http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html Greetings, friends! I’m writing to you on this lovely June day from Northern Europe. While my visit here was originally planned to be just a visit with long time friends, I was fortunate enough to also visit with the folks at Impossible, BV in Enschede in the east of the Netherlands, about two hours by train from Amsterdam. This was the last operational Polaroid film producing plant in the world, closing its doors in late 2008. I met with Mr Andre Bosman, the executive director of The Impossible Project. After 30 years as an engineer with Polaroid, he and a number of other chemists, engineers and investors began The Impossible Project with the goal of reinventing integral film by the beginning of 2010. Mr Bosman very kindly gave me a tour of the old Polaroid machines, and over the course of two hours explained the assembly process of 600 Spectra film (that’s the film that could be used with the SX-70 camera or the kind that “spits out” of your old One Step) and showed me the machinery they were able acquire from Polaroid. He also explained the current chemical experimentation efforts to create a new developing agent and discussed some of Polaroid’s marketing history (last 10 years or so) and the progress and expectations of the project. The goal is to introduce a new pack film similar to the old 600 film that can be used with the millions of instant cameras already in existence around the world. 1 million pieces in 2010, 3 million in 2011 and up from there. If you know anything about the history of Polaroid, you know they were VERY secretive about their film development, components and assembly procedures, so being able to tour the remaining part of the plant and see some of the old machinery was very exciting. Photos would never have been allowed back in the day! The folks at Impossible are not recreating Polaroid; they are creating a new product that has already attracted a market and demand. Stay tuned for more information about this interesting and exciting project. http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#0 8025d81e-4d02-4511-9cb6-530118b02dfc http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0107.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0107.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Mr Bosman shows me one of the <br/></p><p class="Caption">automated machines that used<br/></p><p class="Caption">to make Polaroid 600 film in <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">this factory.</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#1 ad651932-2fca-4d14-874f-9b85b6b9f5d6 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0108.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0108.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Different components come together</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#2 fadba487-af6d-47a3-8c7b-8c423212a45a http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0109.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0109.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Fiber optics controlled each stage <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">of assembly</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#3 ae1e7427-4fea-467a-8384-088c7ae3148b http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0110.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0110.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Pods that hold the developing agent</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#4 86ff905f-f990-4de2-bcff-b7566fbf8c86 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0111.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0111.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Film almost assembled! (No, it&#x2019;s no longer <br/></p><p class="Caption">operational. That film is just for explanatory <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">purposes.)</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#5 0a6a4890-7ec4-42a4-9a94-73b5c10f09da http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0112.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0112.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Packaging area.&#xA0; Film is packed into boxes and loaded <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">on to palates.</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#6 bbf9cc02-7a27-4c15-a6d3-9b7f4063990f http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0113.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0113.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Small batch testing mixer.&#xA0; The actual production<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"> mixers are much larger.</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#7 4f3c6e2b-e485-4290-a5b9-6b557b901043 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0114.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0114.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">This machine slices components <br/></p><p class="Caption">of the film for the pods that contain the developer.&#xA0; <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">It is EXTREMELY precise.</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#8 4f74e029-d7d5-43de-89b2-a95c1343bae3 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0115.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0115.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Pod material, pre-sliced</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#9 dd07a7dc-8d5d-4f16-9b64-b4e1ac9328b8 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0116.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0116.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">More precision assembly equipment</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#10 9f6a5bb9-5461-41c9-b401-51d9e21957b1 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0117.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0117.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Total number of film packs &#x201C;born&#x201D; <br/></p><p class="Caption">in this factory!&#xA0; (x10 for the actual number of <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">pictures!&#xA0; Yes, that would be 16.5 billion!)</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#11 dcf2df66-0f70-4612-a5b6-6c6d14af3a25 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0118.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0118.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Engineers and chemists are currently testing new developing agents. Here are some test strips.</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#12 b74ca39a-ac2e-4b47-965a-44d22d6eb18d http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0119.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0119.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Mr Bosman and top/only chemist Mr Martin Steinmeijer review the latest trial.</p></div></div> http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit.html#13 0b3466f5-a046-448d-9d9f-860efbe86836 http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0120.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.ehlcreations.com/Site/Impossible_Visit_files/Media/DSC_0120.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Each successive test brings us closer <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">to new instant film!</p></div></div>