How Does Kodak Make Film? (Kodak Factory Tour Part 1 of 3) - Smarter Every Day 271
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I LOVE Manufacturing, and I LOVE Film, so this was a really fun video to make! If you'd like to be notified when these are released without worrying about any kind of algorithm, here's where you can make that happen: www.smartereveryday.com/email-list Also, a HUGE thank you to Indie Film Lab for putting me in contact with Kodak. I get my film developed by Indie and they're GREAT. They'd be happy to develop your film here: www.indiefilmlab.com/
Im From Rochester!
Manufacturing is MAGIC! Things are only has good as their manufacturing processes, not their core design.
Fav ytuber
That first kid was so nervous talking to you at first lol. He was shaking! Why are you such a terrifying dude? 😉
Shout out from Rochester NY! Glad you enjoyed Kodak! My dad used to work there many years ago
Hearing skilled people talking about their jobs is probably one of the most rewarding things in life. So much to learn!
You might really enjoy the podcast "Ologies", then, since... That's basically the whole podcast 😂 assuming you're not already familiar with it, that is
@@LiteraryCurtastrophe I'm not! Thanks for the suggestion, I'm definitely checking it out 😄
The hardest part is breaking it down and simplifying, making sure the listener understands. That's the difference between an expert and teacher level proficiency in a trade or skill. It also requires good 2 way communication.
the tall guy has a hard time explaining the process though
ih, dobra espacial aq?
I worked at Kodak for 27 years in a professional position and never saw anything about the production of film. This is great - can't wait for the other two segments!
My dad worked there in 60's ish, I think
Interesting. My aunt developed film for kodak and used to take me to work with her. As a lil munchkin i saw the whole process. I feel quite lucky now.
Wow! Several people who were with us said they were amazed that we got to see so much! I'm excited to share some of the more interesting stuff!
@@smartereveryday You got to see so much because it's gone from a cash cow cutthroat product to a niche side business. All the secrets are known now and there is probably a cooperative agreement between Kodak and Fujifilm so they can both turn out the best film possible and keep this skill alive.
@@smartereveryday Great video. I was fortunate to be able to tour the ILFORD factory here in England a few years ago, without taking pictures. Impressed with your access and explanations.
I'm impressed that you made it all the way through this part of the factory tour without anyone getting sucked into a machine and having to be taken away by Oompa Loompas singing about their poor life choices.
😂
Lmao
Haha!
Bad Kodak employees get micro plastics for dinner 🗿
I've been an electronic engineer for 50 years, and have seldom seen such an amazingly good presentation of someting so complex. This is a trip through Kodak's film production process - with the actual machines and the specialists who run them - from frequent revisiting of the overview to numerous fine details. The host is superb at this - he keeps it moving, but is not afraid to stop and ask for more detail whenever something starts to get unclear. He also summarizes what he's been told, essentially zooming out to help the viewer keep a perspective on what's going on. He knows a lot about science, engineering, mechanics etc., and applies this to be able to ask clear, intelligent questions, and to draw illuminating comparisons with similar things in other fields of science and manufacturing. He keeps a positive spin throughout. The last thing I saw with this level of detail and attention-holding is a book called "From Dry Plates to Ektachrome Film," which I now want to re-read.
I worked for Good Morning America several years ago shooting stories about all kinds of things and one of the most challenging was doing this kind of project. We had “guest” scientists as presenters and it was always interesting… but… ( ah there’s always a “but”) it was hard for them to get out of their science mind and be able to communicate with the viewer. Here however Dustin, I hope I have that right, does an excellent job of making complex processes understandable. Tough to do… and especially so when he’s trying to relate to the engineer, the viewer and his own team so we get a clear sense of what we are seeing. Dustin you do a great job! I’m impressed and proud from a distance of what you’re doing. Keep it up. Now off to watch part two!
Thanks to Kodak for being open to allowing this video to be made. The employees who participated really did a good job presenting the process. You get the sense they're proud of what they do.
Yeah, the film manufacturing folks are amazing!
They must have been so excited to know the work they do is going to get the kind of attention Smarter Every Day can bring
Good now just tell kodak to pay me more
For real, mad props to Kodak. Because of this video I'm getting a old camera and buying Kodak film... My wife said I could.
Free advertising to a dying industry is always exciting.
I was so confused as to how the resin didn't end up in the vacuum lines. The graphic really helped and I'm amazed that the void you described is so reliably present.
im more confused at how to maintain a vacuum with so many moving and rotating parts, there must be some realy cool hermetic seal sorcery going on
I had a hard time figuring it out as well!
@@BrunoHenrique-gi1wd Is it a real deep vaccum or more like a vacuum from a vacuum cleaner? Maybe it's just strong enough to suck out the vapes.
This was also the point I struggled to understand, until the graphic that Destin made. It definitely helped to get a better idea of how the PET was able to flow past that vacuum inlet without getting sucked into it as well and clogging up the entire system. LOL
@@drstefankrank I think that's the case. It's just enough vacuum to ensure none of the gasses get squeezed back into the polymer.
Kodak film production is far more complicated than I had ever imagined, a great product and amazing factory tour.
I live literally down the road from the railroad tracks leading to the factory. The other day I got caught behind a train pulling in, I wasn’t even mad! I’m like “ah dude!!! Destin taught me what’s in those train cars. They’re getting their delivery!”
I was an IT consultant many years ago and saw reversing hot mills and cold mills for Aluminum foil and sheet Al. I've seen jet engine parts made and a whole lot, plastics production and more nothing compares to this process. Imagine the complexity of the control loops and PID controllers. Amazing.
This is why Destin will "never lose his voice". He makes videos about the things he likes and millions love what he likes. No sensationalism , no chasing latest tech.. just interesting unique videos
Instant respect for companies that show people around in their factory without many stipulations
Linus from LTT talked about this in a recent WAN show. They wouldn’t be there if there were any stipulations and for a company to get any benefit from them showing this the youtuber has to be able to do their job
This was not always the case with KODAK.
@@Maverrick2140 I'd suppose that they have a lot of patents on these manufacturing processes. One of the key component of patent system is that you had to explain in great details what the patented processes are, and these details are published in a public database anyone can look up and read. So, in effect, many of these details here probably are already public knowledge anyway, just locked in some dusty patent filling. Also considering how old most of these machines look, I think either the patents already expired, or they don't care if a competitor would try to replicate what they did, since the patent system would protect their rights to commercialize the process. Well, it's not like they have much competitors to begin with. Even with the resurgence of film photography, I doubt that there are going to be new entrants into film rolls manufacturing business.
No production secrets anymore...
It's a legacy technology and extrusion of plastic isn't a new thing either.
I spent many years in the Kodak plant that used to operate near Toronto. We are contract millwrights/precision optical techs and worked to install, modify, align and maintain the lines. One of our specialties was to align and level every roll on the line to ~0.001" of each other, though the line spanned several floors of the building. Kodak was always great to work with. Very cool, thanks Destin.
I know that you're super busy. But can you please upload part 2 and 3 of this Kodak video. You really know how to keep someone in suspense I've been waiting more than two months for this. LOL just interested in all of your content it's very educational and insightful. Thank you for what you do
You're in luck my friend, part 2 released today!
He can only upload when the government lets him. He is a gov agent. This is a fed channel. Hence nuclear submarines n missiles. He has a top secret clearance and he does w the gov tells him to do. Kodak? They have had gov contracts since the beginning. Hence his access.
You can tell this is a company that has successfully survived its creator because they have everything so clearly documented. I love how everything has labels in this factory. It's clear that they value passing down knowledge to the new workers, which many businesses fail to do, and fail because of. I've worked for a number of companies where each employee tried to hoard their own knowledge in a push for job security, but it's lead to the entire business rotting once the original owners died.
Your absolutely correct. True very high qualified recruitment and treating each and everyone like Gold will maintain retention to do this properly show the passion in there product and company! This also shows how not only they want the product, company to survive its like wanting to keep a 1920 time frame techniques for antique value as well. These workers seem like chemists level type intelligence! Books don't teach all of the knowledge needed as both books does, but hands-on passable experience is a huge component. I am grateful that this isn't being lost because of technology almost depleting the need of non computerized film.
It can also be a result of a safety or system failure as well. The machines are constantly tweaked and adjusted throughout their lifetimes.
Huh? You're talking about Kodak? The company that went bust because it refused to modernize, had to sell everything off, even its name? THAT Kodak? The company so destroyed by old fashioned thinking that their name is bought by the most shady manufacturers of printers, cameras, battery makers etc etc etc? That company is as dead as Nokia, and their name is just as traded and diluted.
Had an interview with a company like this. Their original employees have been working there for 30-40 years, but since they will retire soon, and their position require at least a BcS degree, the company started to head hunt like crazy in order to harness the knowledge from the OG guys before it's too late.
That sad part is beside the film part of this company. That rot is exactly what happened at Kodak. I saw it first hand. One of the saddest parts was Kodak was a pioneer in digital imaging and printing but they didn’t think it would take over as it did. If they had listened to their employees and analysts the digital imaging and printing industry would be so much further along. It’s really a shame for the industry even if we ignore the company
The fact a nearly hour long video hit the trending page just goes to show how immersive and fun Destin's videos are to watch. It's really impressive 😂🤙
I watched the whole thing and didn't even realize it was anywhere near that long until I saw this comment.
Repent to Jesus Christ ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV M
@Locke for some reason even with alerts on All I never get a notification about his videos. It's not until I scroll through my subscriptions checking for unmatched videos I find them. It happens with this channel and 2 others, idk what's up with it.
@@believeinjesus6972 I repent to my boy Carl Sagan cause he's the real start daddy.
@@believeinjesus6972 Is there a reason you’re spamming this all over?
This was such an interesting video, now I'm hoping part 2-3 will be uploaded soon. I've been checking in for a month just waiting until they drop and I can't wait
lol, me too!
same for me!
Came to look too
Same here:D @SmarterEveryDay any sneak peak on release date?
I am interested in this series too and waiting for part 2-3 desperately 😬. P.S. am not in the Film Buisness and do not watch it to copy the processes 🤫😊
When will parts 2 & 3 be streamed? This was an absolute joy to watch after working with Kodak film for many years. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the rest of the tour.
It is now!
@@amogusenjoyer Smarter every few months😆
Just an interesting tidbit of history: Much of the film manufactured in their Indiana plant in 1945 had come out contaminated and unusable. Kodak scientist Julian Webb made the connection between the times of various activities at Trinity and times their plant was operational, effectively identifying not just that the Manhattan Project existed, but also identifying the Manhattan Project's goal after testing revealed that the contamination of the film could only be caused by cerium-141, whose source could only feasibly be the result of nuclear fission processes, and with corresponding weather data, were conclusively the result of the strange activity in New Mexico being blasted into the jet stream and deposited by rain into the rivers and lakes around Indiana as well as directly on the cities and factories. Webb apparently realized the implications of such results in 1945, and did not publish his findings until 1949. Kodak would eventually gain a special dispensation to be made aware of testing times so as to cease manufacture at the times of greatest contamination risk.
There are a couple of great youtube educators that go into this in detail. It is very interesting stuff. Hope Destin sees your comment @Lord Marcus
I’m a believer in Kodak! Big mistake not going digital back in the day but now it’s poised for a big comeback. Buy kodak stock while it’s still cheap.
Must have been a very smart guy to draw such complete conclusions with very little data!
Funny how film maybe more sensitive then silicon.
Intriguing stuff thanks for sharing that a
Random story time: my grandfather was a scientist at Kodak in the 50&60s. When I asked him about what he did (I was about 16), he took out his Note book, and showed me all his notes and drawings he made while developing an improved method of recycling the silver during film manufacturing. He said that was his most successful project he was in. When he passed away I got to keep his slide rule he still had from Kodak. My little piece of scientific history.
I inherited my dad’s slide rule also. A lot of science was done on that thing. And we went to the moon on slide rules.
I was taking an electronics class in college back in 1974, all the students were still using slide rules then. About 3 weeks into the class a student came in with new Texas instrument calculator and every time the instructor has us calculate a problem, he would always be first with the answer. After Christmas break 5 more students had the new calculator and the rest of us using the slide rules couldn't keep up. After about another 4 weeks all the students in the class had calculators except me, couldn't afford one. Still passed the class with an A but I was the only one left in the room during the final, everyone else finish a half hour earlier using those new calculators.
That's so cool. It's amazing how the work he did back then still has its lasting effects.
@@Tallrs: Had TI incorporated your story of improved efficiency with TI calculators into its merchandising, that product line might have been more competitive. And I reckon they'd have supplied you with one or two of them. As small calculators became more sophisticated, I noted some TI engineers of my acquaintance going with Hewlett-Packard for their expanded range of capabilities (one chap collected them and carried them all in an attaché case). TI was not that interested in the general consumer market, and struggled in that area.
@@keithnichols7926 Ya, the Asians sure kicked our a** when it came to small electronics.😕
When I was in grad school for chemistry we had a scientist from Kodak come through and tell us about what they did, I guess it was a recruiting mission. Honestly it's amazing how much they've diversified and survived the film to digital revolution. And now that film is back, all the better for them.
Its sad though. They invented the technology that almost put them out of business. Make sure you have a good grip when you open Pandora's Box, I suppose.
Really nice overview of an industrial process. I'm an electrical engineer who's pretty much exclusively done factory automation stuff and this facility was a bloody dream. It's well laid out, clean, relatively quiet, the people seem to enjoy what they're doing... the magnitude of this tour is impressive considering it was sometimes like pulling teeth to get info on machines I was *actively working on* for the customer!
During world war two, Kodak was getting complaints about the film coming out fogged when processed. Kodak investigated the issue and found that the film had been exposed to radiation. They had linked it to the government's "munitions testing," which was, in fact, the Manhatten project. Kodak complained about it, threatening to sue. Instead, the government agreed to alert Kodak when a test was going to go off to protect their film. This agreement lasted decades. The government gave nuclear details, including weather patterns, predicted fallout, and radiation levels, to the film industry before even letting the public know of the dangers. It is quite an interesting story. I highly recommend looking it up.
Question everything.
Holy cow! That was so fascinating and kinda mind blowing that the government was willing to disclose that info to a private company just to keep them in business instead of the company having to invest in nuclear shielding or something.
@@jonathanfairchild I think it was less about keeping Kodak in business and more about keeping them quiet
Not just wwii but throught the cold war too.
If a picture is worth 1000 words. What would a video be worth? The Manhattan project was filmed and I bet they used Kodak film 🎥
I worked for Kodak for 34 years retiring 7 years ago. I spent a lot of time in all the film manufacturing buildings. I was a millwright in the construction division and built maintained and modified all these machines but I never knew how they worked. This was fascinating to watch. Thank you for making this and bringing back a lot of memories. Can't wait for the other ones.
That's amazing. What's a "millwright" ?
A millwright is the spoiled version of a mechanic.
@@funnyyylock A Millwright is basically a construction worker for industrial and factory sites... Sort of like a framing carpenter would tear down and then build and install the framing (walls) for your house or a finishing carpenter might install the island, counters, and cabinets for your kitchen... The Millwright sets up and installs the industrial machines in a factory... like those electric motors and gear-boxes for the extrusion screws... ALL those brackets layed out and welded to the floor and the motor's base was bolted down by millwrights... All the duct-work and rollers and plumbing for everything was done by millwrights... The on-site Engineers draw up the diagrams and figure out how everything is supposed to be done, and then they supervise and instruct the millwrights about the particular lines and measurements and details, while the millwrights actually physically put the equipment in... and fit it together. SO while a framing carpenter might need to be exact to within a 16th of an inch (U.S. code of construction), for some applications, a millwright has to be exact to within 5 or 10 thousandths of an inch of "dead-on-balls"... AND if any of the machinery has to be "updated" or replaced, it's usually millwrights who get called in to break down the old and get it out and then bring in and set up the new stuff... It doesn't happen often, but there are times when it needs to be done. Hope that helps clear it up... AND since they only really have to know how to line thins up and measure and set the construction precisely, they don't really NEED to understand what the machines are doing... even if it might seem helpful to know. ;o)
@@gunner4544 lol
I spent Friday lunches at the California Brew House and every so often a couple doors down the street (wink, wink)......1979-82 I was in building 23, 205.......23 is gone now, as I'm sure you know....
Where are part 2 and 3!!!????? REALLY looking forward to it.
Still refreshing this page waiting for part 2 😅
Destin the thing that always impresses me with your videos is how well you ask questions. If the way they’re explaining something may be too complex for some viewers to understand, you yourself don’t break it down, but you ask specific questions to get them to explain it further. It makes us understand things better and still allows them to be the experts giving the explanation. You get things simplified while always making sure they don’t look like they can’t explain something well!
Thanks for saying kind things!
Then taking it the next step to diagram it or model it so that we all get to understand it even better
This is one of my favorite things. The goal of a teacher is not to explain things, it’s to have the student actually understand. Destin talks to a lot of really smart people who are not teachers, and his way of asking questions until he truly understands is so good for the rest of us students.
I too felt myself askingthesame questions and almost as soon as I thought of the questions, he would ask them to explain it and resolve my question. Love the format (btw I never comment on videos but felt the need to point out how awesome this was put together) I can't wait for the next parts!
Some A1 Dad-Splaining right there!!!
The engineering is interesting. The molecular chemistry is impressive. The way you treat other people, Destin, is magical. Thanks buddy.
Couldn’t have said it better. The world needs more Destins.
I was thinking exactly the same thing during the video, wow! The way you give attention to everyone in the room equally shows you care, about them and their work. They'll feel appreciated!
100% good human
The science behind it becomes magic because of the magic of how Destin is treating it.
The young man explaining the machinery was very articulate and to the point, it's refreshing listening to articulate and informed people explain complex systems :)
WHERE ARE THE PART 2/3 AND 3/3 OF THIS? I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS!
Props to Kodak for actually showing/explaining in detail how it all works. No secret sauce whatsoever aside from obviously not being able to look inside closed running machines. Fascinating how complex it is to produce this “simple” PET film.
I agree!! So surprised we didn't hear more "that's proprietary" or "that's not something we discuss" from the engineers. What an amazing process and so glad they let us in on it.
@@bigskybob I assume all the patents and secrets have long since expired at this point. Kodaks special sauce is the fact they are kodak. not their approach to doing this specific chemistry.
@@theholyduck90 The secret sauce is having a billion dollars of building and machines and in house knowledge, and having it fully amortized after running nonstop for 50 years.
There is a lot of secret sauce, but most of it is going to be in exact formulas and temperatures, rather than something that is visible. You can see the barrels of chemicals, but you can't see how much of each is pumped in lol
@@JeffRAllenCH yes. That's what I mean by Kodak being Kodak
How cool of Kodak to do this for you. Lots of places wouldn't dare let the public see even half of this. Some top lads. Great advertisement for them, showing they're a human company
@Skynet 10/10, beautiful execution
Well really years ago it would be trade secrets etc, but films a rare thing now. Not as much competition.
@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi Decades ago... there are still many secrets to the process -- they didn't tell you the exact speeds or temperatures, for example. I thought people stopped making photographic film long ago. Precision plastic films are still a thing. (there's dozens of feet of it inside the various modern electronics around you... cellphone, TV, microwave oven, etc.)
Probably helps that there's basically no competition in this industry anymore.
Heavily relies on the scale of operations and the highly specialized nature of the process and the product. As if anyone could or would replicate it even if they wanted to!
Dude Destin I love all of your videos. You're like a teacher, taking us all on these little field trips that a lot of us may not be able to experience otherwise. Like I said, I love all of your videos, but the manufacturing "behind the scenes" ones are absolutely top of that list for me. I love being able to see how everyday things are made. From carburetors to film and beyond, it is all so amazing, and I really just want to thank you for all of this.
Great job as usual, Destin. As a skilled trades apprentice at Kodak in the early 1980s, I worked in several of these work areas. This brought back many great memories for me. It was fun seeing what's changed and what hasn't. Thanks for posting these videos!
I pass by this building all the time. So cool to see what goes on in there in such detail!
Same! This building is a deep memory of my childhood, driving along this road every day.
@@17-. me too!!!!
Hey csx42, I like your Minecraft videos, didn’t know you were in Rochester I live there too
@@kappa_kars same! I hope destin tried a garbage plate while he was here 😂
Me, too! Live near Irondequoit, work in Greece.
I have always loved the "how it's made" style videos but they never went into enough detail. This fills that need and is fantastic. I can't wait for the next video in this series.
Technology Connections goes into a similar level of detail about a lot of stuff you see every day, and never realized was that complex and interesting.
Yeah, it's rare to see something this comprehensive. And there are two more parts coming soon! It's amazing!
WE NEED PART 2
I've been a photographer for 45 years. We owe such a debt of gratitude to Kodak and other film manufacturers. By the time the digital revolution hit, film had reached a pinnacle. I used to buy Kodak E100VS by the case. In my opinion, it was the best color transparency film ever made. Kodak's TMax 100 is the best black & white film I've ever used too. Thank you Kodak and thank you Destin for giving us this series.
Destin, I have to say, maybe longer videos don’t do so well on youtube, but when I see a notification with an hour long video from Smarter Every Day my day instantly gets better.
100% agree. I appreciate the effort Destin is making. However, as a long time follower of this channel, I don’t like these long form content at all. I don’t have time for these. Please stop this, Destin. With all due respect; I wish you would go back to what you do best.
@@DrSardonicus Everything he does is what he does best. In my opinion, longer videos allow him to make a story of each project, to show the characters and give depth to each particular topic he tries to explain. It just shows that whatever he’s filming he is passionate about too. I understand that people might not have enough time and prefer shorter videos, I’m just a sucker for long stories so I am content :) You’ll find your time to watch the videos too, I’m sure. If you are a long time follower you too appreciate his videos even If you don’t quite agree with the format.
.... Destin's videos can be called: Happier Every Day 😉
@@DrSardonicus Some of us really like the longer form videos though, it's hard to make everyone happy :)
I actually prefer long videos that really get into the details of a subject. Little 5-10 minute clips are boring to me.
The most fascinating thing is that this isn't just a building with a hundred different machines in it. No, this whole building is a single machine. Enormous, multi-story machine that must be clockwork-accurate or else the whole thing stops. Amazing.
Love it!
You need to realize that in the heyday, Kodak was a city including 5 fire stations and I think 200,000 employees! Now Rochester is an optics center of excellence.
You might like the game Satisfactory. One of the main playstyles is doing exactly that - Building huge structures that are, essentially, one giant machine.
I love the mentor mentee relationship between the new and more experienced technicians. A great way to consolidate what you have learned is to explain it to others. What an excellent workplace culture to be a part of. Fantastic video!
I was a flight attendant and over nighted in Rochester, New York many nights and for very long hours. I tried so hard to get a tour such as this, but it never panned out. This is awesome!!
Have you tried having 11 million youtube subscribers? 😂❤
Every great factory needs this number of pipes. Love it.
A refinery and power plants is mind blowing crazy with there amount of pipes!
without all the pipes you'd never be able to ask "what do they all do??"
It's chilled water (which for most processes is at 55 Degrees F), steam, hot water and chemicals.
I love how Destin is never afraid to say when he doesn’t understand, and then asks the appropriate questions until he does understand.
Well yeah; he’s making a video for people that understand even less than he does.
The smartest thing a person can know is to ask about what is not understood.
You never stop learning. There's always more, and it starts by asking questions!
Smart people are not born smart. You become smart by asking tons and tons of questions...
Agreed one reason I love all these videos, when he is able to associate it to a previous video is also great
I love your ability to open my eyes to and get me to care about such incredible things that on the surface seem so dull and uninteresting. Also hats off to all these skilled professionals straight off the cuff knowledge. They don't skip a beat when explaining or answering questions. So awesome to see
Probably my new favourite channel. I love how you take the time thats needed to explain the subject matter in detail, as opposed to keeping it below a certain time limit for youtube algorithms
My father in-law used to MAKE THE PHOTO paper at that Rochester NY plant!!! Can't wait to show him this. Thank you for making this kind of awesome stuff!!!
I'm sure that he'd be proud that this is still going strong, nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st century!
@@razeezar they would LITERALLY walk with one at open when outside the dark room, so that the other eye stays darkroom ready! Metallica style I guess :p
@@JoinUsInVR That's awesome!
My father worked in Paper Finishing (Bldg 9). I got to see that process when I first worked at the plant (Bldg 25-Roll Film). I believe those building survived the massive cuts!
As someone whose lived in Rochester for the last 14 years and has wondered how the inside of Kodak looks like every time I drive by this so fun to watch!
Fellow Rochesterian here. We take pride in Kodak in upstate NY. My father worked for Kodak for nearly 40 years.
@@jonathanviterise1681 everyone in roc over 50 worked in kodak for half their life
Born and raised in Rochester. Grandpa retired from Kodak and most of my family put in 20 to 30 years there before being laid off. Some had their departments bought out by other companies.
I'm from rochester too! Always wondered what it looks like the inside. I also had grandparents that worked there for quite a few years
Hello neighbors I'm rochesterian I've also wondered what's inside that factory and I've been living here for 30 years. I plowed some snow a couple times there but never actually walked inside. This was very cool to see
Destin I absolutely adore your ability to project your enthusiasm and excitement unto your audience in every single video. I often feel like I am right there beside you as we walk through on the tour. Thank you so much for helping make me smarter every day ❤️
Another wonderful story woven together with personal interactions, unbounded curiosity, timely analysis with simulations, and especially the apt use of physical models. Great job and you had me to the end.
I worked for Kodak for nearly 20 years in Kodak park. Chills go down my spine seeing this once giant company stirring back to life. I left there in 2000 to work for a place that offered more opportunity, maybe even some job security. Since then I've changed jobs 5 times and the camaraderie has never been there like it was at Kodak. I worked in some of the buildings you see in the video. I haven't seen all of them yet, but the 35 mm spooling and packaging operation was in the end of the building I started working in when I was 20. There was some seriously neat, high-tech stuff to work on there. It WAS actually FUN. Hindsight ...
*blown away by the complicated process that goes into making of a simple camera roll*
LOL a camera roll doesn't seem simple... maybe a pencil seems simple.
Hurts thinking about all the film I wasted taking pointless photos as a kid. 😢
@@mikeicee Have you seen how they manufacture pencils?!
Similar to the process used for food packaging film bopp or bopet. Just much larger scale and less clean.
Also note theirs entire ethylene cracker plants dedicated just to turn natural gas into those plastic bits.
One thing I love about ur content is how in depth u go with it and how u explain it in a couple ways and in a visual aspect also Secondly it’s nice to know there are a lot of people out there who love to learn about all types of different things
I work with injection moulding and this video was great to watch. I'd love some more industrial, plastic manufacturing series. Thanks for making this video, SED!
I love how your channel has become a documentary type channel where the questions are asked by an engineer and not just a director that doesn't know what questions to ask or even what's going on. Very enjoyable! Thank you!
This is great as Destin will keep asking till he understands it and then can explain it to us who might not have caught on just yet. Good job explaining all these things btw Destin. As a "normal" college student (not too smart not too dumb) I understand it quite well after your explanations!
to ask the right questions is half the answer
The amount of detail into the process that Kodak shared is stunning. Thank you, Kodak, for not keeping everything secret!
@Vladimir Smith Uhh, that film gets used in all sorts of stuff like the latest and greatest screens, making that film is probably the core of their business at this point.
@Vladimir Smith yes Kodak is not a household name like it used to be, but I don't understand what you are trying to say. Do you believe they are just making roll of this for fun? Of course not, it is still being sold and people want and need it. You know that until only a few years ago most films where shot on film, and there are still tons of box office movies using it.
@Vladimir Smith Russian troll? 😂
@@marek9784 Yup. Contrary to what most people think, most movies are still shot on film.
@Vladimir Smith Only a small percentage of this will go to photography film, the rest will likely go to other industries where it is used for a huge array of applications.
My first job when I left high school was working in a photo laboratory processing film and photos. While also having my own home dark room and photography studio. I've been a photographer since I was about 10 and 40+ years later this is the first time I have ever seen this whole process. Thank you @SmarterEveryDay I appreciate this beyond belief
Super cool. I've spent most of my career working in manufacturing quality control and the best part is always getting plant tours where you can really see how the information coming out of the sensors and QC labs is operationalized. My previous employer coincidentally makes PET pellets like Kodak starts with.
I work in a 3M factory very similar to this making adhesive coated films for stickers and graphics. It's awesome to see the differences and similarities in our processes!
3M also made a LOT of photographic film, largely sold & distributed as a "private label" product, such as the branded K-mart "focal" film.
@@derekdowns6275 3M bought the Ferrannia factory in italy in 1964 where they made much of the private label colour film.
at my workplace we make PP foil for furniture and office applications (binders etc), i also thought the similarities and differences were cool.
charles were clearly EXTREMELY nervous, he were shaking when talking about the stuff but he is also so excited and enthusiastic about it that the nervousness doesnt really matter because he likes his job so much. Amazing to watch this.
Defenitley introvetered, but could talk so fluidly and knowledgably about his work. I'm the same - at work I can talk non-stop about what I'm working on, but in social settings I just sit and listen 😅 I love people like that.
In the beginning he was shaking but it got way better the longer he was talking to Destin. I guess especially in the beginning he was a little scared what kind of guy Destin would be but as he noticed how chill and excited Destin was Charles got more and more relaxed.
Phthalate exposure 😣
He was so knowledgeable and did an amazing job. I was also surprised that the lady was happy to just sit in the background. Just shows that he knew his stuff for her to not need to say anything.
i love how Destin always repeats or adds words showing he understands, and you can tell the people in interviews are genuinely impressed with how much Destin knows.. and as a viewer it amazes me how much Destin actually knows about sooo many subjects.
It's great that Destin's not afraid to say something wrong because then they get to explain another way to fix any misunderstanding.
Everyone at this Kodak factory has been AMAZING. I love to see this. I so love that film photography is coming up again. Congrats for this series.
Steve was cool AF. The still film shots were genius and I would've actually liked to see about twice as many. Great job Destin! Let me know if you ever need help on a project.
As a Plastic Extrusion Operator, it touches my heart to see some coverage on the extrusion manufacturing process! Thanks Destin!
I made a number of plastic extruders when I was a machinist so this was fascinating to me as well. In fact I believe we did some work for Kodak so there may be some part of this process that I made myself (unlikely but there's a chance)!
Someone else said it in video 2 but i full agree: So crazy when you that far ahaed and your work is so highly skilled and complicated that you don't even worry about keeping secrets anymore. Sick stuff. Thanks man.
I love how you keep showing a picture of yourself on a piece of film with positive colors rather than negative.
I would love to see a whole series on manufacturing from Destin. I love how he draws out the science.
THIS It blows my mind how complex it must be to commission a continuous run factory
Imagine a how its made like series but in the Destin style with these professional interviews and walk-alongs.
Yes! This would be awesome. I've worked in manufacturing plants for a while now. Pistons, engine bearings and now medical device and the processes are all super interesting
20:47 Destin, you have to understand that who you are and the level of detail that you notice is what makes these videos so awesome. You notice a small detail on this auger and you ask about it and then we get to reap the information that comes out of that question. Thank you so much for being you
That part just makes me recall the process of plastic injection molding, very similar or basically the same thing, I guess.
This video is "brilliant"! I love hearing about how things are made and why they are made that way. I started it in photography with film after watching my dad develop film for a college class. Reluctantly moved to digital. Film photography pushes you to learn so much more and become more skilled faster, IMHO.
This video was FANTASTIC. The level of detail and insight they (and you, too!) provided is amazing. 200% looking forward to the other two parts.
Waaaaaaay cool video. That was fun to watch.
Hey there Zack
The young guy was taught well. He was able to explain pretty much every part of the facility
Repent to Jesus Christ ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV J
And with genuine, infectious passion. He wasn’t talking down from a public relations script. How refreshing. Destin did a good job of catching tech jargon and having it translated so people not familiar with industrial processes and materials could easily understand. I really respect that editorial perspective and wished more would treat viewers as intelligent beings.
Pretty incredible that he picked all that up in just 2 years.
Right?! I was very impressed!
He is gonna go far in life for sure!
Seeing just HOW MUCH goes into it...in just the first video is NUTS. It's also REALLY cool that Kodak is being so open door about it. Seeing the first gentleman was awesome. When you were messing with the pellets you could visibly see just how nervous he was. His hands were so extremely shaky. By the end of his segment he was super comfortable and having a lot of fun. Always cool to see like that. You rarely see a workforce that enthused and a workplace that supportive. That's amazing.
This is just amazing! So great to have people explain the process in a very interesting way that helps you understand a lot of it. It's very rare for a company these days to let outsiders see how the products are made and be this open about their processes. Big hand to Kodak for this.
Hey! I am good friends with Mark and I am going to see him at church tonight. I will thank him for teaching me so much about the production of film. Thanks Destin for making this and I hope to see more in this series.
He reminded me of one of my favourite actors Jeff Goldblum. The thick glasses, the height, the pauses when he speaks. Too much similarity. Does he get that often ?
Smol WUUUURld
@@SF-li9kh Now that you mention it, you're 100% right.
Over the years I’ve used hundreds of rolls of 35mm film - and had no idea how complicated is it’s production. Thanks for a view of Kodak’s production.
I'm pretty sure the process is about to get a lot crazier!
You ain't seen nothing yet! Wait 'til they start coating the emulsion! Ex Kodaker who started my career in film support!
This was fascinating, but I do find it interesting that they showed the PET (Estar) production, as your 35mm films are almost certainly made on acetate support and not PET. Looking at the spec sheets for several of Kodak's films, like Ektar (my favorite color film) and Portra, the 35mm and 120 roll film use acetate support, and they move to PET for sheet film (4x5, 8x10). From what I understand, they also use PET for distribution of the final print film for movies (or did before most theaters went digital), due to its durability.
I was an Eastman Kodak employee for 22 years. I started as a systems analyst in Logistics IS before moving into software development roles for several digital products. (Including the Kodak Picture Kiosk, which appeared briefly in this video when you passed it in the museum part of Kodak Center). Although a software engineer by trade, I have always had tremendous respect and appreciation for Kodak's analog film legacy. The engineering that went into the design of the film and its manufacturing process is so impressive. I was happy to see your genuine interest and enthusiasm to learn about the process of making film. I was also encouraged to see how well Kodak was represented by the employees showing you around. I look forward to the next two videos. I am now continuing in the Kodak legacy as part of the Kodak Moments Business in Kodak Alaris. We were spun off and sold by Eastman Kodak in 2013. Our company has a donor plant in Windsor Colorado that manufactures ribbon for our thermal dye sublimation printers used in those kiosks. It leverages many of the same principles learned in film manufacturing. Someday, you may want to visit that plant as well.
This must be one of the craziest things I’ve ever watched. Went in with no huge expectations and just could not believe the amazing processes to make it work. Thank you for one of the coolest YT videos ever 🙏
Man, this 1-hour long video flew by like it was 10 minutes. This was so interesting to watch. Thanks for making me/us smarter every day.
I quite literally just scrolled up to prove you wrong but sure enough almost a whole hour past in no time.
I live in Rochester NY like 10 minutes from the Kodak plant! I drive by it almost daily! Thanks for making an awesome video as always!!
I lived like 5 min away for almost 7 years it’s beautiful and rustic
Same here!!
Hello neighbors 👋🏻
I live in webster
I'm in Binghamton, NY ... Had no idea Kodak was in Rochester
What a fascinating look at manufacturing technology! Thank you Destin for publishing this, and thank you Kodak for allowing him to!
This was fantastic! I’m a mechanical designer for manufacturing facilities and I never get tired of learning about manufacturing processes, especially the GIANT, complex process of a global product
I think know why I like these so much, it's because this is so much like "How It's Made" and I grew up with that stuff!
But this cares so much more about making you understand, how it's made was tuned more towards showing cool systems
except how its made is so condensed they often get the process wrong. Still like them but Dustins vids are so much more comprehensive I consider them several steps above how its made...
Definitely, I love the depth that he goes into in his videos
I'm a manufacturing engineering student and this just makes me want to enter the workforce that much more. I can't believe how much effort goes into making this product.
True very high qualified recruitment and treating each and everyone like Gold will maintain retention to do this properly show the passion in there product and company! This also shows how not only they want the product, company to survive its like wanting to keep a 1920 time frame techniques for antique value as well. These workers seem like chemists level type intelligence! Books don't teach all of the knowledge needed as both books does, but hands-on passable experience is a huge component. I am grateful that this isn't being lost because of technology almost depleting the need of non computerized film.
I'm actually struck by the amount of R&D needed to reach this point. The trials and errors and reformulations and subtle changes. AND THEN the design and implementation of these massive machines. It all ran so smoothly which means there was much tear out of hair to reach this point. And at the end, a $15 roll of film and they still make a profit.
Been loving getting back into film the last year or so. My old Pentax KX has been sitting on my shelf for a bunch of years, and it's been great giving it a new life. Just picked up a Pentax 6x7 and the extra resolution on medium format is insane!
I've been part of projects for Kodak and honestly referencing back to your footage has been very helpful. Shared this whole series with my company as we are based in the Rochester area. Another juggernaut in the area that will forget more about their business than most will ever know is Xerox. Similar story business arc as Kodak.
This is a great series! I have lived in Rochester for all my 67yrs. Countless relatives were "lifers" at Kodak.Something unheard of in this day and age. I myself worked in building 701 for a couple years in the early 70's, packing 35mm film developing machines, satellite photo, x-ray photo machines, for distribution, before moving to a quality control position. It was the heyday years of the company with over 50,000 people working in Rochester alone. big bonuses were paid to each employee in the company every year in March, based on your longevity with the company. A lot of goods were bought by Kodak employees in March and April. everything from appliances to new cars. It was a good life here. Along with Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch & Lomb, also originated here. I too am surprised that Kodak offered you such an in depth, behind the scenes, look at their film making process, but it makes sense now that film is just a niche format. Glad you are doing this series into just one part of what Kodak once did. Awaiting for the rest of the series. Thanks
66,000 in 1980 was about the peak - over 120,00 worldwide. They were a behemoth.
as a bricklayer from Buffalo NY and someone who has helped restore the Kodak center i really appreciate the history it brings to the area. cant wait for the next parts!!
So glad I finally got a chance to come back and finish this one. It's awesome, and the accumulator blew my mind a little.
I'm a construction manager who's visited all sorts of factories making everything from denim to lumber to substation transformers. Factory engineers and production workers always love talking about what they do.
Very interesting to me as a film photographer for more that 50 years. I was also a newspaper pressman for 40+ years. You should look into what's called a "flying paster" which uses the same accumulator tech to take up slack on a web of newsprint, (roll of paper) flying through the press at 20000+ impressions an hour, (maybe 600 fps). When you change a roll at speed, the flying paster takes up the slack in the web while a new roll is spliced on and then it's brought up to speed after the splice. It operates in just the same way as this accumulator does using a pulley system..
I wish we had that sort of 'accumulator' tech when I worked extruding plastic bag material in a two-bit factory (South East suburbs of Melbourne, Australia) back in the late '90s. The spool/roller spin rate was relatively slow but you still needed to be quick to not waste product. Greetings from Down Under!
As someone who’s been shooting film since the 80’s, I’ve watched quite a few videos ‘behind the scenes’ at Kodak. This is the most in-depth I’ve ever seen… and this was just part 1! Great job! Can’t wait for the next one.
Destin, glad you were able to highlight this. I am a Rochester native, and even in the 90s it felt like every single one of my friends parents worked at “Kodak Park” as it used to be called. Much of the plant has been demolished, but it was a true spectacle to see as a kid. They’ve rented out quite a bit of the complex to other industries including using the old dark-rolling room for growing medical cannabis. Kodak had its own fire department, bowling alley, movie theater, and even nuclear reactor.
I started shooting film about a year and a half ago and its been one of the most rewarding things ive gotten into. So its cool to see Destin posting things related to it, especially when its this in-depth
Love it! I’m from Rochester, my father worked his career at Eastman Kodak, he retired a microscopist, he inspected film for defects, one of his achievements when working there was figuring where a contaminant was coming from, they were finding small sand sized glass beads in the film, which resulted in a going through all parts of the coating rooms looking for where the beads were coming from, after a few months of this he discovered that 3M was using them to keep rolls of tape from sticking to each other, tape used to splice film.
I so appreciate how you combine scientific knowledge, with the innocence and excitement of learning. You're revealing things to people that nobody ever gets to see, and for that we're all very grateful for you.
Hey Destin. As soon as I seen the pellets they use and you described the way they come in on rail car, made me want to share with you. I have been in plastic making manufacturing for years. The pellets KODAK uses are THE SAME as some of the raw material that we use in Plastic injection blow molding. Which is really cool 😎 when you think about all the things that START with those pellets. Its incredible. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
Love all your videos, especially ones like this. Your uptake demonstration was awesome, so simple and perfectly shows what's going on. Thanks and keep up the awesome work!
You Missed the most Obvious Question: How do they get the entire process started??? When they do maintenance and have to restart the flow - how would they get all those steps to begin at just the right time/pressure/tension/etc.??? Love your work! KEEP IT UP. I look forward to parts 2 and 3.
If this is anything like printing books, I would imagine they have to run several thousand feet that ends up getting recycled. My dad works in a large print shop and they usually have to shred the first few hundred sheets when they are first starting up.
THIS! I can't get my head around how you start the whole process. How do they empty the auger when a batch is finished?! How do the start the feed through the rollers when the whole thing is drawn under tension, not pushed? So many questions!
@@kabadisha maybe it's like a glass stove. never stops.
My thoughts exactly!
It starts with heat. A lot of heat. The equipment I work on needs 6+ hours to "soak" after it comes up to tempurture or you'll be trying to extruded mostly solid product. Then you start the line slowly and hand thread the line. Probably isn't too big of a deal.
It's crazy that these hour long, high quality videos are available for free. Love the work you do Destin! Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to create such an informative insight into the world of film production. Incredible process and something so easily taken for granted. Wow !