WACKER Develops the World’s First 3D Printing Process to Use Gum

08 Dec 2016 --- At ProSweets Cologne 2017, WACKER will presenting two world firsts for the confectionery industry. With WACKER’s innovative CANDY2GUM technology, it is possible to produce confectionery with a completely new mouthfeel: what begins as a piece of chewy candy turns into chewing gum after a short time. 

Since this innovative product is made in a boiling process, manufacturers can now add water-based, fat-containing and natural ingredients, such as fruit juice, cocoa and coffee. 

Plus, the fair will see WACKER showcasing the world’s first 3D printing process to use chewing gum. For the first time, chewing gum comes in a variety of customizable shapes. The international supplier fair for the sweets and snacks industry will be held in Cologne, Germany, from January 29 until February 1, 2017. 

Late January, WACKER will premiere its new CANDY2GUM technology at ProSweets Cologne. With CANDY2GUM, it is possible to produce innovative chewy candy that turns into chewing gum after a short time – the mouthfeel and chewing experience are absolutely unique. 

The new technology does not only alter the texture of confectionery. It also opens up new opportunities for flavors and ingredients that, until now, were unheard of for chewing gum – fruit juice, coffee, milk, caramel, chocolate, coconut and plant extracts. Now, a multitude of water-based, fat-containing and natural ingredients are available for use in chewing gum. 

The secret behind this confectionery innovation is the production process – CANDY2GUM products are simply boiled. Conventional chewing gum, on the other hand, is made in a dry kneading process. Water-based and fat-containing ingredients, such as fruit juice and cocoa, are exactly what the traditional kneading process cannot handle. 

Not so with CANDY2GUM. Because the production process is similar to making chewy candy, standard sugar-confectionery cookers can be used. WACKER offers a suitable premix for this: CAPIVA C03. The premix is just added to the candy mass – and a simple piece of chewy candy becomes an innovative CANDY2GUM product. 

CAPIVA C03 is insoluble in water, but it melts fully, which means it can be blended homogeneously. The fact that WACKER’s premix is ideal for use in both sugary and sugar-free candy mixtures opens up numerous opportunities for novel confectionery products. 

With CANDY2GUM technology, it is now possible to produce confectionery goods that begin like a piece of chewy candy and turn into gum as they are being chewed. On top of this, they feature completely new flavors and ingredients. 

At the tradeshow, WACKER is presenting the world’s first 3D printing process to use chewing gum. WACKER’s experts have developed a novel product formulation specifically for printable gum and have optimized the software and hardware for this sophisticated food matrix. As a result, chewing gum can be formed in many shapes, not just as sticks, balls and pellets. Whatever is needed, whether a name, logo or lifelike miniature figure, this new technology can produce gum in a wide range of colors, shapes and flavors – individually personalized.