Month: March 2026

Plant equipment manufacturer Bühler advances sustainability and innovation across food and materials sectors despite challenging global market conditions

Swiss plant equipment manufacturer Bühler has built its business around the production of solutions for the food and advanced materials industries.

The company operates across more than 140 countries and drives innovation in sectors including animal feed, confectionery, cosmetics and electronics.

Its newly published 2025 Annual Report, Multiplying Impact Together, details the company’s progress in advancing performance, profitability and sustainability throughout the year.

Navigating global market challenges

Throughout 2025, Bühler says it worked to maintain resilience and adaptability while facing global challenges, using its portfolio of products and services to create long-term value.

According to the report, the company strengthened its ecosystem through strategic investments in manufacturing, digital services, education and innovation.

Outgoing Chairman Calvin Grieder and outgoing CEO Stefan Scheiber explained that 2025 was marked by uncertainty that led to ongoing market volatility. Increasing trade barriers and a cautious investment climate shaped the global investment goods landscape, they said.

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• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit – QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit – Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

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However, Bühler continued to invest throughout this period. The company’s extensive and innovative product range, combined with strong customer service and worldwide presence, enabled it to capture opportunities in growing markets and expand its market share in key business segments.

The company also progressed its AI capabilities and enhanced its digital and automation services for customer benefit. Grieder and Scheiber attributed these achievements to the company’s focus on cost discipline and productivity improvement, which helped improve profitability and the balance sheet.

Despite the challenging economic environment, Bühler’s strategic approach enabled the company to maintain operational excellence while positioning itself for future growth.

Performance across business divisions

The Annual Report outlines Bühler’s success across key sectors, demonstrating how the company positioned itself to remain in a robust financial position.

The portfolio of solutions provided the foundation for market strength in 2025, with its two business divisions reflecting their respective market dynamics.

Bühler’s Grains & Food business gained market share across several segments, while its Advanced Materials business continued to face challenges from the global slowing of automotive and battery markets.

Following two years of restrained investment in chocolate and coffee due to record-high cocoa prices, 2025 saw new investments in local cocoa processing facilities. This development allowed Bühler’s Chocolate & Coffee segment to achieve a 31% rise in order intake.

Although Advanced Materials experienced a decline in orders, Bühler secured new projects across all of its materials business areas. This sector faced significant impact in 2025 from weak investment activity in the automotive sector, uncertainties across Europe and increased competition in China.

Environmental progress and goals

In 2025, Bühler achieved a 19% reduction in energy consumption compared to its 2019 baseline. The company also recorded a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions over the same time frame.

A core element of the sustainability strategy involves using land-sparing technologies to work against biodiversity loss and climate change. The company aims to achieve this through building a sustainable protein supply and increasing the circularity of biomass.

With Bühler’s solutions helping to feed an estimated 2 billion people, the company is enabling its customers to reduce their environmental footprint through product use. This involves developing solutions and services that improve efficiency and yield whilst reducing energy, waste and water use.

Bühler aims to optimise the entire value chain of its offerings, from raw materials through to the end product. The company works to reduce its footprint through collaboration with suppliers, creating a roadmap to guide this work. Activities include launching engagement campaigns, collecting data on supplier emissions and targets and assessing climate monitoring progress.

Jay O’Nien, Group Sustainability Officer at Bühler, said on LinkedIn that sustainability has been a company-wide effort at Bühler for many years. “There is much to do, but we are in a strong position to support more companies to achieve their business and sustainability goals and to ensure the sustainability of our own operations,” he said.

BERN, SWITZERLAND — Mondelez International has launched a new production line at its Toblerone chocolate production plant in Bern.

The line became operational nearly a year after Chicago-based Mondelez announced a 65 million-Swiss-franc ($83.4 million) project to create a “global Center of Excellence” at the facility, which produces about 90% of the Toblerone products sold worldwide, reaching over 120 countries.

According to Mondelez, the investment also will expand the manufacturing facilities for chocolate and nougat as well as increase capacity for mass production.

“We are incredibly proud of the new Toblerone production line, as well as the modernization in logistics and infrastructure,” said Thomas Kauffmann, manager of the Bern plant.

Mondelez described the Center of Excellence project as one of the largest investments in its chocolate production network in the last decade. The company said the investment will boost Toblerone’s production and innovation capabilities to accelerate the triangular chocolate brand’s growth in the premium market segment and meet global demand.“We have always taken pride in producing here in Switzerland,” said Iain Livingston, president of Toblerone and World Travel Retail. “The investment underlines our strong commitment to the location and is a critical milestone to reach our ambition to lead growth in premium chocolate worldwide.” 

The 3D Food Printing Market is witnessing significant growth during the forecast period 2026 to 2034, supported by advancements in additive manufacturing technologies and increasing demand for customized food products. Rising focus on sustainability, waste reduction, and personalized nutrition is further accelerating market adoption across bakeries, restaurants, and residential applications. Technological improvements in materials and printing systems are enhancing efficiency, product quality, and scalability. With strong regional developments and continuous innovation, the market is expected to expand steadily, creating new opportunities for stakeholders across the global food technology ecosystem.

The Insight Partners presents a comprehensive analysis of the 3D Food Printing Market (2026-2034), highlighting market dynamics, segmentation, growth drivers, regional insights, and future opportunities. The study provides strategic intelligence for stakeholders including manufacturers, investors, technology providers, and regulatory authorities.

According to the report, the 3D Food Printing Market is projected to register a CAGR of 32% during 2026-2034, reflecting strong growth potential driven by technological innovation, sustainability initiatives, and increasing demand for customized food solutions.

Market Overview

The 3D food printing industry is evolving rapidly as food manufacturers and technology developers adopt advanced additive manufacturing techniques. The report covers historical data from 2021 to 2024, with 2025 as the base year and a forecast period extending from 2026 to 2034.

The market analysis includes detailed segmentation by ingredient, application, and technology, along with regional insights across major geographies. This structured approach enables stakeholders to understand emerging trends and identify long term growth opportunities.

Key Market Drivers

Advancements in 3D Printing Materials

Ongoing improvements in printing materials are expanding the scope of applications. Enhanced material capabilities are enabling better texture, consistency, and nutritional customization in food products. Reduced material costs are also making the technology more accessible to commercial users.

Sustainability and Waste Reduction

Sustainability is a major growth driver. 3D food printing supports minimal waste production by enabling on demand manufacturing. This aligns with global circular economy goals and helps reduce overall food waste in production and distribution processes.

Growing Demand for Personalization

Consumers increasingly seek customized food options tailored to dietary needs, health conditions, and lifestyle preferences. 3D food printing enables precise control over nutrients, ingredients, and portion sizes, supporting personalized nutrition trends.

Market Segmentation

By Ingredient

The market is segmented into:

• Dough
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Proteins
• Sauces
• Dairy Products
• Carbohydrates

These categories reflect the versatility of 3D food printing technology across different food compositions.

By Application

Key application areas include:

• Bakeries
• Restaurants
• Residential Use

The restaurant segment is expected to witness significant adoption as chefs and food innovators integrate technology to enhance presentation and efficiency.

By Technology

Major technologies analyzed include:

• Fused Deposition Modelling
• Hot Air Sintering
• Binder Jetting
• Open Source Systems

Among these, Fused Deposition Modelling is widely adopted due to its compatibility with diverse food materials.

Regional Insights

The report provides detailed geographic analysis across:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• South and Central America
• Middle East and Africa

North America and Europe are expected to remain leading regions due to strong technological infrastructure, research investments, and early adoption of innovative food technologies. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is anticipated to show significant growth potential due to expanding food technology initiatives and increasing consumer awareness.

Future Trends

Integration of AI and Machine Learning

The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning with 3D printing processes is expected to enhance design precision, optimize production quality, and reduce operational errors.

Bioprinting Applications

Advancements in bioprinting are opening new possibilities in creating food products from biological materials. This innovation may redefine food manufacturing standards in the coming years.

Hybrid Manufacturing Approaches

The combination of 3D printing with traditional manufacturing techniques is emerging as a strategic trend. Hybrid processes enhance efficiency while maintaining scalability.

Market Opportunities

The report identifies several opportunities, including:

• Expansion in commercial bakeries and hospitality sectors
• Development of space food solutions for long duration missions
• Increased adoption in healthcare nutrition programs
• Rising investment in research and development

These opportunities are expected to contribute to sustained market growth throughout the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The market features several prominent companies focusing on innovation and strategic collaborations. Key players include technology developers and additive manufacturing specialists working toward improving system efficiency and material compatibility.

The competitive environment is characterized by continuous product development, partnerships, and expansion strategies aimed at strengthening market presence.

Market leaders and key company profiles          

·     3D Systems

·        3D Systems, Inc.

·        Beehex

·        byFlow

·        Choc Edge

·        NATURAL MACHINES

·        Procusini

·        Systems And Materials Research Corporation

·        TNO

·        Wiiboox

Report Deliverables

The study includes:

• Market size and forecasts at global, regional, and country levels
• PEST and SWOT analysis
• Competitive landscape assessment
• Growth driving factors and challenges
• Historical analysis, base year evaluation, and forecast modeling
• Excel datasets for detailed quantitative review

This comprehensive approach ensures actionable insights for strategic planning and investment decisions.

Walkers owner PepsiCo UK is making a multimillion-pound investment in a solar power project at its Southern Region Distribution Centre (SRDC) in Leicester.

Working with energy infrastructure specialist Ineco Energy, the £3.6m project will see solar panels installed across 30,000 square metres of roof space – equivalent to about four football pitches. Once complete, the panels are expected to generate 100 per cent of the energy needed to power the logistics centre over the course of a year.

The 3.56 MWp solar power system is expected to generate about 2.84 GWh of renewable electricity each year – enough to power approximately 1,000 UK homes for a year. Any surplus electricity will go towards powering the Walkers crisps manufacturing plant, one of the world’s largest crisp factories, located just next door to the distribution centre.

Andy Smethurst, UK warehousing and logistics director at PepsiCo, said: “Leicester is already home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories, and now we’re delivering one of the most complex solar power systems, right here in the East Midlands. 

“It’s a major milestone for PepsiCo UK and shows how we’re continuing to find new ways to power our sites and operate more sustainably.”

The solar project is the latest in a series of sustainability investments across PepsiCo’s UK sites. In recent years, PepsiCo has switched to electric ovens at its site in Leicester, installed more efficient machinery on its manufacturing line in Coventry, and invested in more efficient fryers at its Brigg site, the home of Pipers crisps. Together, these three initiatives have reduced PepsiCo’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 2,400 tonnes a year.

The £3.6m solar panel installation follows a £14m investment to upgrade the distribution centre in 2021. The distribution centre employs 240 people and distributes products made at the company’s six factories across the country. 

Construction of the solar power system is already underway, with installation expected to be completed by September 2026.

Climate minister Katie White said: “We welcome PepsiCo’s decision to embrace our rooftop solar revolution in powering their Walkers crisps distribution centre in Leicester – adding extra crunch to our clean energy mission. 

“It’s a great example of how businesses in Britain can cut emissions, lower bills and strengthen our energy security.”

Angus Rose, director at Ineco Energy, added: “Ineco is incredibly proud to be delivering this flagship solar project for PepsiCo. Once operational, it will be one of the largest rooftop systems of its kind in the UK food manufacturing sector, generating the same amount of electricity that the SRDC uses in a full year. 

“This project has required a collaborative and highly technical approach, and we’re delighted to now be moving into the construction phase. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the PepsiCo team.”