From Building Kilns to a Patent: Why We Developed the Relyef Slab Roller

Tomáš Macek, founder of Artkeramika.cz, leveraged decades of experience designing ceramic kilns and machinery to create the patented Relyef Manual Slab Roller. This benchtop slab roller introduces direct slab decoration using Relyef roller attachments - a system now integrated into professional machines from Nidec Shimpo, Kittec, and Rohde.

Back When We Built Everything Ourselves

You might know me from the days when professional ceramic equipment was practically impossible to find in our region. The internet was barely starting, and those of us obsessed with clay had to rely purely on our own resourcefulness. We built kilns out of whatever materials we could lay our hands on, experimented with wood firings, and figured out together how to push our craft forward.

That trial-and-error era taught me more than any textbook ever could. It led me to found Artkeramika.cz - a space where we shared our know-how to help our local ceramic community grow. We keep that exact same philosophy alive at Relyef. The only difference? We added high-end engineering to our passion for clay and brought our ideas to the global stage.

Two Worlds, One Goal: When Experience Meets Technology

Even with decades of ideas brewing in my head, I was still missing the final piece of the puzzle to execute them at the highest level. That piece fell into place when Radovan Markes and I founded Relyef together.

Radovan brought a background in modern technology and an insistence on precision that allowed us to turn these "clay visions" into finely crafted tools. Together, we built a team of talented makers who share our drive. From the first rough sketch to the final studio testing, every tool is the result of that shared synergy.

Thanks to this team, we no longer just think about how to manufacture a tool; we focus on elevating ceramic production as a whole. We aren't just a company - we are a creative community where tradition meets the future.

Unique Insight: From Tomáš Macek's Studio "Professional machines are precise, but they are often too specialized. I realized this while collaborating with Kittec on machine development. I wanted to give potters something with real added value - technology that doesn't just roll clay, but actually creates."

Why the Relyef Slab Roller Changes the Game

Most slab rollers simply flatten clay. We engineered our Manual Slab Roller with a different goal: embedding design directly into the clay during the rolling process.

• Compact Footprint: The roller easily fits into even the smallest studio space.

• Decoration in Motion: Using our pattern rollers, you press deep texture right as the slab is formed.

• Engineered Reliability: What started as a custom upgrade for local potters is now protected under Czech patent CZ 310676 B6, with US patent approval underway.

Even Masters Keep Learning: Collaborating with Kittec, Rohde, and Nidec Shimpo

Our technology didn't stay limited to benchtop tools. Industry leaders like Kittec and Rohde approached us to develop specialized adapters for their large professional slab rollers. Why? Because their customers wanted direct-impression decorating using Relyef rollers, too.

Currently, we are collaborating with Japanese industry giant Nidec Shimpo to expand texturing options for their equipment. For us, it’s proof that a journey starting with homemade DIY kilns is now helping shape the direction of global ceramics.