Kodak and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Announce New Collaboration

June 9, 2015 | By Business Wire News

ROCHESTER, N.Y.

Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:KODK) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the largest science and energy laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy, have entered into an agreement to increase national competitiveness in roll-to-roll manufacturing, thus accelerating commercialization and manufacturing of next generation battery and energy storage devices and materials.

The agreement is intended to transform the development and manufacturing of new products in the clean energy sector by connecting emerging companies with resources at both Oak Ridge and Kodak’s Eastman Business Park (EBP). In doing so, it is also meant to spark the formation of new, high-tech entrepreneurial companies at EBP, resulting in the creation of new, high-skilled jobs within New York’s Finger Lakes Region.

“The diverse capabilities of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, spanning a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines, will support accelerated development of the growing base of clean energy companies at Eastman Business Park,” said John McMullen, Kodak’s Chief Financial Officer.

Martin Keller, Associate Laboratory Director for Oak Ridge National Laboratory said, “Under this agreement, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Kodak’s Eastman Business Park will provide a seamless support system for the next generation of innovative technologies—from invention to evaluation to scale up to market-ready consumer product. Together, we aim to transform the way new materials and systems are developed and manufactured in the U.S.”

This collaboration has the potential to make EBP a centerpiece in domestic development of clean energy technologies and the manufacturing of related products, according to Kodak’s Chief Technology Officer, Terry Taber.

“EBP has infrastructure and key technical capabilities, including expertise in high volume roll-to-roll manufacturing and deposition technologies, which are critical to the development of new economy growth markets, such as energy,” said Taber.

Roll-to-roll technology provides a more efficient manufacturing process, resulting in lower costs and higher quality through the continuous operation of production lines for coated products. Applications currently underway at EBP and Oak Ridge include:

Energy sector technologies such as batteries, capacitors, fuel cells and thin film solar cells.
Energy-saving products such as window films and LED lighting.
Flexible electronics such as sensors for touch screens.

“Global investment in the clean energy sector has risen nearly five-fold since 2004, growing to $269 billion worldwide in 2012,” said Claus Daniel, Deputy Director of ORNL’s Sustainable Transportation Program. “Despite this growth, America has lost more than 30% of the jobs in the manufacturing sector since 2000. Technologies like roll-to-roll manufacturing can position the U.S. as a leader in this expanding sector.”

Quotes from Government Officials

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter:

“This partnership is a big step forward in our efforts to create jobs in Rochester and Monroe County and is critically important to the future of our national competitiveness in roll-to-roll manufacturing. Combining Eastman Business Park’s testing and manufacturing strength with the world-renowned research capabilities of Oak Ridge National Laboratory will bring more high-tech companies and new, high-skilled jobs to Rochester as we develop and commercialize clean energy technologies. For years, I have been bringing top officials from the Departments of Energy and Defense to Rochester to see first-hand the brainpower and infrastructure that we have. Agency leaders are impressed with Rochester and today’s announcement is one of the payoffs from those visits.”

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer:

“Beginning today, the U.S. Department of Energy will power up Eastman Business Park by flipping the switch that will drive more high-tech start-up companies to locate in Rochester. Leveraging a prior $611,000 federal investment to create the IMSSI Accelerator at Eastman Business Park, today’s partnership with the Energy Department’s Oak Ridge National Lab puts Rochester on the map as a national hub for manufacturing next-generation battery and energy storage devices and materials. Now companies identified by Oak Ridge National Labs can set up shop at Eastman Business Park and repurpose Kodak’s unique roll-to-roll film manufacturing machinery and expertise to launch entirely new products and industries that will create jobs here in Rochester.”

Mayor Lovely A. Warren:

“This partnership is another positive step in Rochester’s renaissance and emergence in the 21st century economy,” said Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren. “The newly announced agreement between Kodak and Oak Ridge National Laboratory will play a crucial role in our efforts to bring more jobs, safer neighborhoods and better schools to the city of Rochester.”

About Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

ORNL’s roll-to-roll manufacturing research and Battery Manufacturing Facility are supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the U.S., and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit http://science.energy.gov/

About Kodak

Kodak is a technology company focused on imaging. We provide – directly and through partnerships with other innovative companies – hardware, software, consumables and services to customers in graphic arts, commercial print, publishing, packaging, electronic displays, entertainment and commercial films, and consumer products markets. With our world-class R&D capabilities, innovative solutions portfolio and highly trusted brand, Kodak is helping customers around the globe to sustainably grow their own businesses and enjoy their lives. For additional information on Kodak, visit us at kodak.com, follow us on Twitter @Kodak, or like us on Facebook at KodakNow.

About Eastman Business Park

Kodak’s Eastman Business Park is multi-use research and advanced manufacturing center in Rochester, NY. This 1,200 acre campus encompasses more than 100 buildings, 2.5 million square feet of space, and over 50 miles of integrated roads and rail targeting numerous points throughout the Northeast. Often referred to as a “city within a city,” EBP possesses a self-generated utility infrastructure and bench top to prototype analytical tools supporting the commercialization of clean technology products in the materials science space. Some of the more than 60 companies located within this unique innovation ecosystem are manufacturing highly diverse specialty chemicals, thin films and medical products, while others are advancing the development and deployment of functional films, energy storage and bio-mass materials. Visit us at www.eastmanbusinesspark.com.