[Reverse Engineering Application] 3D Printing + Scanning Customer Success Story - Meat Product Company Optimizes Production Line with 3D Printing

【3D Printing + Scanning Application】Customer Success Story - Meat Product Company Optimizes Production Line with 3D Printing

Since 2003, Gourmet Cazorla has been producing meat products and pâtés, with its factory in Linares, Jaén, producing over 150 different flavors of pâté.

Over the years, the company's production has continued to grow. Since 2022, the company began exploring how to optimize its production line using 3D printing technology. Thanks to Ultimaker 3D printers and SHINING 3D scanners, Gourmet Cazorla has not only improved efficiency but also successfully saved time and costs.

【Challenge】- Customized production of spare parts

Since the company started as a small meat product factory, it had historically relied on third-party suppliers for spare parts. This resulted in long delivery times, significant human and financial resources, and the need to halt production lines, causing considerable stress to employees with every intervention.

Since realizing the potential of 3D printing technology, the engineering department has been able to design new parts to improve processes, and it has also given them the opportunity to create their own unique designs.
"We always come up with new spare parts to put into production. The 3D printing technology quickly paid for itself due to time and money savings, and we plan to continue using these technologies in the factory." - Juan Alberto Marín, Maintenance Manager at Gourmet Cazorla


【Solution】- Utilizing FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D Printers + 3D Scanners for reverse engineering design


The pâté producer consulted 3D printing experts at Sicnova for solutions needed on their production line. They purchased an Ultimaker S5 3D printer to begin exploring the field of rapid prototyping. They later added a SHINING 3D EinScan SP scanner for digitizing smaller, more difficult-to-design components, allowing for flexible future use.

The Ultimaker S5 3D printer can also be equipped with the Ultimaker S5 Air Manager to protect against invisible risks and provide excellent protection for your working environment.

The SHINING 3D EinScan SP scanner can perform automatic scanning using a turntable or manual scanning using a tripod.

Gourmet Cazorla explained their production needs to Sicnova, and Sicnova not only demonstrated the technology but also designed some pieces to start testing components on the production line. Since then, the meat processing plant has been using nylon to 3D print specific accessories and spare parts for its production line. Occasionally, they also use PLA as a more cost-effective material.

【Results】90% cost savings for lid positioners, faster spare parts

Since adopting digital manufacturing technology, Gourmet Cazorla has been able to print its own lid positioners (clamping parts used to hold lids on jars) and feed combs for conveyor belts. Additionally, they also print accessories and covers for their own machinery.

                                       
                                                               Lid holder and other accessories                                                                                     Feed combs

Compared to the original cost of the parts, 3D printing the lid positioners for the pâté jars saved 90%. Previously, they ordered these parts from the manufacturer at €1000 each, with a 20-day delivery time. Now, they can produce replacements in just three days. The company is already considering other 3D printing applications, such as railings and guides on the production line.

For Juan Alberto Marín and his team, 3D printing and scanning have become key technologies for Gourmet Cazorla. "The investment quickly paid off due to time and money savings, and we will continue to use it for more projects," says Marín.

*Video produced by Sicnova, a partner of Ultimaker