Barilla expands food innovation with 3D printing

At its new Barilla Innovation & Technology Experience (BITE) center in Parma, Barilla Group is integrating advanced manufacturing and design technologies — including 3D printing — into the research and development of its pasta, sauces, and bakery products. The 150,000-square-foot hub combines pilot plants, laboratories, and collaborative spaces where research and technology intersect with Italy’s culinary tradition.

BITE represents Barilla’s largest investment in food innovation in recent years, totaling more than $25 million, with an additional $2.3 million per year dedicated to equipment upgrades. The facility employs 200 specialists — including food technologists, engineers, designers, and chefs — who work alongside international partners from universities and research institutions across 84 active collaborations.

From 3D printing to sensory analytics

The BITE’s laboratories use advanced tools, including electronic noses, AI-driven sensors, holographic design systems, and 3D printing, to accelerate experimentation and product design. These technologies allow researchers to model, prototype, and refine new concepts before scaling production.

Among the center’s most distinctive innovations is Artisia, Barilla’s 3D printed pasta line. Formerly known as Blue Rhapsody, the project originated as an experimental initiative within Barilla’s R&D division and has evolved into a fully realized brand that merges culinary art with digital craftsmanship.

Using proprietary 3D printing technology, Artisia produces intricate pasta shapes that were previously impossible to achieve with traditional extrusion. Each piece combines artisanal texture with digital precision, resulting in what Barilla describes as “a multisensory dining experience.” The rebrand includes a new website and curated recipes designed for chefs and home cooks exploring novel pasta forms and flavor pairings.

Innovation rooted in tradition

While BITE embraces automation and data-driven development, it maintains a strong connection to Barilla’s heritage. Every new process, from pasta drying to texture analysis, is designed to preserve the sensory qualities that define Italian cuisine. According to Guido Barilla, Chairman of Barilla Group, the new center underscores the company’s mission “to imagine and create quality products that adapt to people’s evolving needs” while maintaining a focus on craftsmanship and authenticity.

By combining global research expertise with emerging digital tools such as 3D printing, Barilla’s BITE center illustrates how the company is reshaping food innovation — turning centuries of Italian tradition into a platform for the next generation of culinary design.