3D printing has been described because the ‘tech of the long run’. For Revo Meals, it is vitally a lot the tech of the current.
Revo produces mycoprotein meat and fish options via 3D printing know-how. Notably, it lately produced and launched the ‘world’s first’ 3D-printed smoked salmon fillet final yr.
Now, the corporate has introduced a brand new printer, the ‘Meals Fabricator X2’, which may customise shapes, buildings and textures, and has a multi-nozzle system that may print a number of merchandise without delay.
Revo can be planning to upscale manufacturing with the cash it hopes to boost from a deliberate launch of digital shares to the general public.
Steady manufacturing
Revo’s new know-how permits steady meat analogue manufacturing which, the corporate says, is the primary time mass manufacturing of such merchandise has been attainable with 3D printing.
The corporate’s printer is “a very new manufacturing equipment to allow the structuring of complicated, heterogeneous meals gadgets with 3D applied sciences. 3D Meals Printing existed for some time, however we developed (and patented) some foremost elements which now allow us to carry this know-how to the commercial scale,” Revo Meals’ CEO Robin Simsa instructed FoodNavigator.
The corporate’s new extrusion print-head design, for instance, permits a steady movement of supplies for the primary time. Earlier than this, a extra labour-intensive batch course of was the order of the day. “With this answer it’s attainable to work with large materials volumes with out handbook labour enter. Clearly, this has an enormous impact on the price.”
Secondly, the multi-nozzle print head design can produce many merchandise on the identical time. “Whereas dosing programs with a number of nozzles have already been in use within the meals trade for many years, that is the primary time that this method is being included in a 3D meals printing setup.”
Lastly, a modular plug and play system connects the manufacturing machines. “This manner, we will permit a modular scale-up of the manufacturing to happen, and digitally management the entire manufacturing when it comes to completely different product varieties and designs. No extra {hardware} modifications are wanted between completely different product varieties, which is one other large benefit.”
3D printing is especially suited to ‘structured’ and ‘complicated’ merchandise corresponding to complete reduce filets and steaks, Simsa instructed us, versus ‘non-structured’ merchandise corresponding to burgers and rooster nuggets. “3D Meals Printing is basically the managed mixture of two completely different meals components into new buildings. Different applied sciences (e.g. extrusion) are uncontrolled, due to this fact higher fitted to non-structured merchandise.
“In terms of complicated gadgets, 3D Meals Printing is the primary know-how that basically permits the mixing of a fats part into the plant-protein fibre matrix, which is the important thing for these merchandise to achieve new sensory ranges. In abstract, each applied sciences can be utilized for various product functions, and 3D printing is extra appropriate for high-value, absolutely structured meat options.”
Customising meat and seafood
Whereas most well-known for its seafood options, Revo Meals additionally produces meat options. Simsa sees alternatives in each. Particularly, that 3D printing will make merchandise extra customisable and extra different.
“There’s a large curiosity from huge meals producers for “mass customisation”, which means the power to provide small batches of particular person merchandise for particular person buyer teams, with out essentially resulting in greater manufacturing prices.
“Proper now, that is inconceivable, as a result of all meals equipment is constructed for enormous scale of similar merchandise, however we consider that with new applied sciences corresponding to 3D meals printing and the thrilling new merchandise that may be created like this, there’s a new inventive impulse for meals product builders and the meals trade as a complete on the way in which. Why not introduce some loopy new shapes and buildings or mixture of various components which had been earlier than solely attainable in Michelin-star eating places, however not as a client good in supermarkets? We consider that could be a stunning future to work in direction of.”
The primary advantages of the tech, believes Simsa, are: its flexibility, as it will possibly create many several types of merchandise with a single machine; its controllability, having the ability to management the distribution of supplies inside a product; and creativity, no theoretical limits on the kind of product that may be produced.
Revo’s merchandise are, reasonably than being plant-based, mycoprotein-based as a substitute. In accordance with Simsa, that is down to 3 components: well being, style, and client data.
“Mycoprotein has a whole amino acid profile and a really clear style. Additionally, shoppers learn about the advantages of fungi and mycoprotein, and to date we had a unbelievable client reception based mostly on this components, and many individuals shopping for the product particularly because of this. Additionally, we might obtain Nutri-Rating “A” in our merchandise due to using this ingredient,” he instructed us.
Funding, upscaling and diversification
After the discharge of its first product, ‘THE FILET – Impressed by Salmon’, in September final yr, Revo is rising in confidence, and has introduced plans to introduce digital shares to be purchased by the general public.
“We at the moment are establishing every part for our subsequent step in upscaling: A manufacturing plant with a number of tons of output, which we are going to notice till summer season 2024 in Vienna, and begin getting into meals retail on a significant degree,” Simsa instructed FoodNavigator.
The corporate can be planning on increasing from simply easy meat and seafood complete cuts to different merchandise as nicely. “Whereas we had been solely centered on utilizing our know-how for meat options to start with, we had been contacted by a number of firms over the previous years which might be eager about utilizing this know-how for different product varieties (e.g. snacks, pasta or stuffed meals with loopy shapes or varieties or personalised merchandise). We consider there’s a huge worth in enlarging our technological focus and providing our manufacturing know-how to different meals producers as nicely, ranging from the tip of 2024.
“This manner, we will guarantee a brand new inventive impulse for the choice meat trade, but additionally for the broader meals trade itself, enlarging our use-case additionally as a know-how supplier. Our purpose is to change into the chief in 3D manufacturing gear for the meals trade, which could be a distinct segment enterprise in the meanwhile, however one that’s certain to change into very beneficial as the chances of this know-how change into accessible to extra producers.”
