UK-based firm Delcam is the latest sponsor of Total Innovation
Design Centre of Excellence. The announcement follows the recent
opening of company headquarters in China, another illustration of
how packaging technology is becoming...
UK bakery group Warburtons is set to construct a new £14 million
(€20.3m) extension to its Bellshill bakery. The firm says that the
project will enable the company to increase its bread output in
Scotland from 600,000 loaves to 900,000.
Good plant maintenance is vital to efficient food processing.
Significant cost savings can be made through regular servicing and
the use of modern analytical techniques - while a break down in
machinery can lead to impressive losses.
The second foodlink Awards for Communicating Food Safety in the UK
have highlighted the work of several local authorities in raising
public awareness and tackling food hygiene issues. Blackburn with
Darwen Borough Council and Wyre...
It has been quite an eventful year for Rock-Tenn. Two acquisitions
were made, and in September, the firm sold its plastic packaging
assets to global packaging giant Pactiv. In addition, recently
published results suggest that a degree...
Another packaging company, another set of disappointing financial
results. This time it's consumer packaging specialist Huhtamaki,
which has reported earnings before interest, tax and amortisation
(EBITA) of €34 million in the...
FMC FoodTech subsidiary Stein is launching the newest addition to
its line of XL Series Breading Applicators today at the AMI
International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Convention and
Exposition. The event, part of Worldwide Food Expo...
Packaging giant Bemis has announced a continuation of its
restructuring strategy following mixed third quarter results. It
seems likely that the move, designed to improve manufacturing
output, will lead to further job cuts. "We...
Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods has announced the completion of a $13 million
production line at Rubtsovsk dairy plant. The move makes the
factory one of the largest plants in Russia and the CIS in terms of
production capacity for rennet cheese.
The AMI/Worldwide Food Exposition in Chicago, Illinois kicks off
tomorrow and expectations are high. One company hoping for a good
show is UK-based food grade gas supplier BOC, which will be
highlighting some state-of-the-art food...
New data from the Association of European Producers of Steel
Packaging (APEAL) suggests that the recycling of cans and other
steel containers in the EU is becoming well established. Last
year's recycling rate topped 60 per cent...
Food packaging firm Rapak is providing Dayla Liquid Packing, the
UK's largest independent bag in box filler, with sterile filling
equipment. The two Intasept lines form the central part of Dayla's
new €2.9 million purpose-built...
UK confectionery and soft-drinks giant Cadbury Schweppes has said
that it will cut around 5,500 jobs and 20 per cent of its factories
by 2007. This rationalisation is at the heart of Fuel for Growth, a
four-year restructuring plan...
Third quarter results from Finnish firm Suominen suggest that 2003
has not been a particularly great year for those operating in the
packaging industry. This years' financial performance is not
expected to reach the level of...
Cadbury the UK's number one confectionary manufacturer has
introduced a new product, mini dipping donuts, aimed at the
burgeoning bakery treats market.
German food packager KHS has acquired a majority holding in quality
assurance systems provider Metec. The deal, which is part of KHS's
strategy of expanding its presence in the food processing
marketplace, also has the potential...
Lifestyle Bread has announced a new low-carbohydrate bread
break-through. After years of research, the discovery allows
superior bread quality with a substantial reduction in carbohydrate
content, by substituting virtually all flour...
Things aren't looking so good at the moment for Stora Enso. The
company has reported a sharp drop in third-quarter operating
profit, and believes that recovery is some way away. "The
long-awaited recovery in demand for forest...
The CIAA has added its voice to the debate over Germany's packaging
deposit laws. The body has strongly backed the decision of the
Commission to open a legal infringement procedure against Germany
on its packaging deposit system,...
Ishida Europe is launching a new weigh price labeller, specifically
designed for the European market and particularly suitable for
fresh meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and fruit and vegetables.
The new Ishida WPL 5000 builds...
It's been a good year for global packaging giant Pactiv. The firm
recently acquired the plastic packaging assets of Rock-Tenn, and
was even named as one of the US's safest companies. It would appear
that 2003 has brought...
Innovation in the packaging industry is alive and well. A recent
report from ResearchandMarkets.com highlighted a number of
interesting developments, and US-based packaging firm Appleton is
yet another company pushing the boundaries...
Russian food processor Magadan Makaronnaya Fabrika is seeking a US
partner to form a joint venture in the country. This move suggests
that there is increasing foreign awareness of the potential of the
food processing industry in Russia.
Finnish packaging giant Metso has reached an agreement of the sale
of its Converting group to Swiss firm Bobst Group. The deal is
worth in the region of €75 million, and regulatory approval
processes have already been initiated.
Texture analysis is a growing dynamic discipline within the food
processing sector. A range of new cutting-edge technology will be
undoubtedly be unveiled at the forthcoming Fi Europe show, and the
EU is currently funding an investigation...
A recent market report has uncovered a number of interesting
developments in the packaging technologies sector. As the report
points out, packaging materials are constantly evolving to meet the
demands of the marketplace.
The controversy over Germany's recycling scheme has taken a new
turning, with the EC resolving to send a formal request for
information concerning the functioning of the scheme. The
Commission claims that it has a duty to investigate...
Organisers of Pack Expo Las Vegas 2003 are slapping themselves on
the back and enjoying a well-earning cup of tea after a highly
successful show. The event saw visitor attendance increase by 17
per cent and international attendance...
Branding is a vital component of food packaging. Manufacturers are
constantly striving to stay ahead of the competiton by providing
consumers with attractive-looking products. Consequently, the
market for branding technology is highly...
The success of the 2003 Scanstar packaging competition, a sort of
Oscars for the Scandinavian packaging industry, shows that
innovation is alive and well in the region. The event attracted a
total of 44 entries - nine from Norway,...
Pactiv has announced that its board of directors has accepted the
resignation of Paul Stecko. The company claims that the resignation
was driven by recent changes in New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
rules, which make Stecko ineligible...
In the US the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) has
criticised new requirements enforced by the European Union's
Council of Ministers on the labelling and traceability of foods and
feeds containing genetically modified...
Jacob's Crackers has signed a £4 million (€5.7m) marketing
agreement with the creators of television and film characters
Wallace and Gromit, making them the new face for the snacks
producer.
More evidence revealing the efficacy of HACCP systems in the battle
for food safety comes from figures released this week by the US
department of agriculture that show a 25 per cent dive in Listeria
samples in the past year, and a...
In a bid to improve the efficiency of its production network,
Heineken UK is planning to implement some state-of-the-art product
management software. This includes the integration of a data
synchronisation network from Transora and...
Third quarter results released today by Schneider Electric suggest
that the market for plant operations technology, especially in
Europe, is going through a continued period of stagnation. Although
the company is confident of a gradual...
Advanced Labelling Systems has reported that this years PPMA show
has proved to be a success, with a succession of enquiries and
'high calibre visitors'.
The European Commission has granted approval for packaging
recycling provider Austrian ARA System to obtain a number of
important contracts in Austria.
Following record visitor attendance and interest from Eastern
European converters at the recent Labelexpo Europe 2003 in
Brussels, a two-day keynote event is being launched for 2004.
Sensor Wireless has partnered with WebTech Wireless to provide a
new GPS tracking and web based monitoring system aimed at the food
and beverage industries.
Manufacturers on the health wagon will welcome news this week that
food scientists have designed free radical beating crisps, complete
with an oregano flavour.
Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys Systems, has launched
version 2.2 of its DT Analyst plant productivity improvement
software, giving users an improved multi language support.
Alcan Packaging Cumbria has won a contract to supply UK
manufacturer Nestle Rowntree with packaging for its new KitKat
Kubes, a bit-size variant of the leading confectionery brand.
French ingredients firm Rhodia Food has developed technology to
include beneficial probiotics in a nutritional bar, helping
manufacturers to tap two of the biggest trends in healthy eating.
Biotrace International has launched a new luminometer for hygiene
monitoring, the Uni-Lite NG, which is said to provide a highly
portable means of rapid hygiene monitor tests.
The eagerly awaited results of a three year study into the
environmental impact of GMO crops carried out on behalf of the UK
government will bring about further regulation after specific
concerns were raised on certain crops.
Crown Holdings, the US-based global packaging provider, has
announced a drop in its quarterly earnings to the end of September
following a change in its accounting terms, but the company's
year-to-date results continue to show...
Food processors and packaging companies still have reason for
concern following the publication of a risk assessment by the
European Food Safety Authority advising on the migration of
semicarbazide (SEM) from packaging into foods....