Fuji expands U.S. x-ray imaging operations

March 1, 2000

Fuji expands U.S. x-ray imaging operationsIn a strong indication that its x-ray film business is healthy and growing, Fuji Photo Film has embarked on a $300-million expansion of its manufacturing and distribution operations in Greenville, SC.

Fuji expands U.S. x-ray imaging operations

In a strong indication that its x-ray film business is healthy and growing, Fuji Photo Film has embarked on a $300-million expansion of its manufacturing and distribution operations in Greenville, SC. The project includes two new manufacturing facilitiesone for color photographic film and photographic paper, the other for x-ray film finishingand a major extension to the companys existing distribution center. Fuji plans to have the two new factories up and running early next year.

The move is expected to have a positive impact on Fuji Medical Systems conventional and digital x-ray imaging businesses and its enterprise-wide image and information management systems business, according to Clay Larsen, managing director of marketing for Fuji Medical Systems USA, which opened a U.S. manufacturing facility for digital medical imaging equipment and software last August. In particular, it should complement the companys efforts to help customers transition to a filmless environment.

Many customers dont want to treat computed radiography, digital x-ray, and PACS separately, Larsen said. They want to bundle film and CR or CR and PACS or put them all together into a plan to transition from film and lasers to CR and PACS. What a lot of people dont realize is that, as customers go to digital x-ray, there are going to have to be interim printing solutions before they go completely filmless.