Printable Drinks? Print a Drink Makes It Possible!

A completely unique concept with just one person at the helm, that is Print a Drink, a young company attracting a lot of attention at events. What exactly is behind the concept? The answer is simple: printable liquids. Or maybe not so simple. Behind the idea are numerous prototypes and technical challenges that Benjamin Greimel, the founder of Print a Drink, had to overcome. Today, the CEO, business developer, programmer, and much more tells us about the exciting creation of the startup, his decision to keep the company lean, and the technical details that define its business model.

3DN: How was ‘Print a Drink’ founded?

Founder of Print a Drink, Benjamin Greimel

The idea for Print A Drink came about during my Master’s studies in Industrial Design in Linz. It started as part of a semester project after a new professor introduced the KUKA robot and related lectures at the university. The assignment was open-ended: we were asked to create something creative using robots and food. At first, I experimented with liquids that don’t mix well, like vinegar and oil. Step by step, this evolved into the concept of 3D printing beverages. After one semester and numerous experiments, I finally developed a promising proof of concept.

Since there was no comparable technology worldwide, I quickly recognized the potential of PRINT A DRINK as a niche technology for the event and entertainment sector. Bringing robotic arms to the university also worked wonderfully: today, the University of Art in Linz has its own “Creative Robotics” department. In my free time, I continuously refined the process until it could be offered as a service for events. Even during development, I received initial inquiries from companies and was able to win several competitions with the concept. The revenue allowed me to quickly purchase new equipment and my first robotic arm. Today, I operate a complete robotic setup both in Europe and the USA, where I generate most of my revenue. Although Print A Drink remains a niche technology, it has been my full-time profession for over six years. All processes, hardware, and logistics are now optimized to the point where I can prepare and run even large international events on my own.