Allied Photographics India Ltd - Stock Valuation and Financial Performance

Allied Photographics India was established in October 1946. At the outset, the company represented Gevaert of Belgium, and marketed their range of products. In 1966, subsequent to the merger of Agfa and Gevaert, it merged with Agfa India to form Agfa-Gevaert India. In 1992 the Company adopted its present name to indicate its multifaceted representation of the national and international photographics and prepress industries.

During the period 1946 to 1986 the company was the first to introduce indigenously manufactured Photographic cameras like Agfa Synchro Box, Click III, Isoly I and II etc., and Black & White photographic papers in the country. These were marketed under the renowned ‘Agfa’ name. Ten years ago, the company started offering black and white photopapers under the ‘Sterling’ brand name. It holds a premium place in the market for this product. It also holds a prominent place in the market in photographic processing chemicals.

Some of the renowned international imaging companies Allied represents in India, are - Kodak Media Products for CD, DVD, DVC etc, Kodak for Ink-Jet paper and Films, Agfa-Gevaert , NV, Belgium for their professional products, ECRM , USA for imagesetters, Sterling black and white photographic papers and Ink-Jet paper, China Lucky Films Corp., for B/W paper & Films and Cine Negetive Films, Kingmax Digital Inc., of Taiwan for SD Memory cards, Compact Flash Cards and Multi Media Cards and various suppliers for graphic art processors.

Present Structure:

Over the years, the Company has significantly changed its staffing and working methods in keeping with changing times. With 18 offices and stocking points in India, Allied has one of the largest distribution networks in the photographic trade. These are connected by state-of- the-art computer communications for efficient control and quick decision making. The company is exclusive distributor of Kodak Pro Image and Ultima Films and Ink-Jet paper for entire India. Further recently KMP Hong Kong had appointed the company as their exclusive distributors for its media products such as CD, DVD, DVC etc., for India and the Indian sub-continent.

The sales offices are manned by qualified motivated sales staff and engineers to see that the entire market is effectively covered and services rendered whenever required. The company has its Head office at Mumbai, Corporate office at Kanpur, four Regional Offices at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. It  also have Branch offices at Ahmedabad, Indore, Raipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pondicherry, Lucknow, Guwahati and Patna. This is supported by a wide network of stockists spanning all parts of the country, enabling Allied to effectively cater its customers.

Allied is known for its commitment and service to customers and the trade, for its sound business ethics, and reasonably priced good quality products. The company’s objective has been to provide value addition to customers in India, through marketing service.

New Products:

In keeping with changing technology, the company is now in the imaging business, and has diversified into computer related products dealing with digital imaging, such as digital cameras, image setters, inkjet media, CDs, DVDs, DVCs etc.

Milestones:

• October 1946 - Allied Photographics was established. It marketed Gevaert graphic art and diagnostic products.
• 1953 - Agfa India was established. It marketed all the Agfa photographic products. It also marketed the first box camera – The Agfa Synchro Box – to be manufactured in India by The New India Industries.
• 1966 - Allied Photographics and Agfa India merged in India, to form Agfa-Gevaert India, subsequent to the merger of Agfa A.G. (West Germany), and Gevaert N.V. (Belgium) in Europe, to form Agfa-Gevaert. Agfa-Gevaert India Limited marketed the entire range of products offered by Agfa-Gevaert Europe.
• 1989 - The company introduced, for the first time, Sterling Resin Coated Sterling RC black and white papers, which are more economical and convenient to use than traditional fibre based papers. These 'RC' base papers are now used by most photographers in India.
• 1989 - The company offered indigenously manufactured Sterling phototypesetting papers of international quality for Argon and Helium-Neon light sources.
• 1989 - In the fields of seismology and off-shore exploration, the company pioneered in India indigenously manufactured Sterling photographic recording paper used for off-shore exploration, and filament lamp recorders used in seismographs.September
• 1992 - Agfa-Gevaert India changed its name to Allied Photographics India.
• 1992 - The company introduced the popular Premier range of x-ray processing chemicals, and the Sterling range of graphic processing chemicals. 
• 1994 - Allied introduced Ilford Multigrade papers in the Indian market, for the first time. 
• 1995 - With the liberalisation of import policy, Allied offered Indian customers world-renowned Pentax cameras manufactured by Asahi Optical Co., Japan. Available only under a license earlier, these could now be offered from local stocks, backed by a national servicing network. 
• 1996 - The company celebrated its Jubilee, having completed 50 years of service to the photographic industry. 
• 1997 - Launch of world-class ECRM Imagesetters for pre-press industry.    
• 2003 - Due to various cost control measures introduced during previous year, the company turned into a profit making enterprise.
• 2005 - Company started dealing in various photographic and allied products manufactured by world renowned parties. The Company obtained exclusive distributorship of Kodak Ultima, Kodak Pro-Image films in India.
• 2006 - Company diversified its activities and started dealing in Ink-Jet Paper, CD, DVD, DVC, etc. The company obtained exclusive distributorship of Kodak Ink-Jet Paper in India. Similarly company was appointed as exclusive distributor by KMP Media of Kodak branched CD, DVD, DVC, etc. for India and Indian sub-continents.