Inside the Last Polaroid Factory in the World 🌎 Full tour at Polaroid's Netherlands film facility
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- Following Polaroid's bankruptcy in 2008, their legendary instant film was on the brink of disappearing for good. But not for long...a team of heroes banded together and formed the Impossible Project, purchasing whatever Polaroid machines they could get their hands on and claiming their last factory remaining on Earth. In this episode, we tour through this miracle factory, the amazing place where Polaroid was ultimately rescued and continues to be produced today.
This was truly a dream come true and I'm thrilled to present to you a comprehensive look at the processes and people that make Polaroid possible. Additional interviews and segments will be published on my Patreon in the coming weeks! You can subscribe here: / inaninstantchannel
You can catch me on IG at / the.instantgram
Cinematography by Melvyn Connell (@melvynconnell)
Special thanks to Andrew Billen, Ruth Bibby, Connor Lundy, and the rest of the Polaroid team!
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Thank you for watching this mammoth episode of In An Instant! It was the ultimate honor to be allowed to document this amazing and important place. More segments and interviews will be released from this journey on the Patreon! Weekly drops, first bonus factory episode is already up: patreon.com/inaninstantchannel
I would love the chance to tour this factory Ive got loads of ideas for their science division there
Still though i guess ill have to make due with the material ill be getting from them till I can get a chance to go to the Netherlands
@@entity9742 You should apply for a gig on PolaroidSciences.com!
@@InAnInstant i would but in order to work there id need to either be in New York or Netherlands but sadly im based in Alabama
Relocate to accomplish a dream?
@@InAnInstant possibly i did submit a application to see if its possible to do a outsource position sort of like a outside r&d department for now
Huge respect to the people that brought Polaroid back to life.
Absolutely amazing way to capture moments
One of the greatest comebacks of all time. A real shame about the pull apart film, and Fuji axing a viable product. Shame on them.
Hugeeee
But... they need to improve the film. It's too expensive for such a flawed product. The original polaroids did not look like they had been taken in the 30s. That is what the new film looks like, if it works at all. Mark my word, the polaroid brand will not survive another 5 years if they dont improve the film and perfect it. Everyone will eventually move over to Fujifilm.
@@laurencewhite4809the problem is the chemicals they used to use have been banned, but companies who are still using said chemicals got grandfathered in. Once polaroid closed its doors back in the 2000s that marked the end of the grandfathering for them, so when they came back in the early 2010s they were no longer able to use said chemicals, so now its been a game of figuring out how to stabilize the film with other chemicals. They had almost nothing to work on as the original company did not share any information with impossible.
I live in the Netherlands, and this video absolutely inspired me to apply for a job in this factory! I actually had an interview this week!
Woh, this is seriously so cool, good luck!!
@@Lettuce-and-Tomatoes I had a really great interview but it wasn't a perfect match this time so without going into too much detail, no I didn't get it. I will try again later though!
I’m a Polaroider in Taiwan, I also want to go😂😂😂
I love the idea that all of today's film comes from the same source. It makes me feel connected to other Polaroid photographers in a way.
It's such a unique configuration, the film truly comes directly from their home to yours!
The emulsion is not coated in Enschede. You can see everything in the video, even uninteresting things, but not the coating process.
Glad there's people keeping instant analog photography alive!
Amen JM
"When I die, turn me into photographic emulsion" immediately puts that in my will.
Yeah since I improvisationally suggested it, now I've been thinkin that really might be the way to do it. Reclaimed Ben coming in hot.
All these years I've lived in Enschede and never knew the factory is still active! I've heard people talk about 'the old polaroid factory' but never knew they still produce film there. Very cool.
Wow! It’s really interesting you could be in Enschede and not know they were still ticking over there. Polaroid fanatics speak of Enschede around the world! Hope some local pride gets stirred.
@@InAnInstant haha. You definitely stirred some local pride. I kinda want to visit the factory for myself now.
The sounds and visuals of those machines happily clicking, beeping, ringing, and cachunking away while you have a conversation is somehow very satisfying.
I love to hear this! The audio recording was a huge challenge.
Nice to see my company back where I worked for 30 years. Had a tour before 5 years ago. I saw many documents and procedures from me and my Colleague. It's a great product!
Glad you enjoyed it Willy and thanks for all you've done!
What a great video. As a Dutch person I am kind of proud that the last factory is located in my country.
I loved that little story telling from Jan. What a legend!
Seriously me too, I was hoping to meet someone who'd been around since the old days and almost at the end of our second pass through the factory we caught Jan!
That was awesome! I hope these old guys from the heyday of film manufacturing coming back to help restart production feel truly revered for the knowledge and experience they hold and can pass onto the next generation. Without their help, the future of film photography isn’t so bright.
The definitive modern-day Polaroid factory tour. What a gift! Thanks, Ben!
It was a true pinnacle moment to get the opportunity to do this, so glad it is preserved and can be shared!
A 43 minute In An Instant episode? Be still, my heart!
I live in Enschede since 2 years ago, I live on the same street of the factory and I never imagined it was the last one in the world, might study harder to get to work with those amazing people.
Hablas español?
This video is so incredibly satisfying, having been bitten by that Polaroid bug a couple of years ago. What an awesome bunch of people working there and keeping Polaroid alive and thriving. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
It's definitely an inspiration to see the wonderful faces and passion behind this thing we love so much.
I’ve TH-cam searched ‘Polaroid factory tour’ so many times searching for this and it’s finally real! It’s so fascinating to learn how things are made in general but Polaroid is a whole other level. Thanks Benny ❤️
Like when that rare thing you’ve been lookin for finally pops up on eBay 😂 love it man thanks so much for watching
Incredible that you got the chance to visit here in the Netherlands and get a tour, it's wonderful that this artform is still surviving!
Agreed! I think it’s severely underrated how much this whole thing is still driven by passion and humans - these people and this place make it all possible.
Truly an apex episode and you can feel the correctness of their mission that Polaroid just needed to continue to delight the world
My favorite part was the chat with Jan Valentiine. I thought the guy was going to cry. I still wonder why the cartridges still say Impossible at the bottom. Glad you asked the peel apart question. Really nice video.
Thanks Efrain, maybe the molds have Impossible on them and it’s costly to bring them out of commission just to change the imprint - or, they like the homage. I personally love that it’s still on there!
Paying homage to our past 🥹
Amazing seeing the faces of the people behind the scene keeping Polaroid alive!
This is freaking awesome! Best tour I've seen since Mr. Rogers toured the Crayola factory. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Thems big praise, thank you so much Okie!
Honestly couldn’t ask for more. This was such a treat. Loved watching all your genuine reactions in real time whenever they showed you something new. Also seeing the passion that the people who have worked with those machines for decades have in is just unreasonably heartwarming. Think I’m gonna melt.
It´s great seeing a factory working, specially when they produce artistic oriented objects for people.
Holy Spit!!! That was so amazing, i had no clue what was involved in making polaroid film!!! I am jealous that you got to see it in person!!!
It’s mindblowing stuff BB 🔥❗️
Having access to all areas that show a complete manufacturing process and the passionate and dedicated people that keep a very unique and specific art form alive is outstanding. Well done.
I worked for years at the Norwood Ma facility. In a building called N1 we used New Britton, Cincinnati, and Ingels injection mold machines to manufacture lens components. There was a huge pride working there then. Thank you for sharing this video. Loved it.
I worked in N1 and N2, and Waltham and it was fun to see the equipment running again.
This reminds me why I love Polaroid...and now I want Polaroid to do tourism "field trips" so I can tour this factory, also!
This makes me appreciate Polaroid even more . I couldn’t of imagined how much goes into each photo.
I just wish you asked about spectra.
I did ask about that actually, but it was off-camera at the time. The long and short of it is that the film was not successful (low sales) and the situation was compounded by technical challenges in getting it to function consistently. Plus, it occupied machines necessary to meet demand, so it was putting undue pressure on the whole production ecosystem.
@@InAnInstant cool , thanks for the reply.
I’m just happy to see Polaroid doing so well
The interview with Jan and him talking about "coming home" and seeing the new younger employees, surprising them with fixing the machine, was so heartwarmingly wholesome of a story. Ben you must have felt like charlie at the chocolate factory, dude. (except the unethical chocolate labour and child deaths 😬 ). My polaroid passion has just grown even more, and I didn't know that was possible.
It truly was that sensation the entire time, still can’t believe it happened but thankful I have this video to prove it!
An incredible tour documentary! I somehow didn’t think their operation was so big, which makes you wonder how big it was in it’s heyday. An incredible feat bringing all that back to life from an old factory partly disassembled with little schematics and having to find ex-employees to make it all come alive. Ironically Fuji, a licensee, would have been in a position to help the OG, if they wanted to.
Martin you’re the man!! Agreed on all fronts, and funny to think about Fuji ever helping…anyone out 😂
@@InAnInstant That said, I love Fuji cameras. With film, they faced similar issues as the “new” Kodak, namely the digital revolution saw everyone shut down film plants and scrap all the old machinery. When Fujifilm finally revitalised ACROS 100 as ACROS 100 II, turns out it is made in England with a different formulation, hence slapping II on the end. Ilford has denied it’s just a rebrand of their film. At any rate, obviously Fujifilm doesn’t have the manufacturing setup anymore that makes up the last part of their name. But they do have plenty of Instax, it makes far more profit than their digital camera division. If only they made decent Instax cameras for the enthusiasts wanting a quality Wide-format camera with decent focusing and decent glass optics. A more ‘pro’ ISO 100 film would be nice too. While you’re at it… how about a 6x9 “Texas Leica” Instax camera with ISO 100 film? As it is, I dream of being able to convert an old Polaroid Pathfinder with the developer parts of a cheap Wide 300 inside.
At least plenty of third party manufacturers are making great cameras and backs!
@@InAnInstant That at least shows there’s a market, somewhere between the new teen crowd with colourful plastic party cameras and nostalgia nerds prepared to pay for expensive small-run cameras with ok optics or Lomo backs for expensive large format cameras. But as you showed in your factory tour, to recreate certain types of film for higher quality would be prohibitively expensive at present for unknown gain in a possibly fickle market, so certain types of camera would be of limited use, eg the experiments with Instax Wide backs on large format cameras using clunky spacers etc are more for the fun and nostalgia rather than high-quality output and to experiment with pushing the limits of 800-ISO Instax.
Definitely correct on all accounts there 👏
My respect for film has increased by ten folds.
I remember all those years ago when impossible saved the film. I was so grateful and excited. Yes the first films where not 100% and had issues. People were constantly complaining about costs, quality blah blah… but me and many others stuck to it and kept buying and we kept the dream alive. I still have an original impossible SX-70 film. Please bring back Spectre!!!
Thank you for making this. It's amazing to see not only the process but the people around Polaroid and their passion for the medium.
That’s definitely the feeling I got to, witnessing these amazing people in their craft, some of whom with 35 years on their belt. And they still seem so singularly driven, even after all these changes and all this time.
A video out of series. I don't know who you are, but I appreciate this tour that you have been able to share with people who appreciate this type of photography. I would like to know what happened to Dr. Florian. What caught my attention the most was that those in charge of the factory had the humility to call older people who had originally worked there, for this reason my favorite moment was when you spoke with Jan Valentijn. I wish that in that factory, they could make cartridges type 100. I remember with sadness how spectacular the original cartridges were and how magical it was to see how a photo would reveal itself. I hope one day they can reach 10 photos and the same quality as the Polaroids from before 2008. Greetings from Chile
Hey JSL! Florian Kaps was bought out and he founded Supersense, which is trying to revive Type 100 as you might know. I agree about the Jan interview, definitely a peak moment ♥️
Thank you Ben, and everybody at Polaroid who opened their doors to show us how it's made. It's very interesting
Ben, you are a legend. Thank you for bringing this content to life. This is like the holy grail, hall of fame, voyager probe video that we all needed. Thank you you beautiful legend
I love you and I’m in love with you. Thank you so much Red ♥️
Polaroid film has been getting better and better and now is as good as Polaroid OG, the lab is doing a great job.
I'm not a camera person but came across this channel through this video and watched some of the other videos. I have to say the quality of content on this channel is really high for the number of views the videos normally receive. You are the James Hoffman of the instant camera niche. I hope your channel grows and wish you the best of luck.
Thank you so much for checking this out and other videos on the channel! It’s not always easy sledding on this platform, but luckily it has led to amazing opportunities in “real life” and I’ve continued to build such meaningful relationships with the community, so I’ll never hit the brakes! ♥️
Thank you so much Ben! Best unboxing video yet
UNBOXING THE POLAROID FACTORY - you'll never believe what I found in the pod striping room (A COFFIN! 😩😩😩)
I was a Polaroid artist with a body of work spanning 30 years. I plan to publish a book and show the work when time and budget allow.
Essentially Polaroid needs more money and needs enough sustained demand for their current line of products to then fund the development of peel apart film.
The thing that sucks unfortunately is that the know how and machinery to make peel apart film was allowed to be lost even though it was worth millions of dollars.
So true! That knowledge was clearly “written off” much too soon. And it would have likely cost (comparatively) peanuts to save it.
Thank you Ben for giving us a full tour of the Promised Land
This truly is a monumental video, it’s so amazing to see how far Polaroid has come! Thank you for everything that you do, I’ve learnt so much from this video and it’s allowed me to see the world of instant film in a new light 🙌🏼
Thanks so much for watching, Puteri!
Wow what an incredible place, team and film. TH-cam at its very best. No wonder they called it the impossible project. Thanks for sharing.
This was very nice to watch . I’m glad they’re getting new machinery as they need it but it was so cool to see the old machines . It’s also good to see some of the old/ original workforce is still there . That knowledge is important
Absolutely - and seeing that the success from film sales is being piped back into the company and into upgraded machinery is great. It's all about improvements and future proofing.
I love this video so much, I feel that you captured the labor and love that goes into making this film perfectly! Makes me an instant member of the PolaPals Big Bawlers Club again 😭❤
We're out here sobbing next to the negative slitters! So glad to have shared with experience with you Juls ❤🤘
This is SUCH a cool video Ben!! wow, what an experience!!!
Thank you for checkin it out Suz 🥹
Thank you for this. I always thought the new Polaroid with Impossible Project was just a couple of guys and an old machine. I never imagined it was such a huge organisation running old machines but also investing in new ones too. I do wonder if Polaroid should push more how much they have invested in new machinery. It shows they're here to stay and the quality improvements referred to at the end of the video shows how complaints of poor prints 5-6 years ago is now very much a thing of the past. Tempted to go get a polaroid camera now.
Friendly reminder to encourage the young people around you to learn about and hopefully enjoy the concept of instant film cameras. I really hope Polaroid thrives
Impressive. Very nice. Let’s see Paul Allen’s Polaroid Tour.
THE TASTEFUL THICKNESS OF IT
One of the most informative videos on TH-cam. Fabulous insight into Polaroid, great seeing the passion that there is for this icon of photography. I've never owned a Polaroid camera but will very soon.
Love to hear it Sussex, nothin beats the magic of this stuff ♥️
I feel like I've been there myself now! Thanks for taking us along for the ride!
Thanks for coming! 🚙
Awesome video and what an honour it must be to be able to visit the factory!
Wonderful insight and it's so great to hear Andrew Billen on camera explaining all the process that goes into making the film
Seriously, Andy going turbo mode on all this amazing information is something I’ll always be thankful for!
Damn, I had a temp job there back in 1983 or 84.
We had to wrap the packs in foil for export to the far east.
They called it tropical packaging.
It was a 3 shifts job.
Damn tropical packaging sounds cozy
Fascinating.I'll never complain about the price of the film ever again.Proud to be a metal Impossible Project Pioneer Cardholder
Frame that card on the wall!
I just discovered your channel. I worked for Polaroid Canada from May 14, 1990 to January 31, 2002. I saw Polaroid go from a huge company that was fun to work for to a company spiraling down where everything was CYA work. I will be watching all your videos now starting at the beginning. I have a number of Polaroid Cameras from the original Model 95 up to the Procam and SLR680. I do not use them anymore. They sit on display shelves. But I may just dust off that SLR 680. Thank you for these videos.
You gotta dust off that 680! Wild to hear this story, always love when a Polaroid vet lands on one of these videos, thanks so much for checking it out!
Thank you so much for bringing us this wealth of information and a huge thank you the guys over there at the Polaroid factory, there really bringing joy to millions of people
This was a real treat to watch. Way to get past the velvet rope Ben. I learned so much.
Timmy the legend! Love you brother
This was such a treat honestly. I'm happy they're so willing to show us a behind the scenes on how the whole process works 🤘
Ben, wonderful interviews you conducted with each person, really insightful!
Cheers Woody I appreciate that mucho ♥️
Just amazing. Thanks for the tour!
it kinda makes me want to buy one now, for old time's sake, and to support these wonderful people.
A whole factory??
@@InAnInstant yes, of course! A pack film factory!!!!
Fantastic job! I personally am very thankful and extremely grateful to everyone involved in the process of manufacturing Polaroid film, and literally saving instant film from the brink of extinction!
This documentary is fantastic! It's incredible to have so many insights of what happened to Polaroid and how it was reborn! Great job Ben and cheers to the Polaroid staff! 😁
Thank you PL, appreciate you checking it out and the kind words ❤
This was an absolute joy to watch! Watching you bounce from child-like fanboi wonder to asking the hard-hitting questions was the absolute best! Thanks for taking us along on the journey!
Dude thanks for peeping it! Absolutely on cloud 19 being able to ask anything at the front or back of mind
Completely in love with the process. Thanks for this great video.
Fantastic tour!!! And especially happy to hear the word "future-proof" being mentioned that much!!!
Definitely one of my biggest takeaways as well, they’re investing heavily in the future.
Wow...oh...wow! Can't thank you enough for sharing this very interesting look at something that I first started shooting when I was a kid...when my folks gave me my first xs70 One Step in 1978 and I still have it as well as my parents SX70 FOLDER. Living my dream of seeing this plant through you! Thank you!
Wow what an amazing gift to receive back then (and now, for that matter)c so glad you dug the episode!!
This was epic - what a production! Thank you for bringing this incredibly valuable insight into the modern day Polaroid to us!
Nick thanks so much for the kind words, so glad you enjoyed
Seeing this makes me feel the price for their film is completely justified. Glad they were able to save Polaroid!
Ben,this was a great video and thanks to the Polaroid team for being so open and sharing
Cheers
Andrew in Ottawa Canada 🇨🇦
Absolutely fascinating. So much makes sense now and it makes every pack feel that much more special!
That's my takeaway too 💚
I wasn't expecting much but this was facinating! Great video
This was just so delightful. Thank you! I know i several (many) polaroid cameras in my old camera tubs. I'll have to have another think about them...
I haven't sat through content longer than 5 minutes, in ages, but this flew by. Absolutely fascinating watch from start to finish! Nice to hear some real confirmation of the status of packfilm too eh, even if it's not what we all wanted.
Fantastic video! This answers a lot of questions 😊
this is so awesome!! going to order a polaroid now. love how it was rescued from the ashes
I can’t believe you made it there !!! ❤🎉 thank you for making this !!! 😮
Is Ben the most likeable person ever? (yes) As others have said, I couldn't ask for more. This was incredibly well made.
I have an SX-70 on the way from Dennis at Chromatic Parts as we speak and I am so excited. I'm glad that I have this channel to binge while I anxiously wait!
That SX-70 is going to sing! I love you and I'm IN love with you.
Fascinating. Well presented and with insightful interviews. It made me want to rush out and hug a Polaroid film pack!
Richard, thank you so much, glad you found it engaging!
That was amazing! From beginning to end! Thank you so much Ben!
Adela thank you ♥️♥️
I had this in my "Watch later" playlist for ages, and today i was randomly driving past this building and was like wtf i know this from yt :D and now im here :D
Ben - thanks so much for this tour. It was a fantastic look into the Polaroid manufacturing process!
Thank you Brett! Appreciate your support always.
Such a great video, thank you for this! I've recently been trying out instant film and I've really enjoying it.
Originally what made me interested in the media was that I kept one of my dad's old Polaroid cameras. Later on I tried to find film for it because I wanted to give it a go, but sadly it uses the pull apart film which they don't make anymore. So it was definitely interesting hearing them discuss why they can't just make all the types of film and also how complicated it is.
I ended up picking up an instax sq1, just for a cheaper entry point and well the square format 😂. Because I didn't even know if I'd end up liking instant photography. Though deep down I still kinda wanted a Polaroid. This video does put into perspective why their film might cost more. But watching it and their passion for the media makes me want to support them, so I'll definitely have to get a Polaroid too one day!
I have never really been much for taking photo's. But before consumer digital camera's, I was always impressed by Polaroids camera's, talk about convenience of not having to go to get the photo's developed. And if it didn't come out good (because of lighting, etc.), you would get a chance on the spot to take another picture (which is good for taking pictures at birthday parties, etc.). The other camera's I like are the disposable cameras that are waterproof, very convenient for taking on vacation in places where camera might get wet.
Love it! Gives me so much appreciation for having the privilege of having used the 20x24 format.
What a brilliant video. Great to see a full product tour and if you see what they need to do to produce film you can understand why it cost what it costs. Also great to see this company being build in my home country. We Dutch should be more proud of what is happening there in Enschede. This video made me want to work for them. Though don't know if my expertise would benefit them in any way 😅
Ps: The video about reclaimed blue was also great!
I’m sure they could find something for you to do 😂 - so glad you liked it and I agree, that pride needs to ring out in all of the Netherlands!
oh my god, what an AMAZING video
Incredible! Thank you for sharing this!
Cool! ✨ I’d love to test fresh film
The smell of a warm, fresh film in the morning >>>
Magnificent! Thank you for sharing.
Great job, Ben & crew. Amazing work.
Ya Ya thank you brother!
The rebirth of Polaroid is one is one of the greatest stories in the analogue world. Needs a documentary.
Check out An Impossible Project (2020). It's a documentary about the early days of the Impossible Project and about saving this very factory. It's also shot on Kodak 35mm.
So good!! Well done!!! Thank you!!!!
I am loving how excited you are about even the smallest things here, its infectious
It was just a pure Christmas-morning feeling throughout ♥️
This was bloody awesome in every way possible, what a story
This was amazing to watch
thank you very much for an experience. puts some faith in a future of polaroid film
Legendary documentary. I didn't think I could appreciate and love instant film more but here we are.. Thanks
Thank you for the kind words Charles, it was an honor to make
Beautiful! Absolutely loved it.