Kodak spin offs transform Rochester
By: Mark Gruba
Updated: January 19, 2012
Kodak's slow march to bankruptcy has given Rochester an unintended benefit, a number of successful spin off companies that are helping write the next chapter in the areas economic future.
"Kodak has through this process, has helped us to be able to diversify our economy," said Greater Rochester Enterprise President Mark Peterson.
A growing number of companies, such as Carestream Health and ITT Exelis, have spun off from the image giant, giving the local economy a group of new powerful engines. "They leave us really something terrific, wonderful companies that are growing and doing very well all based on Kodak's patents and Kodak's smart workforce," said Peterson.
Logical Images was founded in 1999. A top Kodak engineer helped develop the software which helps doctors identify and diagnose diseases. "In their lifetime most people will experience a skin rash or an oral lesion or an eye lesion, a visual problem that needs to be identified and diagnosed and that's what this company is about," said Dr. Art Papier, one of the founders of Logical Images.
Images of medical patients, stored on technology developed by Kodak, from Kodachrome to digital, is loaded into the company database. Old slides are transferred on a Kodak scanner. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Kodak," Papier acknowledged.
The database, nearly 100,000 images strong, is accessible to doctors on their smartphone or tablet. Over 1,300 hospital and clinics use Logical Images' software. "What's really remarkable in healthcare is how many physicians are now using mobile health technology," said Papier.
As a small company, Logical Images has been creative and adapted quickly to changing technology. Now Kodak, once the iconic standard, must do the same. "I don't think because they're bankrupt Kodak's dead," said Papier. "I think there's profitable divisions of Kodak where there are still dedicated and brilliant people."
It's likely through bankruptcy, other divisions within Kodak will be sold off. With the infrastructure and intellectual base already in place, they could become the next spin off successes in Rochester.
"Kodak has through this process, has helped us to be able to diversify our economy," said Greater Rochester Enterprise President Mark Peterson.
A growing number of companies, such as Carestream Health and ITT Exelis, have spun off from the image giant, giving the local economy a group of new powerful engines. "They leave us really something terrific, wonderful companies that are growing and doing very well all based on Kodak's patents and Kodak's smart workforce," said Peterson.
Logical Images was founded in 1999. A top Kodak engineer helped develop the software which helps doctors identify and diagnose diseases. "In their lifetime most people will experience a skin rash or an oral lesion or an eye lesion, a visual problem that needs to be identified and diagnosed and that's what this company is about," said Dr. Art Papier, one of the founders of Logical Images.
Images of medical patients, stored on technology developed by Kodak, from Kodachrome to digital, is loaded into the company database. Old slides are transferred on a Kodak scanner. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Kodak," Papier acknowledged.
The database, nearly 100,000 images strong, is accessible to doctors on their smartphone or tablet. Over 1,300 hospital and clinics use Logical Images' software. "What's really remarkable in healthcare is how many physicians are now using mobile health technology," said Papier.
As a small company, Logical Images has been creative and adapted quickly to changing technology. Now Kodak, once the iconic standard, must do the same. "I don't think because they're bankrupt Kodak's dead," said Papier. "I think there's profitable divisions of Kodak where there are still dedicated and brilliant people."
It's likely through bankruptcy, other divisions within Kodak will be sold off. With the infrastructure and intellectual base already in place, they could become the next spin off successes in Rochester.
