A Franklinton technology company has used their tech to have a little fun with the local craft beer scene, crafting custom tap handles of 20 Columbus brewers.

The firm, Knockout Concepts, uses proprietary algorithms to power fast and high resolution mobile 3D scans. My first encounter with the Knockout team was at Sideswipe Brewery, where they were using one of their scanners to create 3D images of several local brewers. Subsequent to that encounter, I met with several of the principles of the company, Brooks Myers, Jacob Kuttothara and Brandon Gell at their West Rich Street office. Make no mistake, these are some heavy hitters doing some very serious work. At its core, the technology is very much about human-centered design or personalized customization. The applications are boundless, but two very fertile fields are the medical devices and sports equipment.

In what might be best described as the intersection of technology, community, beer and art, Knockout has used their tech to create a series of individualized tap handles using 3D scans of 20 central-Ohio brewers: Fred Lee (Actual), Angelo Signorino (Barley’s), Beau Warren (Brew Brothers), Alex Kolada (Commonhouse), Vic Schiltz (Elevator), Larry Horwitz (Four String), Dan Griffin (Gordon Biersch), Robert Makein (Haufbrauhaus), Tom Ayers (Ill Mannered), Adam Benner (Land-Grant), Carey Hall (Lineage), Tim Ward (North High), Vic Gonzales (Pigskin), Zach Cline (Rockmill), Colin Vent (Seventh Son), Craig O’Herron (Sideswipe), Lenny Kolada (Smokehouse), Chris Davison (Wolf’s Ridge), Chris Shegitz (Zaftig), and Geoff Towne (Zauber).

These scans were used by another local tech firm, IC3D, to produce tap handles using 3D printing technology. The printed monochromatic polymer pieces were then given to local artist Kendric Tonn to handpaint. Tonn, who studied at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, is represented by the Nyx Gallery in Cambridge, Mass and locally by Brandt-Roberts Gallery. The quality and detail of his work on each of the 20 tap handles truly brings them to life.

The 20 tap handles came together at a private event held at Brewcadia on Monday evening with the brewers and their guests in attendance. During the event, the taps were offered for sale with the proceeds — over $5000 — benefiting Franklinton schools Avondale Elementary and Starling Jr. High.

The public will have a chance to view the tap handles in person at a one-man show of Kendric Tonn’s work at the Short North’s Brandt-Roberts Gallery starting March 10. On March 18, a beer tasting event will take place, offering a particularly inviting time to view these works of art. More info about the exhibition will be available at brandtrobertsgalleries.com.

In the meantime, check out Knockout’s video overview of the project and Cheryl’s photos of the tap handles below.