Kodak Receives EPA Award for Motion Picture Film Cleaning Technology

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--Eastman Kodak Company received the 2003Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency in recognition of Kodak's commitment to reducingozone-depleting chemicals through the development of Particle TransferRoller (PTR) technology for cleaning motion picture film. TheStratospheric Ozone Protection Award, presented as part of Earth Daycelebrations worldwide, recognizes a commitment to helping prevent therelease of ozone-depleting chemicals. Kodak was one of only fourcompanies worldwide honored in 2003.

"Kodak has shown you can achieve top-notch motion-picture filmquality while improving environmental standards," said DrusillaHufford, director of the EPA's Global Programs Division. "You can enjoyyour next film knowing Kodak's development of PTRs has eliminated theuse of several hundred thousand pounds of ozone-depleting substancesover the past 12 years."

The Particle Transfer Roller was developed by Kodak in 1989. It is aspecially molded soft polyurethane roller that captures dirt and dustthrough contact adhesion without the use of solvents. Prior to 1990,nearly all motion picture film was cleaned offline in ultrasoniccleaning machines that used a solvent known as 1,1,1-trichloroethanefor particulate removal.

Kodak developed and promoted use of PTR film cleaners that couldremove dirt and dust from film online during conventional film printingat labs and while motion pictures are projected at cinemas. As motionpicture film glides over the PTR, dirt and dust from the film stick tothe roller. The process improves motion picture film quality whileeliminating the use of environmentally damaging solvents. Over the past12 years, PTRs have supplanted 1,1,1-trichloroethane as the primarymethod for cleaning motion picture film worldwide.

"The PTR innovation helps protect the high quality of our filmproduct at theaters while also protecting the environment," said EricRodli, Kodak's president of the Entertainment Imaging division. "ThePTR technology that we developed and shared worldwide is characterizedby what's not there--dirt and dust on movie film--just as thestratosphere is protected by what's not there-ozone-depletingsolvents."

Kodak has disclosed the technology to customers and competitors fortheir unrestricted use. FPC, a Kodak subsidiary, sells PTRs to motionpicture labs, telecine facilities, and theater operators. PTRs are usedin thousands of movie theaters around the world, including most IMAXtheaters. The solvent-free process has eliminated the use of severalhundred thousand pounds of ozone-depleting substances. Kodak estimatesthat when combined with the use of CFC-free refrigeration systemupgrades in film manufacturing plants, the company eliminated more thanone million pounds of ozone-depleting substances.

"It's remarkable that such a simple, compact innovation has had sucha positive environmental impact worldwide," said Jonathan Banks,President of BHP, Inc., a leading manufacturer of motion picture filmprinting equipment sold to film laboratories. "Kodak's technology is astep forward for the entire motion-picture film industry."

The PTRs themselves are environmentally friendly in that they can bewashed with water and reused once they accumulate dirt. One set of PTRscan clean an estimated 20 million feet of motion-picture print film.PTRs are generally only discarded once they harden, become physicallydamaged, or lose cleaning efficiency.

Fun Fact:
Kodak's efforts to protect the environment also extend to the filmitself. Each year, Kodak recycles three billion feet, or 18 millionpounds, of motion picture film.

Additional information is available at http://www.kodak.com/go/motion.