The story
In 1919, engineers Evžen Schier and J. Bárta founded a company in Prague-Nusle for the production of photographic plates, sold under the brand name Ibis. In 1921, the company moved to Hradec Králové and changed its name to Fotochema.
Initially, production in 1921 was focused on photographic plates and processing chemicals. In 1931, production of black and white papers started, and in 1933 the production of roll films. Since 1949, the product range has been extended by X-ray films for medical uses (MEDIX) and X-ray materials for non-destructive defectoscopy. In the 1950s new products included graphic films for the printing industry, black and white cinematographic positive films and 35mm (135 format) perforated films.
In 1958, the company introduced the production of high-quality Fomacolor colour papers and in 1964 colour negative films and in 1971 the production of Fomachrom colour reversal (slide) film. Continuous research and development led to the improvement of existing products and their further expansion, such as reprographic materials, special film for aerial photography, etc. Industrial X-ray materials (INDUX) were added in 1988.
After 1990, the company focussed on black and white photographic materials (films, papers, chemicals) and X-ray films MEDIX and INDUX including processing photochemical baths.
In 1995 the state-owned company Fotochema was privatised establishing Foma Bohemia Ltd (S.R.O.). In 1997 Foma achieved ISO 9001 quality assurance.
From Wikipedia’s article on Foma Bohemia, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5