Big Impact from Eindhoven world´s first in relief printing

Eindhovens Dagblad (Eindhoven´s Daily – newspaper in the Netherlands) printed an article about Big Impact, Eindhoven´s specialist in super large format printing. Together with manufacturer Durst, the company developed UV printing technology which makes relief printing on large format possible.

Pioneer Marc Schoenmakers of Big Impact started another adventure. Schoenmakers is envisioning a new market for what he calls printing in 2.5D. Printing in braille. Making a tactile map. An art project with relief. Tactile objects in museums for children. He is convinced that “it has new opportunities”.

Big Impact developed the machine together with their supplier, Durst. Their machine for so-called haptic printing is being further developed by Big Impact. At the end of this year the developmental phase of two years altogether is expected to be finished. The ink used is hardened with UV light and is printed layer by layer up to a height of 0.6 millimeter. The machine can print with a speed of up to 6 sqm per hour. This is expected to be improved.
The machine costs 500,000 euro and is currently printing test products. “We are gaining skills for designing products to maximise the technology.”