---
title: Prototyping, Short-Run Production and FDA Compliance | Ineo
description: Rapid prototyping and short-run production for the food sector. FDA-certified components through industrial 3D printing, vacuum casting, and CNC.
date: 2018-11-29
url: https://ineo.es/en/services/sectors/food-sector
---

# Prototyping, Short Runs, and Series Production for the FDA Food Sector

We accelerate the development of new components, jigs, and final production parts with certified materials, maximum hygiene, and zero traditional tooling costs.

At **Ineo**, we offer comprehensive solutions for r**apid prototyping, short-run production, and series manufacturing for the food industry**, combining industrial 3D printing, CNC machining, and vacuum casting. We help engineering departments, maintenance teams, and machinery manufacturers (OEMs) optimize their processing and packaging lines, ensuring the use of **technical materials with FDA certification and compliance with European regulations for food contact**.

### Rapid Prototypes and Functional Validation

We manufacture high-precision mechanical and functional prototypes for processing machinery, filling systems, or dispensers, enabling on-site assembly tests and sealing tolerance validation. Thanks to our industrial 3D printing technologies, we process advanced polymers that perfectly simulate the component's behaviour before scaling production.

![image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-food-sectors-functional-validation-768x768.jpg)

### Short Runs and Certified Series Production

Do you need to manufacture final components for special machinery, variable volume runs, or obsolete spare parts? In addition to prototyping, at Ineo we offer series production and short-run services through vacuum casting (advanced silicone molds), CNC machining, and other manufacturing technologies. We supply final parts with optimal mechanical properties and hygienic surface finishes, using technical resins and plastics fully certified for direct food contact.

![image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-food-manufacturing-series-768x768.jpg)

### Jigs, Fixtures, and Factory Tooling

We optimize production, guiding, and packaging lines through the rapid manufacturing of custom jigs, transfer star wheels, sliding guides, positioning cradles, and robotic grippers. Additive manufacturing allows us to design lightened and geometrically optimized tools, facilitating cleaning tasks (Design for Cleaning), improving operator ergonomics, and reducing downtime caused by format changes.

![image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-food-sectors-control-tools-768x768.jpg)

## Advanced Technologies Applied

We apply manufacturing technologies focused on industrial agility and food safety:

#### Industrial 3D Printing (SLS, MJF, SLA)

For complex functional prototypes, optimized internal channels, and final components in certified materials.

![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-food-sectors-mjf-768x768.jpg)

#### High-Precision CNC Machining

Essential for structural components, shafts, dispensers, and parts in technical plastics (POM-C, PEEK, PTFE) or stainless steel.

![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-food-sectors-cnc-machining-768x768.jpg)

#### Vacuum Casting

Ideal for producing short and medium runs (from 10 to over 100 units) with food-grade polyurethane resins that replicate final injection.

![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-food-sectors-vacuum-casting-768x768.jpg)

#### Technical Post-Processing

Polished surface finishes to prevent bacterial proliferation, threaded metal inserts, and specific surface treatments.

![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-food-sectors-post-processing-768x768.jpg)

### Certificate ISO 9001:2015

**Registration Number****: 0.04.18119**
TÜV Rheinland Ibérica Inspection, Certification & Testing S.A.

[![Ineo - Tuv - Rheinland](https://www.ineo.es/images/defaultcontent/ineo_placeholder.png)](https://www.tuv.com/spain/es/)

[![Ineo - IAF](https://www.ineo.es/images/defaultcontent/ineo_placeholder.png)](https://iaf.nu/en/home/)

## Customer Benefits

**Strict Regulatory Compliance:** Access to materials with FDA certifications and European regulations (EC 1935/2004) for food contact.

**Production Without Expensive Molds:** Manufacture from small batches to continuous production adapted to your actual demand, eliminating investment in costly steel molds.

**Hygiene and Safety:** Optimized designs without microporosities that facilitate cleaning and sanitation processes in the plant (CIP).

**Flexibility for Format Changes:** Quickly modify the geometry of your packaging or guiding components to adapt to new containers without economic penalties.

#### Use Cases / Applications

Filling nozzles, dispensers, and gripping pliers for packaging systems.

Distribution star wheels, diversion guides, and scrapers for bottling and transport lines.

Sensor protective housings, junction boxes, and interfaces exposed to pressure washing.

Fluid distribution manifolds and feed hoppers with complex internal geometries.

Critical spare parts for obsolete machinery through high-precision 3D scanning.

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Get your technical questions answered about our manufacturing processes.

For series production and short runs, we combine CNC machining of technical plastics with vacuum casting (silicone molds) and other manufacturing technologies. Vacuum casting allows us to replicate 10 to over 150 parts per mold using polyurethane resins that simulate standard injection plastics but specifically formulated to meet sanitary requirements. For organic geometries or complex internal channels that are impossible to machine, we use industrial 3D printing with polyamides suitable for the sector.

Yes, food safety is a priority. We work with a range of materials that comply with FDA regulations and equivalent European directives. In CNC machining, we use common materials such as POM-C (Acetal), PEEK, PTFE (Teflon), and UHMW-PE. In industrial 3D printing and vacuum casting, we have specific technical polymers and resins that feature food suitability certificates, resistant to chemical cleaning agents and sterilization temperatures.

We manufacture replacement components (such as guiding star wheels, pushers, or robotic grippers) to avoid long waits from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Through reverse engineering and 3D scanning, we can replicate or even improve the worn part, manufacturing it in FDA-certified materials in a fraction of the usual time.

Lead times depend on the required technology. A functional prototype or optimized tooling via industrial 3D printing can be manufactured and delivered within 3 to 5 working days. For short runs or series production via vacuum casting or CNC machining, lead times usually range between 1 and 2 weeks, drastically speeding up the startup or repair of your production lines.

### Do you need to develop a new component or manufacture series parts for food environments?

Contact the Ineo engineering team. We help you ensure maximum regulatory compliance through agile solutions in rapid prototyping, tooling, and FDA-certified production.

[Request a quote](https://www.ineo.es/en/quote-request)[Call us](https://www.ineo.es/tel:+34937337000)[Send us an email](https://www.ineo.es/mailto:contact@ineo.es?subject=Contact from Site Ineo&body=)[3D Printing Online](https://www.ineo.es/impresion3donline)

INEO PROTOTIPOS S.L.

C/Avenc del Daví, 6 Pol.Ind.Can Petit

Terrassa, Barcelona 08227

Tel. [+34 937 337 000](https://www.ineo.es/tel:+34937337000)

Email: [contact@ineo.es](https://www.ineo.es/mailto:contact@ineo.es) 

Web: [https://www.ineo.es](https://www.ineo.es)

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