Evolution of Fujifilm
Chandrashekhar Sibal, EVP and Head Medical Division, Fujifilm, India provided a brief history and evolution of the Fujifilm since its inception. Sibal spoke on how Fujifilm’s film sales comprised about 75 per cent of its revenue, the company was at its peak when digital cameras flooded the market and the company went into a crisis. During the crisis the company diversified into different business segments and not only survived but thrived.
Sibal stated that Fujifilm today is a $23 billion company with over 80000 thousand employees worldwide, with 400 hundred employees in India. In 1983, Fujifilm started the first digital radiograph and since then it has grown by leaps and bounds when it comes to image processing, virtual grid technologies and other technologies that have come to the fore with different dynamic ranges and showcase soft tissues and bony structures differently. He also informed that a lot of work has been done on X-ray images and elaborated on how Fujifilm is going to work on CT, MR and other images.
He informed that Fujifilm’s business in India began in December 2007 with four employees continuously innovating, creating new technologies and new products that inspire and excite people everywhere. Now, with five offices in India, Fujifilm’s goal is to leverage the potential and expand its horizons.
He further added that Fujifilm has a vast portfolio of products to choose from which includes mammography machines, endoscopy systems, digital radiography systems, retrofit detectors, mobile X-ray machines, local X-ray machines, healthcare IT synapse, tri-chemistry analysers etc. With more than 30,000 thousand systems installed in India, the company’s focus is on AI and IT. The company also has a Make in India initiative to bring products that are required by Indians.
He also mentioned the new businesses in India like public private partnerships through which about 100-200 systems have been installed in partnership in most states, in collaboration with the government. He informed that Fujifilm has acquired 94 per cent institutional sales in the public health sector and the company is looking at expansion in Maharashtra, MP, Chattisgarh and Odisha.
Sibal went on to mention how Fujifilm has developed a platform for AI where new applications are being developed, with a brain centre in Tokyo. He even stated that once the film business starts declining AI will be the next film for the company. This would provide a bigger revenue in the next five years.
He also stated that Fujifilm’s synapse system is considered to be the best PACS systems in the world. It is the most robust system with over 5000 installations worldwide with more than 50 installations in India.
He also gave information on the CSR initiatives by the company such as breast cancer awareness activities, Pinkathon and AMOLED tap programme for breast cancer in Delhi. The company has also published a book on mammography, launched in the Indian market with Indian cases. The company is are also going to be a part of end TB programme with the help of X-ray and AI solutions. He concluded the session by informing that the company is investing heavily into a lot of equipment and solutions for early detection of cancer.