IDEX: The food packaging world is getting smaller

Helen Desmeules, marketing coordinator for IDEX Material Processing Technologies, spoke to FoodProductionDaily about how globalization is impacting food packaging, and the importance of efficiency.

Have you noted differences between your customers in the US and overseas? ​

The world is becoming a more homogenous place, with more and more regions striving towards a global set of quality standards, performance and efficiency results. As companies compete worldwide for the same market, the equipment used is becoming more standardized, regardless of where in the world it is located.​

When you talk with customers in food packaging, what are their top concerns?​

Customers continue to ask for more efficient equipment, higher throughputs with smaller footprints and a reduction of waste. Integration and engineering support from vendors is becoming more common as many companies are outsourcing these functions.  ​

Our in-line and highly contained designs ensure the highest percentage of material processed and recovered, with minimal if any, waste. The ability to assist customers in the design of mini systems or “skids” ensures a single point of purchase and complete aftermarket support.​

What technologies and markets do IDEX companies focus on?  ​

Having the ability to work with a wide variety of materials (solid, semi-solid and liquid) within our core competency markets (including food) IDEX Material Processing Technologies companies (Quadro Engineering, Fitzpatrick, and Microfluidics) provide process equipment and global support service solutions that meet our customers’ specific requirements.​

By manufacturing equipment technologically superior and optimized to meet the needs of every customer, we enable processors around the world to achieve consistent, repeatable results.​

Our capabilities include size-reduction (dry/wet/fine/gentle milling and sieving), agglomeration/roll compaction, liquids processing (fluid mixing/dispersion/emulsification), material conveying and handling (pneumatic conveying and security screening), and nano-enabled technology (size reduction/cell disruption, PureNano bottom-up nano particle creation).​

Why is Interpack an important show?​

Interpack is where leading customers come to see what’s next and to learn first-hand what technologies are best suited for their own applications. For the packaging industry it is a venue to showcase the best it can offer. ​

As a vendor, it is important to solidify existing relationships and to develop and nurture new ones. Interpack allows for global exposure and the ideal setting to converse with the decision makers.​

What are some of the machines your companies are showing at Interpack?​

Quadro is excited to highlight what’s next in finer particle conical milling. Fitzpatrick will showcase the latest in contained compaction systems with the CCS 220; the Fitzpatrick Chilsonator is a roller compaction system for dry granulation of pharmaceutical powders. ​

IDEX companies Quadro and Fitzpatrick are exhibiting their packaging technologies at Interpack, taking place May 8-14 in Dusseldorf, Germany. The conference and exhibition focuses on packaging equipment and technology for food firms, beverage companies, and other industries.