Husband and wife architects used the studio 3D printer to top a cupcake; the rest is culinary history.

3D Systems has acquired The Sugar Lab, a small company which has created a way to use 3D printing for edible confections using real sugar. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Sugar Lab adopted 3D Systems’ Color Jet Printing (CJP) technology to print on a sugar bed using different flavored edible binders that meet all food safety requirements. 3D Systems says it will immediately integrate The Sugar Lab’s 3D printing technique into its professional and consumer content-to-print product lines with a variety of production-quality applications as well as the ability to 3D print indulgences at home.

“The overlap of technology, food and art is so rich, and the potential for customization and innovation is limitless,” said Liz von Hasseln, cofounder of the Sugar Lab. “We see our technology quickly evolving into a variety of flavors and foods, powered by real food printers for professionals and consumers alike.” Existing commercial applications for printable sugar include complex sculptural cakes for weddings and special events that are made possible only with 3D printing, and customizable confections for bake shops and restaurants.

The Sugar Lab was founded by Kyle and Liz von Hasseln, a husband and wife architectural design team in Los Angeles. They wanted to make a friend a birthday cake but didn’t have an oven so they decided to try to 3D print a cake instead. After a period of trial and error that lasted well beyond the birthday they successfully printed a tiny cupcake topper that spelled the friend’s name in cursive sugar. She loved it and they thought others would as well so they officially started The Sugar Lab in their studio in Silver Lake.

“I believe there is a social covenant for indulgence that begins with desserts and The Sugar Lab will accelerate our ability to bring edible 3D printables to the masses while empowering chefs, restaurateurs and confectioners with never before explored digital creation tools for food,” said Avi Reichental, President and CEO of 3D Systems.

Our take

It is obvious to all of us now: 3D Systems has a serious overbuying disorder. But does it have friends who will stage an intervention?