3D printing of plant-based steaks requires dosing technology

Redefine Meat has created a 3D printer for plant-based meat that incorporates technologies from ViscoTec. Redefine is using the device to print alt meat that stays true to the texture, taste and chewing experience of beef. It is able to produce about 10 kg of the alt meat per hour, with plans to upscale.

Obviously, the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, but once all the raw materials for the product are mixed, the result is a viscous liquid that carries challenges in dosage. Complex dosing geometries are used to extrude long threads of the fibrous material into thin webs. Many layers of these sheets on top of each other result in a piece of alt meat.

The VHD Hygienic Dispenser helps in mastering the dosing task. The independence of viscosity dosing technology — in a range of 1–7,000,000 mPa — enables a uniform, low-pulsation discharge of the material. The pressures required are achieved by a multi-stage dosing geometry. The VHD has also been specially adapted to better integrate into an automated cleaning process.

Once the printing process is complete, the alt meat is portioned and packaged.