Processing equipment & systems, automation, control

Brazil’s drive-thru bakery chain Pão to Go ready for simultaneous debut in Europe and US

12-Oct-2016 By Vladimir Pekic

Brazil’s first drive-thru bakery chain Pão to Go (Bread to Go) is set to expand to Europe and the US to capitalize on its concept of express bakery services for time-conscious consumers.

Reading Bakery Systems on trend with cookie processing tech

10-Oct-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Reading Bakery Systems (RBS) has added a cookie production line to its Science and Innovation Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, to complement its existing snack production line testing crackers, pretzels and other baked goods.

Siemens: F&B manufacturers are slow to embrace IoT and Industry 4.0 demands

26-Sep-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers are slow to meet the rising demand in digitalization and adapt their machines to customized packaging, according to Siemens.

Comet Group starts work on HQ expansion

20-Sep-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Comet Group has started work on expanding its HQ which will create 20,000 square meters of additional production space by mid-2018 and 250 more jobs.  

Charm Sciences’ aflatoxin in corn test backed

12-Sep-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Charm Sciences’ aflatoxin test has been backed by the US Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).

Mettler Toledo to build plant in Pasco County

26-Aug-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Mettler Toledo will build a facility in Florida for its product inspection division creating 185 positions.

Santa Helena hires former Coca-Cola marketing analyst to broaden its snack products globally

25-Aug-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Peanut manufacturer Santa Helena is entering new markets by launching a healthy ingredient product range and has hired former Coca-Cola marketing analyst, Danilo Leão, to broaden its snack products globally.

Vicam’s strip test certified for aflatoxin analysis

18-Aug-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Vicam’s strip test has received certification for quantitative analysis of total aflatoxins in grains.

ANAB offers accreditation to GFCP

09-Aug-2016 By staff reporter

The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is offering accreditation to the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP).

Scots baker Bells targets export market after doubling pastry capacity

04-Aug-2016 By Vince Bamford

Scottish pastry and pie manufacturer Bells Food Group has set its sights on high-volume contracts in the UK and overseas after completing the first stage in a £3.6m ($4.7m) factory investment.

RF Biocidics pasteurization process for raw almonds certified

22-Jul-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

RF Biocidics has received certification for its system to pasteurize raw almonds.

Dispatches from IFT 2016

Oxygen power: Neo-Pure tech aims to ease bakery product recalls

22-Jul-2016 By Douglas Yu

Pacific Grain and Foods, one of the largest bakery ingredients suppliers in the US, has become Agri-Neo’s first US client to purchase its latest food safety technology Neo-Pure.

Brandneu reduces lead times for kale chips by 75% as demand for healthier snacks soars

12-Jul-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Canada-based Brandneu Foods has reduced lead times for its kale chips by 75% after installing a flexible line with a second drum enabling it to change flavors in less than 15 minutes.

AIB updates standards to help firms shape food safety programs

08-Jul-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

AIB International has released the 2017 version of Consolidated Standards for Inspection of Prerequisite and Food Safety Programs.

‘Confused about the impact of big data on food manufacturing?'

07-Jul-2016 By Tim Jones

‘There’s a lot of excitement about the internet of things (IoT) and big data but realistically many larger food manufacturers already have access to lots of data.

tna on Brexit, popular snacks in Italy and expanding its European operations

04-Jul-2016 By Jenny Eagle

tna has opened an office in Italy to serve the country and wider Mediterranean region including Spain, Portugal and France.

Biscuits Dupon turns to Franz Haas to produce 18,000 sugar cones per hour

28-Jun-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Sugar cone manufacturer Biscuits Dupon has partnered with Franz Haas Food Equipment to install two Caiman-D-300 lines to produce 18,000 sugar cones per hour at its factory in Spain.

Growth prompts investment in Sesotec metal detector

27-Jun-2016 By staff reporter

Rapidly growing export markets was one of the reasons a New Zealand-based firm has installed a Sesotec metal detector.

Lesaffre and Meiogenix to develop yeasts for ‘new and existing’ bakery processes

15-Jun-2016 By Vince Bamford

Biotech firm Meiogenix and yeast supplier Lesaffre are to work together to develop new baker’s yeasts.

Scientists explore ways to improve quality of bread from frozen dough

01-Jun-2016 By Jenny Eagle

SP Food and Bioscience has taken part in a project to find a recipe that gives frozen bread the same properties after baking as freshly made bread.

Grower Direct Nut Company invests in Napasol pasteurization line

23-May-2016 By staff reporter

A Californian nut company has invested in a Napasol pasteurization line which will be operational in time for this year’s crop.

Petrow Food Group invests in $5.7m laser scanning technology for quicker throughput

17-May-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Petrow Food Group, which supplies dried fruit and nuts for chocolates, muesli, breakfast cereals, and bakery products, has invested £4m ($5.7m) in laser scanning and packaging technology.

Aldomak embarks on major expansion programme predicting 50% sales growth

16-May-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Aldomak which makes tablets, fudge and macaroons is projecting sales of £1.9m ($2.8m) for 2017 on the back of a slew of contract wins and increased activity with existing clients.

$6.87m penalty for allegedly violating cleanup operation

Schneider Electric to pay biggest Superfund penalty in EPA history

09-May-2016 By Jenny Eagle

The US Justice Department, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has confirmed Schneider Electric USA will pay a $6.87m penalty for allegedly violating a cleanup operation.

Cargill: how we could cut saturated fat levels in baked goods by 40%

05-May-2016 By Vince Bamford

Scientists at food and agricultural services provider Cargill have developed new processes that they say could reduce saturated fat content in baked goods by as much as 40%.

Listeria fear: Kroger and Giant Eagle also recall sunflower seed products

05-May-2016 By Vince Bamford

A raft of additional products have been recalled by manufacturers and retailers over concerns they may contain sunflower seeds contaminated with the bug that causes listeriosis.

Coconut oil bread? Swapping fat in bread dough could help control blood sugar

05-May-2016 By Nathan GRAY

Altering the type of fat used in bread baking could help to blunt post-meal spikes in blood sugar, say researchers.

Meet APRIL – the food production robot that prepares dishes like a chef

04-May-2016 By Jenny Eagle

A robotic food production system designed to emulate cooking methods used by chefs can offer improved product quality and lower costs, claim its creators.

Treehouse Foods recalls almost 100 products in sunflower seed listeria scare

04-May-2016 By Vince Bamford

Treehouse Foods has voluntarily recalled almost 100 products over fears they may contain sunflower seeds contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Food & drink expo

Video: Snacking can be a force for good, says Campden BRI nutrition specialist

29-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Food developers, manufacturers and ingredients suppliers gathered in Birmingham, UK, last month for a seminar on tackling production challenges in the snack industry.

food & drink expo

Video: Nim's brings its fruit-drying technology to vegetable snacks

27-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Snacks supplier Nim’s Fruit Crisps unveiled its first range of vegetable crisps at the Food & Drink Expo in the UK last week – and took the show’s award for Best New Idea.

Lactic acid bacteria boosts bread shelf life by as much as four days, finds study

27-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Certain strains of lactic acid bacteria can increase the shelf life of bread by up to four days, according to a recent study.

3D Food Printing Conference 2016

byFlow to create ‘art on a plate’ desserts as it prepares for world tour

26-Apr-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Dutch 3D printer manufacturer byFlow has created a portable 3D printer that prints desserts.

Special edition: Gender-specific nutrition

Folic acid fortification: The current global state of play

22-Apr-2016 By Lynda Searby

To date 75 countries globally have implemented mandatory fortification programmes for folic acid with the aim of preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies. Yet despite growing calls from NGOs, health experts and researchers, the 28 EU member countries...

Preferred Popcorn moves into organic market with K&W acquisition

15-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

US manufacturer Preferred Popcorn has acquired its first organic production facility.

EQUInom gains funding for process that may bring 'healthier' breakfast cereals

14-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Start-up EQUInom has secured financing for a seed breeding program that it says might help food businesses cheaply and efficiently develop products such as more nutritious breakfast cereal.

Maravilla production kit upgraded by tna to meet growth in Algerian snack market

11-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Algerian manufacturer Maravilla has updated its production systems to meet the changing demands of the local snacks market.

Palsgaard celebrates CO2-neutrality milestone

08-Apr-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Palsgaard, which makes emulsifier/stabilizer blends, which are used in products from cake mixes to chocolate, confectionery, dairy and ice cream, is the first Danish food producer to achieve CO2-neutrality.

Enzymes specialist DeutscheBack ramps up activity in China and Latin America

08-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Baking ingredients supplier DeutscheBack is increasing its presence and capacities in Latin America and China to meet growing demand.

In-house show for bars, buns, wafers, tortillas and cakes

Bosch Packaging: ‘Lean production is the key driver of short throughput time’

07-Apr-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Lean production is the key driver of short throughput time, according to Bosch Packaging Technology, following its first in-house show at its Schiedam factory in the Netherlands.

TOP bv and Bakery Wiltink to bring low-carb, gluten-free bread to market

06-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

A low-carbohydrate, gluten free bread created by food developers TOP bv is set to go into production through Dutch manufacturer Bakery Wiltink.

Manufacturer apologizes over pest contamination product recall

05-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Manufacturer Baketime has apologized for pest contamination that prompted the recall of baked and snacking products sold by UK businesses including retailer Aldi and wholesaler Booker

special edition - healthy snacking

Bars of gold: Veggie inclusions to maintain growth in healthy snack bars?

31-Mar-2016 By Vince Bamford

With sales of healthy snack bars booming in the US, industry experts predict vegetables and savory flavors could become key weapons in maintaining growth.

Mitsubishi Electric opens Factory Automation centres in Italy and South Africa

31-Mar-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Mitsubishi Electric Europe has opened a Factory Automation (FA) centre in Italy and an FA satellite centre in South Africa, to provide automation product services to Southern Europe and Africa, beginning operations April 1, 2016.

special edition - healthy snacking

Crowdfunding bid to drive development of 'entirely new' functional snacks

31-Mar-2016 By Vince Bamford

Carritech Research has launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand commercial development and licensing of its Coldbake process, which enables snacks and biscuits to be produced at lower temperatures than traditional methods.

Aldi and Happy Shopper snacks recalled over production hygiene fears

30-Mar-2016 By Vince Bamford

A raft of baked and snacking products sold by businesses including retailer Aldi and wholesaler Booker in the UK have been recalled over fears they were produced in unhygienic conditions.

special edition: healthy snacking

Insects, wholegrains and air-popping to shape future snack innovations, writes ESA chief

29-Mar-2016 By Sebastian Emig

European Snacks Association director general Sebastian Emig discusses innovation drivers in Europe's snacks market.

ABB Automation director dies in plane crash

21-Mar-2016 By Jenny Eagle

ABB Automation has announced Roger Agnelli, 56, a member of the ABB Board of Directors, has died in a plane crash in Sao Paulo, Brazil, along with his wife and two children.

‘We must ensure 'force majeure' tensions are not repeated’

10-Mar-2016 By Jenny Eagle

The plastic packaging industry must close ranks to avoid the ‘force majeure’ tensions in 2015 says Roland Roth, president, German Plastics Packaging Association (IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen).

Fresh-Pak and the University of Leicester launch centre of excellence for food technology

10-Mar-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Fresh-Pak Chilled Foods has partnered with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Leicester to set up a centre of excellence for food technology.