Ilford looks for a solution to have 220 film manufactured

Ilford sent us this information :

Dear Customers,
We have received your petition for the return of ILFORD 220 roll film, we deeply respect the fervour and passion shown and the great effort that has been expended to assemble such a list of renowned photographers who would like to see this format re-introduced.
We have obviously taken note of the potential commercial opportunity of once again having 220 film within in our product family, we would be remiss not to.
The board of directors of ILFORD Photo, HARMAN technology Limited have discussed this petition and the opportunity, and discussed at length with our manufacturing and finishing staff the practicalities of returning 220 film to the range.
After due deliberation we find it impossible to do so at this time, the
reasons are set out below.
1) The finishing route of this film is part automated, the machine designated to 220 is chronically obsolete, in excess of 50 years old, and
currently de-commisioned. To refurbish the machine is impossible and to
manufacture a new one ( using the old machine as a template ) would cost in the region of £ 300,000.
2) Hand finishing of 220 has been evaluated and rejected due to the
potential quality issues of hand finishing in total darkness.
3) The highly specialised coated papers used for backing strips for 120
and for 'tops and tails' for 220 film has to be ordered in very large
quantities, the minimum order for 'tops and tails' would equate to seven years eight months stock* having to be ordered in advance of any production.
* Based on the last full years sales figures of ILFORD 220 film with no decline in sales taken into account.
4) If we were to commit to a new machine and the advance orders for
'tops and tails' and endeavour to recover the costs ( including interest )
over 3 years the cost of an individual film would be more than three and a
half times the cost of a 120 film, we do not believe this is sustainable,
therefore volume would reduce, and we would fail to recover the cost of our investment.
So what can ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited do ?
Our intention is to continue to try and persuade a partner to finish the film for us, we have had little success so far, but we will continue, and increase, our efforts, now that AGFA Foto has gone ( although they had already ceased all manufacture of all roll film and scrapped their equipment ) only two companies in the World have a quality system that is equal to our own for the finishing of roll film so we do not have many options.
We will keep the photographers who petitioned us informed of any progress. The Board of ILFORD Photo would like to take this opportunity to reassure all those who petitioned us that all the film product ranges will continue to be available in 120 and that all our other monochrome product families, film, paper and chemistry will continue to be manufactured and new products will continue to added to the range. We always have been and always will be passionate about our products, and our customers who use them.
We thank you for purchasing, using and valuing our products.
Simon.R.Galley, Director.
For and on behalf of the Board of Directors of ILFORD Photo, HARMAN
technology Limited
Mobberley, Cheshire, UK. 7th April 2006: