The candy man can ... use 3D printing

Stratasys Ltd. may be on its way to becoming the most popular 3D printing firm on the planet by improving the production of chocolate candy bars.

Visual First — a 3D services firm based in the Netherlands — is using an FDM nylon 12 carbon-filled material made by Stratasys to replace metal machine parts for The Chocolate Factory, a candy firm also based in the Netherlands.

The ability to 3D print machinery replacement parts on-demand has reduced machine downtime, ensuring production line continuity for The Chocolate Factory, Stratasys officials said in a news release.

The Chocolate Factory runs a network of packaging machines, with the company's daily throughput relying on the smooth operation of a simple, yet crucial, hook-shaped metal part that lifts wrapped bars onto a conveyer belt.

A problem occurs when the part malfunctions, typically with such regularity that it needs to be replaced three times each month. Because each replacement part is handmade, delivery can take over a month, officials said.

"It's crucial that the packaging machine is always operational, especially during hectic periods such as Christmas," Visual First owner Carl van de Rijzen said in the release. "With Stratasys additive manufacturing, we can produce customized replacement parts on-demand that can perform just as effectively as the metal machine parts."

He added that with the Stratasys material, Visual First, can now 3D print and deliver production parts to The Chocolate Factory in under a week, which van de Rijzen said "is vital to ensuring manufacturing line continuity."

"The factory is now enjoying increased production throughput by replacing the metal machine part with our 3D printed version," he added.

Stratasys Emerging Solutions business head Nadav Sella said in the release that his firm is seeing a growing demand for 3D printed production parts and replacement parts for industrial machinery, especially for packaging machines.

Stratasys is based in Minneapolis and in Rehovot, Israel. The firm makes 3D printers, systems and materials and posted sales of $672 million in 2016.