Carestream to expand operations at Eastman Business Park

Medical imaging systems and non-destructive testing company Carestream plans to expand its film finishing operations at Eastman Business Park. The company has committed to creating up to 70 new jobs over the next five years while retaining 47 jobs.

The first phase of the project will include an additional 16,000 square feet of space at Carestream’s current location, with the potential for further expansion opportunities. Additional upgrades will include the purchase of new machinery and support upgrades to the buildings’ utility infrastructure, dark rooms, packaging lines and the addition of a new wet lab.

Empire State Development will provide up to $700,000 in Excelsior Tax Credits in exchange for job creation commitments. The total project cost has been placed at roughly $3 million. Renovation work is expected to begin in May and be completed in the second quarter of 2022. Monroe County, the city of Rochester and Greater Rochester Enterprise Inc. also will assist with the project.

“Carestream continues to be a leader in the medical and dental film markets. We are excited to be able to grow our team and invest in the Rochester area,” said Carestream Chairman, President and CEO David Westgate. “Our team’s innovation and enthusiasm are a testament to Carestream’s dedication to providing the best products in our market segments. Carestream continues to march forward toward a strong, successful future.”

Last fall, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Carestream would help in the fight against COVID-19 by investing more than $1.67 million to manufacture135,000 face shields. The CARESTREAM Shield is being manufactured in Rochester and is available for purchase from select distributors and Amazon. The company was awarded $750,000 in grant funds from the state to help alleviate product shortages due to supply chain issues.

“This investment into Eastman Business Park will not only create jobs but continues to expand on the revitalization efforts in a much-needed part of our community,” said state Sen. Jeremy Cooney, D-Greece. “We appreciate the work of Carestream and Empire State Development for their support of this critical project.”

Carestream’s expansion builds on the success of EBP, the site where Eastman Kodak Co. began manufacturing photographic film and paper more than a century ago. The campus continues to be repurposed, and today supports nearly114 companies, employing more than 6,000 people. In addition to Carestream, LiDestri Food and Drink, Kodak, DuPont, L3 Harris, Columbia Care, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Love Beets, Li-Cycle and Acquest Development are among several companies operating at the business campus.

“Kodak built Eastman Business Park to manufacture film and as such we heartily welcome Carestream’s new film manufacturing operation to the site. The infrastructure here provides an ideal environment for making film, but it is also useful for a wide range of innovative high-tech manufacturing approaches,” said EBP President and Kodak CFO David Bullwinkle. “We are pleased to support Carestream’s efforts to support job growth into Rochester at Eastman Business Park.”

With 1,282 patents granted worldwide, Carestream is a worldwide provider of medical imaging systems; X-ray imaging systems for non-destructive testing; and precision contract coating services for a wide range of industrial, medical, electronic and other applications — all backed by a global service and support network. Carestream employs close to 700 workers statewide.

[email protected]/585-653-4021

Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer