquire Albert Chemicals, in St. Louis, Missouri; Albert Chemicals specialized in color photochemical manufacturing since 1948.
CPL became the first ever manufacturer in Canada of prepared color photochemicals, and changed its name to Champion Photochemistry Limited.
1984. CPI signed toll manufacturing agreement with Fuji Photo USA Inc. Other toll agreements included: Mitsubishi Paper, Ilford Anitec, and Polychrome.
1987. Established Champion Photochemistry International Limited (CPIL) in Brentwood, U.K. to acquire the photochemical business of May & Baker Ltd, Dagenham, UK (Rhône-Poulenc). May & Baker had established a reputation for the highest quality x-ray, graphic arts and color products in over forty countries, since entering the photochemical market in 1948.
1990. Champion Photochemistry Pty Ltd (CPSA) established in South Africa to acquire Rhône-Poulenc’s photochemical business.
1991. Champion Photochemistry Sdn. Bhd. (CPM) established in Kuala Lumpur, making Champion Photochemistry the world’s first producer of prepared photographic processing chemicals on four continents – North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
1992. Introduced NatureCare RTU to selected North American markets, the photochemical industry’s most comprehensive environmental product stewardship program.
CPM signed toll manufacturing agreement with Konica Corporation, Tokyo.
1993. CPL awarded “Outstanding Business of 1993” by Mississauga Board of Trade.
CPL won Recycling Council of Ontario’s Waste Minimization Award for NatureCare RTU.
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of the Environment awards the country’s highest environmental award for “Corporate Environmental Leadership” to CPL for NatureCare RTU.
1994. CPIL certified ISO 9002 at its European factory in Brentwood, U.K.
Achieved distribution in 60 countries world-wide through a team of Authorized Distributors.
1995. CPL recognized by “Canada’s Business Voice”, The Financial Post as one of “Canada’s 50 Best Managed Private Companies”.
CPM signed toll manufacturing agreement with E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co (Inc).
Champion Photochemistry India Private Limited (CPIN) established to acquire Rhône Poulenc’s photochemical distribution business in India.
CPSA’s business in South Africa is sold to Instant Image (Pty) Limited.
1996. New R&D laboratory inaugurated at CCL, Mississauga.
CPL awarded Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Conservation Award.
1997. Achieved distribution in 80 countries world-wide through a team of Authorized Distributors.
CPL won Mississauga’s top environmental corporate award: Clean City Campaign.
CPM achieved ISO 9002 Certification at its Kuala Lumpur factory.
1998. CPL & CPIL completed toll manufacturing agreements with Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, Inc.
CPL certified ISO 9002 at its Mississauga factory.
1999. Authorized Distributors now in over 100 countries.
CCL & CPL acquired the business of L.B. Russell Chemicals reinforcing Champion Photochemistry’s position as the world’s largest independent manufacturer of prepared colour photo-processing chemicals, and fourth largest worldwide after Kodak, Fuji, and Agfa.
2000. Introduced world’s first complete colorprint Single Part (SP) homogeneous liquid chemical system featuring 3 clear SP developers
2002. CPIL acquired Photosol Limited a manufacturer of x-ray photochemicals based in the United Kingdom.
Announced a world’s first full line of single part chemistry – all 7 photo processing baths (C41 & RA4) are now clear single part concentrate solutions.
2003. All three manufacturing sites certified ISO 9001/2000.
Champion Photochemistry Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd (CPC) established in Shanghai, China.
2005. Champion Photochemistry and Droqsacolor Chemicals S.L. (“DQC”) completed the merger of their businesses to form the world’s largest independent manufacturer of photographic processing chemicals. CPIL manufacturing operations were transferred to Barcelona.
2006. Champion Photochemistry was chosen by Kodak after a global competition to acquire its major photochemical plant in Chalon, France and, contemporaneously, entered into a multi year supply agreement with Kodak for all of its photochemical requirements in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Chalon Photochimie SAS (“CPF”) created to acquire the photochemical assets and operations of Kodak in France. DQC contemporaneously entered into a multi year photochemical supply agreement with Kodak for supply to Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Champion Photochemistry Incorporated (“CPI”), to acquire the photochemical assets and operations of Kodak’s Rochester site in the United States. A multi year photochemical supply agreement is part of the deal with Kodak for the supply of photochemicals to the US and Canada.
2007. Kodak sold its Health business to Carestream. Subsequently Carestream became a Champion customer under the photochemical supply agreements Champion signed with Kodak in 2006.
Barcelona and Mississauga manufacturing operations were transferred to Chalon and Rochester respectively.
2008. R&D activities were transferred from Mississauga to Rochester.
2010. Consolidated manufacturing to Rochester & Kuala Lumpur.
Relocated R&D to Malaysia.
Awarded PLAZACREATE supply agreement.
2011. Inkjet program was launched.
2012.
- Champion CSS compatible Epson and HP wide format digital inks sold to more than 10 countries
- Champion launch its CSS Noritsu Dry Lab printer inks being the 1st competitor to Noritsu inks
2013.
- Noritsu dry lab inks plus Epson and HP wide format inks sold to more than 20 countries
- Epson 7900 series inks added to the range of Epson printer compatible ink
2014.
- Noritsu dry lab inks plus Epson and HP wide format inks sold to more than 25 countries to date
- Canon wide format and Fuji dry lab CSS inks to be launched mid year