RPC Containers, the UK-based supplier of rigid packaging, has begun
to supply major European food manufacturer Geest with two ranges of
plastic packaging containers.
Trident, a leading designer and manufacturer of ink jet printheads,
has launched its SolidJet printing system, designed for printing on
primary packaging for food and beverage.
Spain is set to be the first European country to start producing
Crown Cork & Seal's SuperEnd end for beverage cans, following
its successful launch in a number of other world markets.
Italian equipment provider SIPA has launched a new high speed
rotary blow moulder, which is said to offer plastic container
manufacturers increased production flexibility.
Classica Microwave Technologies has begun testing and product
development projects for clients in its new state of the art
laboratory facility in New Jersey, US.
Glass and aluminium are losing out to plastic as French beverage
packaging manufacturers move towards PET in a big way. But the
entire sector has suffered over the past year, following a poor
summer 2002 which seriously held back...
Ginsters, the UK-based pastie and sandwich group, is to launch a
range of products targeting the under-10s later this year, tying in
with a new TV series.
The Inkoa company has devised an intelligent system for the
electronic identification of animals which is said to eliminate the
errors of current systems for animal and meat product
identification.
The European Food Safety Authority's Scientific Committee says that
its panels have now been appointed, opening the way for the body to
start work on streamlining safety within the European food and
drinks industry.
The forthcoming FEMS congress of Microbiologists will meet in
Slovenia at the end of this month to discuss, amongst other topics,
ways of reducing contamination in fresh produce.
Inspection systems manufacturer Lock has added to its metal
detector series by launching the Compact Vertical Fall, which is
said to be 25 per cent smaller than the previously available
standard systems.
Research by University of Plymouth experts into the detection of
harmful species of algae has helped develop a unique microscope,
which could dramatically decrease cases of poisoning from
contaminated shellfish.
The Langnese-Iglo Micro-Baguette, launched on the German market
this spring has won first prize in the TIDA 2003, Trayforma
International Design Award competition organised by Stora Enso.
Nestlé is attempting to cash in on the growing coffee market in
Russia with the construction of a new production facility dedicated
to its Nescafe brand.
The world's largest gathering of grain-based industry professionals
will convene at the annual American Association of Cereal Chemists
meeting, at the end of September in Oregon, US to discuss advances
in production and processing...
Ball Packaging Europe has won one gold and one bronze award for two
product innovations in this year's Can of the Year Award packaging
competition, which took place in Singapore recently.
A new tool for subtyping strains of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria
has been developed in America by USDA Agricultural Research Service
scientists. The method is set to be particularly useful to test for
strains of the bacteria on...
Manugistics, a leading global provider of supply chain management
solutions, has supplied the BEL food and dairy group with solutions
aimed at improving its forecasting, production-capacity planning,
and distribution flow optimisation.
Avure Technologies has supplied a high-pressure processing (HPP)
system to a US-based food company which aims to increase the safety
of processed onion.
Tisma, the US packaging equipment provider, has launched the TC 400
series of vertical cartoners, said to be capable of reaching speeds
of up to 750 cartons per minute.
One of Europe's leading suppliers of plastic packaging, Superfos,
has redesigned its hot and cold filled food container in an effort
to harmonise shelf displays and increase warehouse utilisation.
Institutional Investors are starting to weigh the cost-benefits of
irradiating ground beef, poultry and other foods for food service
providers, foodprocessors and food retailers, according to a
leading adviser in the US.
Packaging Automation, the UK manufacturer of heat sealing machines,
is supplying one of the country's leading chilled food producers,
Uniq Prepared Foods, with equipment on a hire basis to meet
seasonal production requirements.
ProPak Asia 2003, one of Asia's leading packaging exhibitions, is
said to be the largest show in seven years - although the SARS
outbreak is expected impact final visitor numbers.
Food manufacturers across Germany are bracing themselves for future
reform after the country's newly appointed head of the federal
Insitute of Risk Assesment pledged to use "greater
transparency" to make food safer.
After an 18 month period of consolidation, DS Smith has confirmed
the total acquisition of Rapak Asia Pacific, formerly a 50 per cent
owned joint venture with AEP Industries.
VantagePoint Systems, a developer of business management software
for the packaging industry and Europe Packaging Solutions, a
systems solution provider, today announced an alliance to offer
VantagePoint's Enterprise Resource...
A new testing device to detect nuts in food has received
certification from the Association of Analytical Communities.
Ridascreen Fast Peanut, developed by food testing firm R-Biopharm,
obtained Performance Method Status last week.
A new palletiser from Australian equipment provider Foodmach is
said to combine robot versatility with the high speed of inline
systems, to produce one of the fastest systems on the market.
The Smart Active Labels Consortium is to present its first seminar,
titled "Smart Active Labels for Temperature Tracking: Shaping
the Future of Food/Pharmaceutical Distribution," on June 10 -
11 in Chicago, US.
Viskase Companies has announced a slight increase in its net sales
for the first quarter of 2003 financial, reflecting favourable
exchange rates for its European operations which have helped
stemmed company losses.
Breconcherry, the UK-based tank washing equipment and CIP system
design and manufacture company, has said that it will continue to
sponsor the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group.
Stable Micro Systems, one of the world's leading designers and
manufacturers of materials testing equipment, has launched its
Video Playback Indicator for texture analysis - perfect for baked
goods.
Research from government scientists in the US suggests that a new
enzyme process to make prebiotics from carbohydrates could expand
markets for corn and other commodity crops.
A small US water bottling company, Kolob claims to have tripled
productivity and significantly reduced costs following investments
it has made in automation equipment sourced at last year's Pack
Expo in Las Vegas.
Sabaté Diosos, the France-based wine barrel and closures
manufacturer, has said that it is to rename the company to reflect
greater unanimity for its brands.
Bakery and dessert manufacturer Sara Lee has launched Sara Lee
Gold, a range of three new cheesecakes designed to reinvigorate
consumer interest in the UK's £269 million (€376m) frozen dessert
sector.
Ilapak has launched an electronic flow-wrapper specifically
designed to offer smaller manufacturers an efficient means of
wrapping a variety of food products.
A diverse group of more than 200 conferees from 17 countries met at
McCormick Place in Chicago, US, last week to discuss the food
safety and public health benefits of food irradiation and its
merits.
