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Eastman Kodak Co. (Kodak)

(Cigarette filter mfg from 1950s to 1994.) Manufacturers of quality control equipment for cigarette packaging

Eastman Kodak is located in Rochester, NY (LAT 8/13/94). They were the manufacturer of cigarette filter materials from the 1950s to 1994. They are the manufacturer of visual inspection systems and quality control equipment for cigarette packaging. Eastman Chemical, as a subsidiary of the Eastman Kodak Co., was the major cigarette filter material supplier for 40 years (A. Blum/NYT 8/6/94). Eastman Chemical Co. became an independent company in January 1994 (A. Blum/NYT 8/6/94). Eastman Chemical is a former subsidiary of Eastman Kodak. Eastman Chemical is no longer affiliated with Eastman Kodak since 1994 (NYT 7/23/94). Eastman Chemical produces material for cigarette filters (NYT 7/23/94). Kodak had an exhibit at the 1992 tobacco industry exposition in Raleigh, NC (A. Blum/NYT 8/6/94). R.J. Reynolds bought about $50 million of materials for cigarette filters from Eastman Kodak in 1982 (Barbarians 1990). In 1994 Kodak's Videk Systems Division made visual inspection systems and quality control equipment for cigarette packaging. (A. Blum/NYT 8/6/94). Videk Corp. was sold by Kodak in September 1993 (J. Blamphin/LAT 8/13/94). Kodak's German subsidiary is listed in the 1994 edition of Tobacco International Buyer's Guide and Directory (TIBG&D), a standard reference (A. Blum/NYT 8/6/94). The reference to Kodak in the TIBG&D refers to inspections systems from Videk (photography?), not a tobacco-related business (J. Blamphin/LAT 8/13/96). Eastman Kodak applied for international patent application WO 92/05713 in 1992 regarding adding tobacco extract to filters; "The patent application describes cigarette filter fibers with complex geometries making them capable of holding additives. The fibers; designs result in improved delivery of the tobacco modifying agent to the user. Tobacco extract, nicotine and nicotine salts are listed as possible additives that can be used." (J. Slade statement 3/25/94). See Eastman Chemical Co., TTLA Almanac - Names.