SACMI Packaging & Chocolate — Ledwall Exhibition | 2026 — FrankW

SACMI Packaging & Chocolate — Ledwall Exhibition Films 2026
Client: SACMI Packaging & Chocolate
Production: Laconic
Role: Houdini FX Technical Director / Procedural CGI Artist
Production Period: March–May 2026
Software: SideFX Houdini, VEX, Vellum
Project Overview
SACMI Packaging & Chocolate is a leading manufacturer of industrial machinery for chocolate processing, confectionery production and automated packaging systems.
Developed for SACMI's 2026 trade show exhibition, this project consisted of a series of large-format CGI sequences showcasing the transformation of confectionery products, from flowing chocolate and raw ingredients to fully formed and packaged goods.
The films featured chocolate tablets, hazelnut pralines, chocolate bars and wrapped snacks, combining procedural simulations, product formation and complex packaging animations for a high-resolution corner LEDwall installation.
As Houdini FX Technical Director, I developed the procedural FX and packaging systems used across the sequences, focusing on reusable simulation setups, VEX-driven rigging, CAD reconstruction and flexible material dynamics.
Technical Breakdown
Chocolate Formation & Simulation
I developed procedural Houdini setups for chocolate pouring, fluid-inspired formation and controlled transitions into final product geometries, including chocolate tablets, bars and hazelnut pralines.
The workflow combined simulation-driven motion with custom geometry deformation, allowing precise artistic control over chocolate flow, formation timing and product shape. Particular attention was given to the interaction between liquid chocolate, hazelnuts and cream fillings, maintaining visual continuity throughout the transformation.
Procedural VEX Rigging & Packaging
Using custom VEX deformation logic, I built reusable procedural rigs for folding, bending and transforming packaging materials around different confectionery products.
These systems provided art-directable control over fold progression, deformation regions and animation timing, allowing multiple packaging variations to be produced without rebuilding individual animations.
CAD Reconstruction & Carton Formation
Working from SACMI's original DWG engineering drawings, I reconstructed packaging geometries and folding patterns directly in Houdini.
The process involved identifying structural panels, crease lines and fold regions, then developing procedural rigs capable of transforming flat technical layouts into fully assembled 3D cartons.
This CAD-to-CGI approach preserved the engineering logic of the packaging while enabling controlled, cinematic folding animations.
Houdini Vellum — Wrapping Simulations
I developed Vellum simulation systems for thin packaging materials, including praline wrapping films, flexible plastic confectionery bags and snack wrappers.
The setups combined cloth dynamics, procedural constraints and collision handling to reproduce realistic folding, tension, wrinkles and secondary motion.
Special attention was given to achieving controlled transitions from loose packaging materials to tightly wrapped final products, balancing physical plausibility with art-directed motion.
Procedural FX Pipeline
The project was structured around modular Houdini setups designed for reuse across multiple products and packaging configurations.
By separating simulation behaviour, geometry processing and animation controls, the pipeline supported rapid client revisions involving product proportions, folding sequences, material behaviour and timing.
This procedural approach reduced repetitive manual work while maintaining visual consistency throughout production.
Large-Format LEDwall Production
The final CGI sequences were developed for SACMI's corner LEDwall installation, featuring two adjoining display surfaces with a combined resolution of (2048 + 2048) × 1280 pixels.
The large-scale format required careful attention to composition, animation readability and product presentation, ensuring that detailed packaging transformations remained visually clear in an exhibition environment.
Technical Highlights

Procedural chocolate pouring and product formation
Custom VEX-driven packaging rigs and deformation systems
CAD/DWG reconstruction and procedural carton folding
Houdini Vellum cloth and flexible packaging simulations
Constraint-based wrapping and collision workflows
Reusable, art-directable procedural FX setups
High-resolution CGI for industrial exhibition LEDwalls

The project combined procedural simulation, technical rigging and engineering-based modelling into a unified Houdini workflow, translating SACMI's industrial packaging technologies into cinematic CGI while maintaining the flexibility required for complex production and iterative client feedback.