It recently signed up its first large-company customer,
Hershey.
Co-founder Charles Mire thinks many other companies could
use his services to develop prototypes that could then be put into large-volume
production.
Shaping foods is nothing new. Elmira Poultry Ltd. of
Waterloo long ago bought water-laser equipment to cut chicken into the exact
sizes and shapes customers such as fast-food restaurant chains want.
But Mire sees potential in many unusual places, such as
shaping foods so they can be more easily swallowed by very old or sick people
or those who have medical conditions of their mouths and throats.
Miro founded the company after completing a doctorate degree
in chemistry in Australia. It was there that he had the idea for a 3D printing service
that works with fluid, extrudable materials.
The solution that he and partner Andrew Finkle have brought
to market is a machine capable of extruding materials that can be shaped by a
3D printer.
