Single-Use Cameras

ME240/106S: Product Dissection - Appliances

Single-Use Cameras

References:

1. http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/environment/performance/recycling/suc.shtml

2. http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/film/otuc.shtml

3. http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/consumer/products/cameras/singleUse/singleUseFacts.shtml

4. Wheelwright, S.C. and Clark, K.B. (1995) Leading Product Development, Free Press, New York.

5. Alexander, B. (1993) Kodak Fun Saver Camera Recycling, Society of Plastics Engineers Recycling Conference - Survival Tactics thru the '90's, Chicago, IL, June 14-16, pp. 207-212.

6. Scheuring, J. F., Bras, B. and Lee, K.-M. (1994) Effects of Design for Disassembly on Integrated Disassembly and Assembly Processes, Proceedings Fourth International Conference on Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Automation Technology, Troy, NY, October, pp. 53-59.


First to Market

Fuji introduced QuickSnap 35mm single-use camera in the U.S. market in 1987.

Kodak, which did not have a single-use camera of its own, was caught unprepared.

The single-use camera market grew by more than 50 percent per year for the next 8 years:

• In 1988, 3 million single-use cameras were sold

• By 1994, over 43 million were sold


Kodak’s Response to Fuji

Kodak introduced its first model over a year later

Fuji had already developed a second model, the QuickSnap Flash

Kodak had experimented with single-use cameras:• Early version introduced in mid-1980’s produced blurred pictures and

had many quality problems.

• Kodak prided itself on excellent film quality; putting film into an inexpensive, plastic, single-use camera could result in second-rate photographs and hurt Kodak.

• Feared single-use cameras would cannibalize film sales whose gross margins were very high (80%).


Kodak’s Platform Approach

From April 1989 and July 1990, Kodak redesigned its base model and introduced three additional models

Because of their platform strategy, Kodak was able to develop its products faster and more cheaply, delivering twice as many products as Fuji

By 1994, Kodak had captured more than 70% of the U.S. market.


Kodak Improves Recyclability

Initially called “Kodak Fling” cameras, single-use cameras viewed as “disposables” or “throwaways”

This upset many environmental groups, calling the cameras “ecologically offensive”.

In 1990-1991, a massive redesign effort began to facilitate recycling and part reuse

• Integrated design, development, manufacturing, business, and environmental personnel

New designs were easier to disassemble, inspect, reuse, and reload


per (an Alum can takes ~60 days)

Single-Use Camera Recycling

Single-use cameras have since become the cornerstone in Kodak’s efforts in recycle, reuse, and remanufacture.

• 70% recycle rate in US

• 60% rate worldwide

A single-use camera can be returned to the shelf in 30 days after collected from a developer


Single-Use Camera Recycling

Exchange partnerships have been established with Fuji, Konica, and other single-use camera manufacturers

By weight, 77-86% of a Kodak single use camera can be reused or recycled

Kodak now provides the best example of “closed-loop” recycling in the world.


Single-Use Camera Lifecycle

Step 1• Camera is manufactured and loaded with unexposed film

which is pre-wound from the cartridge into a roll in the camera.

Step 2• Consumer purchases and uses camera, winding film back into

the cartridge one frame at a time as photographs are taken.

Step 3• Consumer returns entire camera to a photo-finisher for

processing.


Single-Use Camera Lifecycle (cont.)

Step 4.• Photofinisher removes the battery and film cartridge and

develops the pictures.

• Camera body is returned to the manufacturer for reuse and recycling.

• Manufacturer pays photofinisher a small fee for each camera returned as incentive to recycle.

• Battery is reused by another industry since it still has over half of its useful life remaining.


Single-Use Camera Lifecycle (cont.)

Step 5.• Manufacturer removes lenses and external enclosures for

regrind with to raw materials.

• Internal camera body and mechanism assembly is inspected and re-used, and new film, a battery, lenses and outer covers are added to make a “new” single use camera ready for sale.


“Closed-Loop” Recycling Program

Step 1Step 1Step 2Step 2

Step 3Step 3

Step 4Step 4Step 5Step 5


Covers: • The polystyrene covers of the Kodak Fun Saver pocket cameras

(both flash and daylight models) are ground up and recycled into covers for new cameras.

• The paperboard outer shell of Fun Saver 35, Fun Saver panoramic and Fun Saver telefoto 35 cameras is made of recycled material.

• The polycarbonate shell of the Fun Saver Weekend 35 camera models is ground up and sold to make non-photographic products.

Label: • On the Kodak Fun Saver models, the graphic label is ground up

during the recycling of the outer covers.

Component Recycling and Reuse



Film: • After removing the Kodak film for processing, the photofinisher has

the option of returning the camera to Kodak for recycling and reuse. • Since retailers and photofinishers play a key role in this recycling

process, they are reimbursed for each camera returned and shipping costs.

Lens: • To ensure optical purity, the camera receives a new lens each time

it is recycled. • Used lenses are ground up and sold to outside companies as raw

materials for other products.



Camera Mechanism: • The chassis, basic camera mechanism and electronic flash

system are tested, inspected and reused.

Viewfinder: • The viewfinder is re-ground and recycled into new internal

camera parts.

Battery: • Kodak donates any returned batteries to charity or the

photofinisher may reuse them.



Parts of the cameras that don't pass inspection are simply ground up and fed into the raw material stream for molding into new cameras.


Initial Kodak FunSaverTM Design

A

B

C

D

E

FG

H

I

J

K

L

M

IJL

A. Base B. View Box C. Shutter D. Number Gear E. Hair Spring F. Cantilever G. Square Hole Dial H. Movement Cam I. Swivel Piece J. Internal Spring K. Large Top Gear L. Sub-Assembly Body M. Top Cover

How do Kodak’s new cameras compare to the original design?

You will investigate this as part of the

in-class lab by dissecting an old

camera and one of the newer models


Kodak Single-Use Cameras(http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/film/otuc.shtml)


Kodak Single-Use Cameras

MAXWaterproof

MAXOutdoor

MAXFlash

MAXPanoramic

MAXSport

MAXWedding

Pack


Fuji Single-Use Cameras(http://www.fujifilm.com/)


Fuji QuickSnap Single-Use Cameras






Fuji QuickSnap Colors (http://www.fujifilm.com/bridgepages/colors.html)



Documents

Single-Use Cameras