While it is expected to be commonplace in the future, food 3D printing is still in many ways in its infancy due to the limitations of current technology. Primarily, food 3D printers are only capable of printing using paste extruders, which isn’t likely to produce food with very appetizing textures, so it is unlikely that we’ll be seeing fully 3D printed meals is any large number in the foreseeable future. However there has been a lot of interest in using current technology to 3D print desserts, sugar sculptures and candies. There are currently several chocolate 3D printers on the market, and 3D Systems is still developing its ChefJet 3D Printer that was developed to offer pastry and confectionery chefs options to automate many of their processes.
One of the smaller companies trying to capitalize on the ability to 3D print eatable objects is the Magic Candy Factory from a UK company called Katjes. The Magic Candy Factory is a 3D printer than will print customized gummy candies right in front of hungry customers’ eyes, and Katjes has already started installing them in candy stores all over the world. Earlier in the month the very first Magic Candy Factory opened for business in the Dubai mall at a confectionery store called Candylicious. And now, the next stop is a candy store in the Dublin Airport in Ireland.
After printing customers can spray flavors on their candy.
The new Magic Candy Factory is being welcomed as the first candy 3D printer in Europe and will be pumping out tasty treats at the busy international airports sweet shop the Candy Cloud located at The Loop in Terminal 1. Customers can place their candy orders using a custom-designed app on a tablet device that allows them to pick flavors, colors and a wide variety of shapes. The candy is printed on a piece of edible paper and takes typically about five minutes. Customers can finish off their 3D printed treat with variety of sugars, flavored candy sprays and even edible glitters.
“We are thrilled to bring the Magic Candy Factory to Candy Cloud in Terminal 1. Designing your own sweets and seeing them being made in a matter of minutes offers something new and exciting for all our passengers that they can’t get anywhere else in Europe,” said the Loop’s Confectionery Buyer Christine McNamara.
Candy Cloud at the Dublin Airport.
The Magic Candy Factory 3D prints fruit-based gummy candy that is a vegan-friendly, gluten-free and dairy-free product. But be careful, just because that sounds healthy doesn’t mean that it is, just as with any gummy candy they are full of sugar, so it probably isn’t waistline friendly. While the technology being used is capable of 3D printing in other food materials like chocolate and sugars, so far Katjes does not seem to be looking to incorporate those foods into their products. The standard cost of a 3D printed piece of candy is about €5.00 ($6.00) each, however larger custom shapes may cost slightly more.
The Magic Candy Factory will be making its official debut at the Candy Cloud in April. However there will be a small pop-up candy store at the Loop in the Dublin Airport open until March 27th that will be offering travellers a preview of 3D printed candy. This will only be the second working Magic Candy Factory in the world, however the company has plans to bring the Factory to the United States sometime in May. You can learn more about the Magic Candy Factory over on their website. Is this something you’d like to try? Discuss in the 3D Printed Candy forum over at 3DPB.com.
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