US-based Checkpoint Systems, the world's largest integrator of
(RFID) technology into consumer product packaging, has announced
the expansion of its RF source tagging design centre. This could be
of interest to European manufacturers,...
Global packaging group Sonoco has just opened a new manufacturing
facility in Brazil to produce steel easy-open closures for use on
metal cans. Annual capacity of the plant is projected to be more
than one billion closures.
The Russian cheese market is expanding at a faster rate than any
comparative market in Europe as a whole, yet still the majority of
cheese sold there is produced by western European companies. In an
attempt to gain a stronger hold...
The ring pull has been a godsend to consumers across Europe.
Searching frantically for that elusive tin opener or cutting
oneself on a poorly-executed can opening was once an integral part
of dinner preparation, but thankfully no...
European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection
David Byrne yesterday expressed confidence that Thailand was free
from avian flu that is ravaging other parts of East Asia.
Dutch group Kiremko, a manufacturer and installer of machinery
required for the processing of potatoes into French fries, chips
and other speciality snack products has developed, in co-operation
with ACEco, a new device that it claims...
A survey published today suggests that packaging companies across
Europe are taking the EU's packaging and packaging waste
directive's essential requirements seriously. The independent
survey of Europen members shows that...
Buying entry into the nascent European trehalose sweetener market
last year from British Sugar, US company Cargill will welcome
claims from scientists this week that the ingredient could ease
Huntington's disease.
Major Swiss food maker Nestlé is to add a novel fat replacer to its
products, revealed the US-based Fiber Gel Technologies,
manufacturer of the ingredient, last week.
Meat processors, along with food retailers and wholesalers in the
US, have agreed to draw up a programme to provide consumers country
of origin information. The group believes this will prove cheaper
and more workable than the proposed...
With Hungary's entry into the EU in May, producers of one of the
country's main food specialities will face a particular challenge.
Moves by the Union to phase out the force feeding of geese over the
next 15 years are likely...
Russia has already run roughshod over international trademark
regulations with regard to one of the country's best known vodka
brands, Stolichnaya, but it now appears that a second brand,
Cristall, could also see its trademark...
German company Weener Plastik Packaging Group has entered into a
strategic alliance with Canada-based CCL Industries, a global
developer and manufacturer of packaging and labelling solutions.
Both businesses believe that the arrangement...
Automated Packaging Systems launched its Autobag AB 255 large
bagging system this month. The company claims that the AB 255
provides improved operation efficiencies for bags up to 16 inches
wide, including faster operating speeds,...
The German government has reached an agreement on the regulation of
genetically modified crops. After months of bitter argument, the
ruling coalition has finally put forward a proposed genetic
engineering law that will allow GM food...
Eating cereal fortified with vitamin E may be a better way of
boosting intake of the vitamin than through supplementing the diet
with capsules, suggests a new study.
Tetra Pak has denied allegations linking the packaging firm to
irregularities in payments to Parmalat, the disgraced Italian dairy
giant. In a statement, the company says that it will provide
documentation of payments to Parmalat...
Agfa-Gevaert has reached an agreement with Barco to acquire the
assets and all staff of dotrix, a Belgian-based company which
develops, manufactures and sells digital colour printing solutions
for various packaging applications.
UK-based Stable Micro Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer
of texture analysis instrumentation, is set to showcase what it
calls a unique portfolio for the bakery industry at Food & Bake
2004. Innovations will include...
Innovative packaging is set to form a central component at this
year's Total Processing & Packaging expo in Birmingham, UK. A
spin-off event within the show, entitled Total Innovation Design
Centre Excellence, will highlight...
Food giant Cargill has opened a plant to manufacture erythritol, a
sweetener that is claimed to taste like sugar but contain no
calories. The group believes there is real potential in the
product, and has already signed an agreement...
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has called on food
manufacturers to do more to improve their health and safety
records. The agency confirmed yesterday that 62 enforcement orders
were served on Irish food business in 2003,...
Sales of the high intensity sweetener acesulfame K look set to rise
for ingredients firm Nutrinova with the company confirming this
week that the FDA has approved its non-carbohydrate sweetener
Sunett as a general purpose sweetener...
UK-based company Rieke Packaging Systems has developed an
innovative means of dispensing olive oil. The solution was achieved
through close co-operation with Greek olive oil producer Minerva.
Consumer research undertaken by the Greek...
Packaging solutions company SWF has entered the New Year with a
number of new innovations designed to cut costs and increase
efficiency. One of these is the new compact CE 201 case erector,
which the company claims is capable of erecting...
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a second EU
programme for the conservation, characterisation, collection and
use of genetic resources in agriculture. The new programme,
covering the period 2004-2006, will promote...
Owens-Illinois (O-I) plastics group has introduced a new line of
multi-layer, injection-blow-moulded plastic bottles and vials. The
company has selected Topas cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) from
Ticona, the technical polymers business...
The EU council of fisheries ministers has adopted long-term
recovery plans for endangered fish stocks. Franz Fischler, the
Commissioner for agriculture, rural development and fisheries,
believes that the move represents real progress...
Food research company Preservation Sciences has settled its patent
infringement lawsuit with rival company Preservation Products
(PPLLC). The settlement specifically acknowledges that the
company's NuPreserv 2000 (a preservative...
Scientists in the US have developed edible adhesives for food
packaging. The concept, developed by Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) chemist Sevim Erhan and colleagues at the agency's National
Center for Agricultural Utilization...
Slovakia's sole salt producer Solivary, which is based in Presov,
in eastern Slovakia, has confirmed that it is to invest Slovak
crowns 700 million (€17 mn) in a new salt plant in Zbudza, near
Michalovce in eastern Slovakia.
Lithuanian meat processor and wholesaler Vilniaus Mesa is to invest
some 17 million litas (€4.9m) in a new plant to be located in
Vilnius, according to a report in the Baltic Business Weekly. It
would appear that the prospect if EU...
Standex International has acquired all of the outstanding shares of
privately-held Nor-Lake, one of the largest suppliers of walk-in
coolers and freezers to the US food industry. Standex believes that
the combined sales of Nor-Lake...
Spooner-Vicars, a leading name in the design, manufacture and
supply of high quality baking equipment has unveiled a new product,
the Continuous Proof and Bake System, with the aim of maximising
production efficiency.
Scientists warn this week that our traditional christmas snack of
brazil nuts might not be for much longer if intensive harvesting
practices continue in 'persistently exploited' areas.
Researchers in the US have designed a new potato for the crisps
industry with a 'favourable' starch to sugar ratio to beat the
burnt flavour when frying.
Boxer, a design consultant firm based in Birmingham, England, has
developed a new graphic packaging design for fast food giant
McDonald's. "We were very impressed by Boxer's breakthrough
approach to the casting process...
Dutch food processing group Fri-jado is soon to release its newest
and most technologically advanced oven, the Multisserie, catering
for the bakery and meat industries.
Austrian-based packaging giant the Frantschach Group has completed
yet another acquisition, this time in Mexico. The company has
acquired the sack business of paper and packaging group Copamex for
a total of $52 million, in a deal...
The British are the biggest consumers of chocolate in Europe,
munching their way through more than 10 kg each every year. A
reflection of Britain's ongoing love affair with snacking - and
consumers' reluctance to choose...
The movement of foodstuffs within the European boundaries will be
changed forever once the next step towards an enlarged Europe takes
place. Food and Life Sciences lawyer Raymond O’Rourke takes us
through a detailed look at some of...
Elopak is to build a state-of-the-art production plant in China as
part of a strategy to increase its worldwide presence. The
Norwegian-owned company, which has been present in the country
since 2000 with a representative office in...
The European Commission tabled a proposal this week to open an EU
aid scheme for private pig meat storage. The move is designed to
stabilise the market, which has seen prices fall by 16 per cent in
the last three months. The industry...
Europa, the Italy-based company that specialises in the production
of ovens for the bread making, pizza, pastry and biscuit making
industries has unveiled a new range of convection ovens, the most
popular of which are the 5T and its...
Cargill is set to expand its gum manufacturing capabilities in
China. Working with its joint venture partner Shandong Huanghelong
Group, the company has announced a significant capacity increase at
its Zibo production facility in...
Bakery and snacks equipment provider APV Baker has improved and
expanded its range of ovens for the production of cookies,
biscuits, bar products and pet foods as well as a whole host of
traditional bakery products including tarts,...
Global packaging firm Owens-Illinois (O-I) announced today that it
is to conduct a strategic review of its blow-moulded plastics
operations in North America, South America and Europe. Not
surprising, when you consider the size and...
The UK pork processing industry is calling for a substantial
increase in meat prices. British Pig Executive (BPEX) chairman
Stewart Houston has written to retailer and foodservice leaders to
point out that producers in Britain and...
The US National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has taken the
first steps in creating a country of origin labelling programme.
Put together by a specially organised NCBA task force, the
programme consists of a US label that...
