A Japanese food safety panel has said that relaxing domestic cattle
testing standards for BSE won't put consumers at risk, raising the
possibility of Japan reopening its borders to US beef.
A newly opened malting facility in the Netherlands has installed a
Buhler high-capacity cleaner in order to achieve safety without
compromising processing efficiency.
Speciality ingredients group Cerestar has launched a range of
functional soy products across Europe aimed specifically at the
baking industry, believing demand for this practical and healthy
ingredient will offset rising soybean prices,...
Dr Gerd Wolfram, the executive project manager of the Metro Group
Future Store Initiative, the Metro Group's innovative RFID project,
is set to receive a prestigious award from AIM Global.
Leading RFID supply chain solutions provider Savi Technology has
joined up with GPS provider Comtech Mobile Datacom to develop an
integrated tracker that identifies cargo while in-transit and
on-the-move.
Environmental organisations have urged the EU to make Europe the
most resource and energy efficient economy in the world, while
across the Atlantic, the USDA has established new accounting rules
and guidelines for reporting greenhouse...
The EU has put pressure on Polish industries, including the food
industry, by reducing the country's proposed allowance for carbon
dioxide emissions. Yet one food sector representative believes many
'rogue' firms across...
Researchers in the US have discovered a novel method of changing
the chemical characteristics of carbon nanotubes, which could have
implications for future packaging applications.
LXE has joined with Intel and Sirit to develop the first robust,
forklift-mounted RFID data collection solution for use in
warehousing and distribution.
Energy and environment ministers met this week in London to discuss
the challenge of creating lower carbon energy systems to combat
climate change over the next 50 years.
The Czech Republic, the first CEE country to be admitted into the
OECD, has attracted a large amount of foreign direct investment
(FDI) since 1990, making it the most successful new member state in
terms of FDI per capita, writes...
Snack makers will have the chance to extend their presence in
healthy eating trends after British food ingredients firm Tate
& Lyle unveiled a new ingredients formula for wholegrain
crackers claiming extra fibre and a lower glycaemic...
The European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform will
present its proposals tomorrow for the development of hydrogen and
fuel cells for carrying and converting clean energy.
Aluminium producers can expect a good year in 2005, with foil sales
hitting an all-time high, but packagers will have to deal with
all-time high costs, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Alcoa Closure Systems (CSI) has introduced X-Tech, a new
interactive closure system training course available for carbonated
soft drink (CSD) bottlers facing extreme temperature cycling
conditions.
This Thursday we will be focusing on the opportunities and
challenges, the strengths and weaknesses of the Czech food
industry, with exclusive interviews and analysis, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
Arla Food Ingredients seeks entry into the high growth European
sweetener market, making a bid for regulatory approval of its low
calorie, milk derived ingredient tagatose, reports Lindsey
Partos.
Lantech claims that the patented self-threader forming head on its
new shrink-wrapping machine delivers perfect lap seals without the
need for adjustment.
The talent pool of individuals skilled in RFID (radio frequency
identification) is shallow and could impact the successful adoption
of the technology, according to a new survey from Computing
Technology Industry Association (CompTIA),...
Three firms represented by UK-based packaging machinery distributor
Partners in Packaging are set to unveil their latest innovations at
the forthcoming Interpack 2005 event.
The new Danish owners of Meincke, the specialist bakery and
confectionery equipment supplier, say they aim to attack a strongly
growing market for premium cakes and biscuits by unveiling new
products at the up-coming Interpack expo,...
GT Nexus has launched a global freight optimisation service that
can lead to savings of between 4 to 8 per cent of a firm's total
annual spend for global ocean freight.
The US Senate's decision last week to throw out a proposal to renew
beef trade with Canada has angered the USDA but been welcomed by
some US beef organisations, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Biopolymers, increasingly seen as a highly promising development in
the plastics industry, will be on special display at Interpack
2005, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Sino-Pack 2005 is set to open its doors tomorrow in Guangzhou,
southern China, providing a platform for international packaging
and processing specialists operating in the region, writes Simon
Pitman.
Del Monte has announced that its profits fell significantly for its
latest financial quarter, mainly as a result of rising steel prices
- further proof that food manufacturers are feeling the pinch as
steel prices continue to rise,...
Despite a slower final quarter, Austria-based packaging provider
Mayr-Melnhof has reported strong financial results for 2004, on the
back of a number of acquisitions the company has made in the past
year, writes Simon Pitman.
Latvian government 'meddling' in a dispute between one of the
country's leading sugar processors and its beet suppliers is
motivated by the desire to make a rival sugar processor a more
attractive takeover target, according...
Gastronome, the second largest poultry processor in France, is
working with packaging specialist Sealed Air Cryovac in order to
achieve increased shelf life and enhanced consumer appeal.
Sun Microsystems has launched an RFID solution designed to
specifically address the business challenges of the packaged goods
industry and help firms fully leverage the power of RFID, writes
Anthony Fletcher.
An industry export is urging label producers to start investing in
RFID smart label technology in order to take advantage of an
emerging market that will prove highly lucrative in the future,
writes Anthony Fletcher.
BASF is the most admired chemical company in the world according to
US business magazine Fortune, despite continually pushing up
packaging material prices, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Israel's Polysack Plastic is set to double its sales in Russia this
year after a highly successful year for its Polyphane plastic
packaging brand. The fast rate of growth in the Russian food
industry - in particular confectionery...
UK sweetener maker Tate & Lyle launches an emulsifying wheat
protein onto the market for coffee creamers claiming the product is
a fitting, and cheaper, alternative to caseinates, reports
Lindsey Partos.
Xink Laboratories has launched a new line of silver and carbon
conductive flexographic printing inks targeted towards
manufacturers of RFID-tagged smart packaging.
A new UK study has revealed that including metal cans - both
aluminium and steel - in kerbside collection schemes can offer
significant economic benefits.
Midsize manufacturers and distributors - firms with $50 million to
$999 million in revenue - have intrinsic advantages that can help
them outmanoeuvre their larger competitors, according to a new
report.
A new system that provides real-time, intelligent, end-to-end
tracking and tracing for globally transported goods has been
developed with the help of a €2.5 million EU grant.
Domino Printing Sciences is set to unveil its latest range of
coding and marking technologies, designed to offer food and
beverage packagers enhanced security.
Finnish crispbread specialist, Vaasan & Vaasan, has revamped
the image of its flagship Finn Crisp brand to take advantage of a
growing market for high fibre and wholegrain snacks in Russia and
lure increasingly health-conscious...
BASF is set to raise its European prices for the styrene polymers
Terluran (ABS) and Luran (SAN) by €200 per metric ton, while Saudi
comments have triggered fears that high oil prices will be
sustained. Anthony Fletcher reports.
A complex carbohydrate, traditionally used as a bulking agent in a
range of foods, is being offered in several European markets as a
new source of fibre.
The UK's paper sector has passed the second milestone target of its
Climate Change Agreement (CCA), according to the Confederation of
Paper Industries (CPI).
