Hanimex

Hanimex was an Australian distributor and manufacturer,[3] primarily associated with photographic equipment.[4]

Hanimex
Founded1947 (1947)
FounderJack Hannes
DefunctApril 23, 2004 (2004-04-23)[1]
FateBecame FujiFilm Australia,[1] Hanimex name discontinued[2]
SuccessorFujiFilm Australia Pty Ltd.[1]
WebsiteHanimex Australia at the Wayback Machine (archived 2004-03-27)
Hanimex 110 KF pocket camera

History

Early years

The company was founded by Jack Hannes (1923-2005). Born in Germany and educated in England, Hannes' family fled Germany for Australia in 1939.[3] After becoming involved in the import of photographic products in the years following the end of World War II, Hannes formed Hanimex (an abbreviation of "HANnes" "IMport" "EXport")[3] in 1947.[1][3]

Hanimex was the sole distributor of Fujifilm products in Australia from 1954[5] until Fujifilm themselves purchased the company in 2004.

Growth

In the mid-1950s, Australian import restrictions led Hanimex to begin manufacturing projectors there locally, and by the early 1970s it was the second-largest manufacturer of slide projectors in the world.[3]

Hanimex-branded 28mm camera lens

Hanimex distributed cameras from a large number of manufacturers under its own name, including those of Praktica, Topcon and others, and eventually grew influential enough to move beyond simple rebranding and into having significant input into the design of such products.[6]

Hanimex "pong-style" dedicated games console

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Hanimex also sold several Pong-style video games consoles[7] (including rebadged designs from Hong Kong manufacturer Soundic)[8] as well as the "Hanimex Pencil II" home computer (also designed by Soundic).[9]

In August 1971 the company introduced the HC-1000. This was a portable battery operated cassette recorder featuring microphone compartment, carry handle and auxiliary input as well as mains adaptor. The machine was promoted throughout the UK during 1972 as a reduced price offer at petrol stations with 6 vouchers required to secure the offer. It was sold along with an EMI-produced 'musicassette'. As the equipment was very basic (made using plastic) and the market was awash with other manufacturers i.e. Philips, Bush, and ITT manufacturing similar, and better quality, equipment, the model ceased production after just 12 months in August 1972. However, during the early 1970s further models were also manufactured by Hanimex including the HC-2000, HC-2040 cassette recorders and the CT-3030 cassette tape player followed by the HRC (Hanimex Radio Cassette) Model 5020, an 8-Track Stereo Cartridge with AM/FM Receiver and digital Digital Alarm Clock. In 1974 a further production release was the HRC-5070 an AM/FM Radio Cassette Player. Many of the products were built and assembled in Korea to reduce manufacturing costs.

Resignation of Hannes and later years

Jack Hannes was awarded the Queens medal for services to Australian industry, and was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Japanese Photo Industry Association for promoting international friendship and prosperity.[3] He resigned from the company in 1982[3] following disagreements with a board appointed by its then-majority shareholder that prevented him running it as he wished.[6] In 2005, while on holiday in Switzerland, Hannes died aged 81.[6]

In 1985, Hanimex purchased Vivitar.[4]

In 1989, Hanimex was purchased by Gestetner,[10] which was in turn taken over by Ricoh in 1995.[11]

In 2004, Fujifilm bought Hanimex[5] from Ricoh,[6] following which it became known as FujiFilm Australia Pty Ltd.[1] and the Hanimex name was discontinued.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Company Profile: FUJIFILM Australia Pty Ltd". Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. FUJIFILM Australia Pty Ltd came into existence on 23 April 2004 following the sale of the Hanimex Group to Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. [..] Previously, Hanimex Pty Ltd had been the sole distributor of FUJIFILM products in Australia since 1954. Hanimex was founded in 1947 by Jack Hannes, [as] an import and export company
  2. "The Argus Slide Projector Raffle". Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. By 1958 Hanimex was a major player in the importing and distribution of photographic equipment in Australia. [..] Hanimex was acquired by Fuji Photo in 2004 and the use of the Hanimex name was discontinued.
  3. Paul Curtis. "JACK HANNES: 1923-2005: Hanimex and the Founding Distributor of Fujifilm in Australia". Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Jack Dieter Hannes was born in Berlin on April 12, 1923 [..1934..] sent to Buxton College in Derbyshire England [..1939..] family fled Germany [for] Australia. [Soon after WW2 Hannes] commenced [imports from Italy including] sunglasses and Durst Duca cameras and Durst enlargers this was the beginning of his involvement in the photographic industry. [..1947..] [Hannes founded Hanimex, named] from the first three letters of his name and the words IMport and EXport. [..1956..] [Australian import restrictions led to Hanimex beginning] local manufacturing of slide projectors [By early 70s] Hanimex was the second largest manufacturer of slide projectors in the world [..] In 1982 Jack Hannes resigned from the company. [..] [Awarded] Queens medal for services to Australian industry, [lifetime achievement recipient from] Japanese Photo Industry Association [for] promotion of international friendship and prosperity
  4. James F. Peltz (1993-01-05). "Yet Another Buyer Sets Its Sights on Vivitar". LA Times. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. in 1985, [Vivitar] was bought by Hanimex Group, an Australian photo products concern that, in turn, was owned by a big Australian real estate developer named Chase Group.
  5. "Fujifilm Acquires its Distributor in Australia and New Zealand". Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. April 2004. Archived from the original on 2005-06-17. Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. has [agreed] to acquire 100% shares of Hanimex Australasia Pty Ltd., the holding company of the Hanimex Group that acts as the distributor for Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. in Australia and New Zealand.
  6. Paul Burrows (2012-10-05). "The Australian Way". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Hanimex became [influential] enough to move beyond [mere imports] to having [design input on] Hanimex-branded cameras. There were some simple rebranding exercises [but] by the mid-1960s Hanimex had its own design department. [..] The Hanimex brand appeared on [cameras] by [Praktica, Topcon, Regula (Germany), Royal Camera (Japan), Finetta (Germany) and Dacora (Germany)] [and on] exposure meters made by Sekonic [..] [Hannes resigned in 1982 after] majority shareholder [..] stacked the board against him and [he] could no longer run Hanimex [how he wanted] on gut instinct and quick responses [to the market] [..] It was from Ricoh that Fujifilm subsequently purchased Hanimex Australasia Pty Ltd in 2004. [..] Hannes died in January 2005, aged 81, while on holiday [in] Switzerland
  7. "Hanimex". Old-Computers.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-25.
  8. "Hanimex HMG-7900". Archived from the original on 2020-11-28.
  9. "Hanimex Pencil II". Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. This Australian computer was in fact built and conceived in Hong Kong by Soundic Electronics, which produced a lot of low-end products at that time.
  10. Roger Burrows. "Jack Hannes......and a couple of Box Cameras" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-10-22. In 1989 Gestetner Corp. bought the company and in 1996 it was Ricoh.
  11. "Our history". Ricoh UK. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. 1995 : Acquired the NRG Group PLC (Nashuatec, Rex-Rotary, Gestetner, formerly Gestetner Holdings PLC) in the UK
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