“Most of the buzz about 3-D printing has been for its application in industries such as manufacturing, medicine, and automotive, but it’s also being used for food. Spanish manufacturer Natural Machines is the maker of Foodini, a 3-D food printer that can make everything from ravioli to chocolate sculptures.
“Our vision is that in 10 to 15 years, 3-D food printers will be a common kitchen appliance for both home and professional kitchen use,” said Lynette Kucsma, co-founder of Natural Machines. Foodini is currently being used in professional kitchens from restaurants in Spain to the University of Utah Hospital. It also was part of Sue’s Tech Kitchen, a tech-driven pop-up experience created by entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg earlier this year.
For events, 3-D food printing creates unlimited options to personalize food to match the theme or decor and to create textures and arrangements that are not possible by hand. And automation makes the process faster, more efficient, and more uniform. It also can help manage dietary restrictions and nutritional issues.”