After partnering with 3D Systems almost a year ago, Hershey has finally unveiled its first steps into the world of food 3D printing. Today, the confectioner debuted its 3-D Chocolate Candy Printing exhibit at Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction, where visitors of the Hershey factory will be able to interact with their scientists and the chocolate printing technology.
Starting today, visitors at Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction can see chocolate 3D printed in real time, along with finished products. They’ll also be able to browse the company’s library of 3D printable models on iPads and have themselves scanned to simulate themselves as 3D printed pieces of chocolate. For a behind the scenes look at the exhibit, you can watch the video below:
Chief Research and Development Officer at The Hershey Company, Will Papa, said of the new exhibit, “We are now using 3-D technology to bring Hershey goodness to consumers in unanticipated and exciting ways. 3-D printing gives consumers nearly endless possibilities for personalizing their chocolate, and our exhibit will be their first chance to see 3-D chocolate candy printing in action.”
3D Systems Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Chuck Hull, added, “We are committed to democratizing 3-D printing, making this game-changing technology accessible and engaging for everyone. Our partnership with Hershey, the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and confections, allows us to create unique, exciting and personalized edible experiences, and this is a great way to showcase the power and possibilities of 3-D printing.”
The exhibit is just the beginning of the company’s foray into the 3D printing industry. With the interactive exhibit, the company will also be surveying visitors to understand their opinions on customization options and product design, which will be used to inform Hershey’s end technology, as well as their business model, for 3D chocolate printing. Papa concludes, “This exhibit is a great example of co-creation with consumers. They will be instrumental in shaping the future of commercially available 3-D chocolate printing.”
