DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012, CHICAGO

KHS targets craft brewers with small yet perfectly formed filler

Kyle Nielsen from KHS USA tells Ben Bouckley why his firm is keen to attract the increasingly important craft brewing segment with its new Innofill Glass Micro DPG bottle filler.

Grupo Bimbo makes green strides with Mexican wind energy

Grupo Bimbo will power most of its Mexican operations with renewable wind energy generated from a new farm in the south of Mexico.

Phase down of HFCs would offer much needed flexibility, says industry group

A phase down of HFCs in refrigerants is better than an outright ban that could cost the industry billions, according to the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE).

Dispatches from Pack Expo

Clear clamshell wins consumer packaging vote

Clear plastic clamshell packaging won the consumer vote in a recent eye tracking survey conducted for materials manufacturer Klockner Pentaplast, results of which  it revealed at Pack Expo 2012 in...

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012, CHICAGO

Enter the Pouch King…Oystar hails ‘breakthrough’ machine

Mark Nease from Oystar North America shows Ben Bouckley the world’s first high-speed pouching machine that forms, fills, seals pouches of virtually any size containing free-flowing and non free-flowing dried-...

UK charity urges government to ban BPA in food and drinks packaging

A UK charity has launched a petition urging the country’s government to ‘take the lead’ and ban bisphenol A (BPA) and endocrine disrupting chemicals in food and drink packaging....

News in brief

Kapstone results boosted by acquisition

Kapstone Paper and Packaging Corporation reported positive Q3 results despite unplanned disruptions at two sites.

Private label sales hit $98 billion on 6% growth, report says

Sales of private label food and beverage products in the United States topped $98 billion 2011, according to a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts. Products in this...

Takeaway message from plastic conference ‘frustrating’, says NatureWorks

The full message of a speech by a European Commissioner was missed and led to bioplastics being misrepresented, according to NatureWorks. 

Dow upgrades film testing facility

Dow Chemical Company has added an ultrasonic welder and a feedblock to produce nanolayer films to its US Film Application Development Centre (FADC).

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012, CHICAGO

Bosch launches flow wrapper at Pack Expo

Bosch Packaging Technology is slashing waste and boosting shelf life with the introduction of a new flow wrapper at Pack Expo 2012 in Chicago.

Sealed Air sells Diversey Japan for $377m

Sealed Air has sold Diversey Japan to The Carlyle Group for ¥30bn (US$377m) to focus on higher growth markets.

News in brief

USDA issues Hurricane Sandy food safety warning

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has urged people to take immediate steps to ensure their food is kept safe as Hurricane Sandy approaches....

Dispatches from Pack Expo 2012

New cleaning systems from Meech International

Meech International has launched two devices designed to eradicate contamination of food processing equipment.

Energy-saving mist technology available on industrial scale

A novel baking process using a climate chamber that produces mist can now be used on an industrial scale to half energy savings in the fermentation process compared to conventional...

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012

PTI showcases packaging solutions at Pack Expo

PTI Inspection Systems is displaying a range of packaging solutions, including packaging machinery and testing systems, at trade show Pack Expo in Chicago.

TETRA PAK EXCLUSIVE

Fluid dynamics cut Evero Aseptic development by years – Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak claims to have cut the development time of its recently launched Tetra Evero Aseptic carton bottle by years through the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental...

ExxonMobil sells BOPP films business

ExxonMobil Chemical has sold its global film packaging business to Jindal Poly Films saying it didn't fit in with their future plans.

Amcor reports ‘consistent’ start to Q1 trading

Amcor reported a solid start in its first quarter trading in line with expectations and said it was interested in further acquisitions.

News in brief

Coesia Group to acquire Oystar North America

Coesia Group has signed a deal to buy Oystar North America (NA), from Oystar Group for an undisclosed amount.

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012, CHICAGO

Optima fills gap for ‘important’ small-scale coffee pod producers

Optima is citing the increasing world popularity of coffee in portion packs, as it launches an easy-use pod filling machine aimed at small-scale producers.

DISPATCHES FROM PACKEXPO 2012, CHICAGO

New film hits Chicago: ExxonMobil debuts PET ‘flotation separation’ solution

ExxonMobil Chemical has launched a new film specially designed to assist the flotation separation of labels from PET bottles to assist their recycling, which also offers up to 50% on-bottle shrinkage.

Foreign funds needed for Oceania to become Asia’s food bowl

The agri-food sector in Australia and New Zealand will have to overcome a host of barriers if it is to tap the opportunities presented by rapidly developing Asian countries, and...

News in brief

We hit the ‘Windy City’ – FoodProductionDaily.com in Chicago

Next week FoodProductionDaily.com will be reporting from Pack Expo International in Chicago, the yearly show bringing together packaging and processing expertise from across the globe.

EFSA approves recycling method for re-use as food contact crates

A method of recycling re-useable food-contact polypropylene crates (RPC) into new PP crates has been approved by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority).

TNA launches first polyethelene pack machine for pre-wrapped candies

Equipment supplier TNA has launched what it claims is the world’s first vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) rotary polyethylene packaging system.

Differing factors produce positive results for paper packaging heavyweights

International Paper and Graphic Packaging have cited strategic expansion and product innovation as the drivers behind strong Q3 results.

News in brief

PolyOne’s deal for Spartech questioned

A number of US law firms are investigating PolyOne’s $246m takeover of Spartech Corporation after claims the board of Spartech failed to obtain the optimum value for the shares.

Ball and Silgan push through weak Europe in Q3

Ball Corporation and Silgan Holdings reported solid Q3 results for the three months ending 30 September but both were affected by weak European conditions.

News in brief

Placon expands food container range

Placon has expanded its range of food packaging available with up to 100% post-consumer recycled content.

Enzyme reduces UHT milk processing downtime – DuPont

Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk manufacturers can limit the frequency of cleaning cycles, reduce production downtime and cut their costs through the addition of a new enzyme, ingredients manufacturer DuPont has...

Ground-breaking laminated recycling technology firm commercialises first site

A revolutionary technology that enables the recovery of aluminium from laminated pouches will be demonstrated for the first time on a commercial scale by the end of the year.

SPC key to bring industry together, says new director

The Sustainable Packaging Coaltion (SPC) is key to get everyone's voice at the table to address problems throughout the chain, according to its director.

UK aims to standardise front-of-pack nutrition labels

The UK government has said it will roll out a new voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme by next summer to standardise labels across retailers and food manufacturers.

Warburtons and Openfield to strengthen supply chain relationship

Warburtons and UK grain cooperative Openfield have created two new roles to drive standards and connections throughout their joint supply chain in a volatile and challenging wheat market.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

'Unique' bottle dosing and dispensing cap boosts brand visibility: Tap the Cap

Tap The Cap is a universal dosing and dispensing cap pre-filled with powder that offers firms a branding platform, since consumers can use it to 'enhance' their favorite bottled water...

Dispatch from IPA 2012

Manufacturers' 'bold gamble' on R&D

European food and drink manufacturers are making a "bold gamble" on research and development (R&D) investment in the tough economic climate, according to results from the latest IPA 2012 survey....

Novelis begins plans to increase recycling capacity to 2.1 million tons by 2015

Novelis has opened an aluminium recycling and casting center in South Korea as part of a $400m expansion project.

MWV and Alfa Laval see food and beverage segments stay strong

MWV and Alfa Laval both reported positive results in food and beverage despite tough conditions elsewhere.

News in brief

AEP Industries seals deal to grow portfolio

AEP Industries has acquired Transco Plastics Industries for $53m and targeted expansion of their presence in plastic packaging.

Stora Enso wields knife as part of restructuring plans

Stora Enso has announced a raft of restructuring efforts to reduce costs including the closure of a Finland plant and reductions in all the Swedish sites that have corrugated packaging...

NatureFlex already challenges conventional films, says Innovia

Innovia Films’ NatureFlex film offers the highest moisture, gas and aroma barrier of any compostable, renewable packaging on the market, its product manager says.

Scientists create ultra-thin material that could be used as food sensor

Researchers have created a thin-film polymer metamaterial that can be incorporated inside packaging and that changes colour if the conditions inside the package alter.

MOCON expands oxygen permeation testing range

MOCON has unveiled a system which provides greater throughput for oxygen permeation testing for rigid packages.

Crown Holdings hopes new Budweiser can closure will offer openings beyond China

Crown Holdings tells BeverageDaily.com that it hopes to introduce a new full aperture end just launched in China for use with 150ml Budweiser cans to other geographies in future.

Dispatch from Sial 2012

A future without packaging beckons

The food industry could be approaching a time when packaging will be completely eliminated from the supply chain, according to Olivia Milan-Grobois, business unit director, Sial Group.

MWV acquires corrugated packaging producer to target Indian market

MeadWestvaco (MWV) has acquired an Indian corrugated packaging material producer and said it will tap into the experience of its presence in Brazil to accelerate growth through the deal.

Dispatch from IPA 2012

Agropole science park supports eco-friendly factories

The development of eco-friendly production at the Agropole science park is the keynote event of the IPA 2012 trade show, which is running alongside Sial 2012 at Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition centre.

News in brief

BASF re-shuffles European business unit leaders

Ralf Spettmann has been appointed as the head of BASF’s Pigments & Resins Europe business unit serving the packaging industry.

EFSA backs PET recycling technology

EFSA has concluded a decontamination technology used to obtain recycled post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for use in food contact materials poses no safety concerns.

Microwave shielding technology builds momentum

Patented technology that allows microwave meals to be cooked more evenly and can even deliver hot and cold food in the same tray is taking off in the US as...

Findus enlists Sofrilog to optimise supply chain

Frozen food firm Findus has implemented several supply chain efficiencies in partnership with logistics service provider Sofrilog.

EFSA backs iron modified bentonite as oxygen absorber

Iron (II) modified bentonite does not raise a safety concern when used as an oxygen absorber in food packaging, according to EFSA.

Sonoco reports tough quarter but looks ahead to brighter future

Sonoco has said a negative change in the mix of business, higher maintenance, labor, pension, interest and other expenses hit hard in their Q3 results.

Innovia’s BOPP packaging film trumps biodegradable option for shelf-life of granola, finds study

Innovia Films’ regular biaxially orientated polypropylene (BOPP) film promoted better shelf-life in granola cereal than its renewable and compostable film, a study finds.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

'Consistent' content is king for beverage producers - Profamo VP

Profamo VP Chris Nimptsch tells Ben Bouckley why consistency - and true readings of CO2, Brix and organic acid levels - is king for beverage producers, as he unveils VitalSensors'...

Kraft Foods orders evacuation after German gas cloud incident

Food processing giant Kraft Foods was forced to order the evacuation of around 1,800 people after a mixing error at a cream cheese factory in Germany created a cloud of...

Food analysis simplified with new software

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched software for gas and liquid chromatography analysis that simplifies the process and makes it more user-friendly.

Extracts from leaves of the carob plant can inhibit growth of Listeria, says study

The leaves of the carob plant contain antibacterial substances that can help in the fight against Listeria, according to new research.

Crown cautious in ‘sluggish’ times

Crown Holdings has postponed plans to build two new plants in China as it continues to face sluggish economic conditions and unfavourable weather in its key markets.

Resource efficiency set to rise in prominence

Resource efficiency will be even more crucial for the food industry in the coming year as it fights to prevent production costs from being passed on to consumers.

Green additives could improve environmental profile of thermoplastic

Researchers have found green additives can improve the environmental profile of thermoplastic packaging materials and reduce oxygen transmission.

PETRA creates model to encourage PET resin innovation

The PET Resin Association (PETRA) has launched a model to evaluate resin variations in terms of likely market presence and impact on the quality of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Coffin maker Hillenbrand boosts food processing portfolio

Hillenbrand has agreed to acquire processing equipment firm Coperion Capital for €408m.

News in brief

Deal expands our end of line business, says Pearson

Pearson Packaging Systems has acquired Moen Industries and said it plans to grow the tray former product line by expanding the options available.

'Unrealistic' that bioplastics could replace conventional plastics soon

Bioplastics replacing petro-olefin based plastics seems ‘fairly unrealistic’ in the ‘mid and long term’, according to the European Commissioner for Environment.

Uflex continues global expansion with start-up of US site

Uflex is to begin production at its first US polyester film plant later this year as it continues plans for global expansion.

SternMaid pumps cash into fluid bed processing

SternMaid has invested €14m in its Wittenburg factory to enlarge capacity and extend the range of its products and services, involving the introduction of new fluid bed technology.

Mindanao peace could give fillip to Filipino food production

The prospect of lasting peace in the southern Philippines will make it easier for the government to boost agricultural production by 3.5% to 5% next year, a senior government official has revealed.

French ban sends out 'contradictory' BPA messages, says trade association

The French ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging is sending out ‘contradictory’ messages with regulatory bodies still ruling that the chemical is safe, according to the BPA Coalition. ...

Funding boost for eco-friendly barrier packaging developer

Xylophane has said a €1.7m EU project grant has put it ‘one step closer’ to commercial production of its eco-friendly packaging barrier material.

Mondi project could clinch RFID breakthrough

Mondi is working on a three-year project that could lead to a breakthrough in the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in the grocery supply chain.

Ireland and UK head eco-friendly packaging league

The UK and Ireland claim the highest number of eco-friendly packaging launches in the past year, according to Benjamin Punchard, senior packaging analyst at Mintel.

DS Smith’s integration of SCA Packaging pays off

DS Smith is making better than expected progress on its integration of SCA Packaging, it has reported.

Sirane opens Turkish site and targets further global growth

Sirane has opened a manufacturing facility in Turkey and described it as the ‘perfect location’ to penetrate the Russian and North African markets.

News in brief

Sonoco in uncoated recycled paperboard mills shake-up

Sonoco has appointed Marty F. Pignone as vice president, Paper North America overlooking 12 uncoated recycled paperboard mills in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Kellogg’s $30m cereal recall: Consumer pains but no financial pinch

Kellogg’s recent recall of two cereal products following a metal mesh contamination scare will cost the firm between $20-30m and will hit consumer trust in the short-term, an analyst says....

Action needed to stop contamination as peanut butter recall expands

A US food professor has called on the peanut industry to take action against foodborne illness as the latest Salmonella outbreak has now spread to Canada.

Bioplastics growth set to soar but Europe could be left behind, says trade body

European Bioplastics has predicted fivefold growth of bioplastics by 2016 but warned South America and Asia are favoured for new manufacturing sites.

Waste reduction strategy targets supply chain efficiency

Supply chain efficiency and lean manufacturing will be integral to slashing UK food and drink refuse, according to Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the organisation spearheading the cause.

Hurdles to reducing packaging waste

The food industry must address fundamental issues behind reducing packaging’s environmental impact, according to Benjamin Punchard, senior global packaging analyst for Mintel.

Analyse this! – Vitiva opens up lab services

Vitiva is offering food, beverage and ingredient manufacturers the use of a new analytical services centre it has set up at its recently inaugurated innovation centre in Slovenia.

PET recycling up despite industry challenges - report

The postconsumer PET recycling industry has noted lightweighting, reclamation capacity, contamination and thermoformed packaging as big challenges, according to an industry report.

Outbreak of norovirus in Germany 'over'

German food safety chiefs have said that a norovirus outbreak that sickened more than 11,000 people is over.

Collaboration and new technologies can make waste pay

Collaboration and new technologies offer growing opportunities for food processors and producers seeking to turn waste streams into revenue.

Packaging material origin rising in importance

The origin of packaging materials is rising in importance, according to the NVC Netherlands Packaging Centre, commenting on emerging packaging trends.

Alcoa results battered by special item charges

Alcoa has reported a Q3 loss of $143m relating to a settlement of a civil lawsuit and a payout to clean a river polluted by one of its aluminium plants.

Exclusive interview

Mettler-Toledo’s x-ray machine cuts energy bills

Food manufacturers can slash their electricity bills thanks to the launch of an energy-saving x-ray machine from Mettler-Toledo Safeline X-ray.

Croda launches anti-fog concentrate for food packaging

Croda Polymer Additives has unveiled an anti-fog concentrate that it claims prevent droplet formation on plastic surfaces leading to an extended shelf life of food.

Kerry Group to invest €100m in new innovation centre in Ireland

Irish food ingredients company Kerry Group has said it will invest €100m in a new global technology and innovation centre in Ireland, due to open in 2016 to serve its...

Food safety projects receive funding boost

Ten projects aimed at answering critical food safety questions have been selected for grants by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) at the University of California, Davis.

News in brief

Kraft Foods recalls Jalapeno cheese products over packaging concern

Kraft Foods has initiated a recall for a batch of its Jalapeno variety String Cheese product over concerns that a packaging error could present a choking hazard.

SIG Combibloc launches ultra-slim carton to meet increasing small-format demand

SIG Combibloc has launched a range of extra-slim, small-format beverage cartons in an effort to meet demand for smaller, more convenient packaging from emerging market consumers.

Stable Micro Systems enhances texture analysis

Stable Micro Systems has boosted its texture analysis capabilities for the food and supplement industries with the introduction of its Automated Linear Indexing System (ALIS).

Americans playing food safety lottery, says professor

The founding director of the Mercyhurst Institute for Health has said that Americans are playing a ‘food lottery’ with the current food safety system and called for more stringent regulation.

News in brief

Conference to focus on food industry cleanliness - EHEDG

A conference aimed at highlighting and preventing deficiencies in food processing safety is being held next month.

BASF and CSM JV to produce bio-based succinic acid for packaging

BASF and Purac, a subsidiary of CSM, have created a joint venture (JV) to produce succinic acid for packaging that will be operational next year.

Hybrid collection-delivery trailer will cut road miles – Arla Foods UK

Arla Foods UK hopes to cut the distance it travels to collect raw milk and deliver finished products through the introduction of a half milk tanker, half refrigerated container hybrid.

Exclusive interview

Bosch targets flexibility and speed at FachPack

Bosch Packaging Technology launched multiple machines for the food and drink industry designed to cater for manufacturers’ demand for speed and versatility at trade show FachPack 2012 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Exclusive interview

Mondi outlines intelligent packaging trends

Intelligent packaging is not just about tracking products from factory floor to consumers’ cupboards, according to Mondi marketing and communication director Albert Klinkhammer.

Toppan Printing creates biomass packaging material

Toppan Printing Co has developed a laminated packaging material using biomass polyethylene (PE) film with a thickness of less than 40µm.

News in brief

AkzoNobel Competition Commission verdict delayed

AkzoNobel’s merger deal with Metlac Holdings, which is being reviewed by the UK Competition Commission (CC), is still on hold after the report was delayed by eight weeks to 1...

Mocon refines oxygen analyser to meet industry demand

Mocon has updated its oxygen analyser with three enhancements based on industry feedback.

Nanomaterials must be assessed on case to case basis - EC

The European Commission (EC) has said the safety of nanomaterials needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis in its latest review.

China and India to lead RRP growth

China and India will lead the way in retail ready packaging (RRP) sales growth over the next five years, according to the latest report from Smithers Pira.

Space saving robot palletiser revealed

Food and drink manufacturers with restricted space issues can turn to the latest generation automation FANUC M-710iC robot palletiser from Pacepacker Services for help.

News in brief

Berry Plastics expands Board of Directors

Berry Plastics Group has appointed David B. Heller to its Board of Directors as the firm pushes ahead with strategic plans to develop new products.

Dispatches from IBA 2012

Improved sanitation with new dry and specialty mixer, says Bühler

Technology firm Bühler claims that its new Sanimix mixer improves sanitation compared to its previous machines.

Coca-Cola in €6.5m French recycling venture

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has invested €6.5m in a joint venture with APPE, France's leader in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), to increase the rate of recycling plastic bottles in France.

News in brief

Ecolab targets fast-growing Latin America

Ecolab has acquired a Mexico-based manufacturer and provider of cleaning, sanitizing and water treatment products and services to strengthen its position in Latin America.   

Antimicrobial packaging targets listeria

Researchers have found packaging with an oxygen scavenger or carbon dioxide generator can inhibit the growth of listeria on ready-to-eat (RTE) meat.

Scientex snaps up GW Plastics core business

Asian packaging firm Scientex (SB Group) has launched a bid for Great Wall Plastic and Great Wall Packaging for 283.2m Malaysian Ringgits (RM) (€71.6m).

Eurofins unveils lean thinking lab

Eurofins Scientific has opened the doors of a food testing laboratory designed using lean thinking at Wolverhampton in the UK.

ANSES calls for stricter EU BPA classification

The French Agency for Food Health Safety (ANSES) has called on the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to propose a more stringent classification level for BPA as a reprotoxic substance.

FDA warns Dr Pepper Snapple bottler over ‘serious’ HACCP failings

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) bottler the American Bottling Company after an inspection revealed serious HACCP failings at a Texas plant.

Exclusive interview

Bosch: demand grows for sustainability and automation

Pressure is mounting for food manufacturers to move further into sustainable packaging and automation, according to Friedbert Klefenz, president of Bosch Packaging Technology.

Marel cuts manual handling with new portion cutter

Marel claims its latest portion cutter delivers increased automation and reduces manual handling to a greater degree than previous models at the same levels of efficiency and consistency.

Flax fibres could be used in food packaging - researchers

Researchers in New Zealand have discovered potential anti-fungal properties in harakeke, or native flax, that could see the fibres used in food packaging but admitted more funding is need to...

News in brief

Partnership will grow long life offering - Nampak

Nampak has joined forces with Alternapak and has targeted growth in its long life offering throughout Africa.

Health Canada reaffirms BPA 'not expected to pose health risk'

Health Canada has reaffirmed the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) and said current dietary exposure through food packaging is not expected to pose a health risk.

O-I R&D center to target glass melting and forming

O-I is to build an R&D innovation center in the US that it claims could revolutionize glass melting and forming.

News in brief

BASF increases prices due to raw material cost

BASF has announced immediate price increases in Europe, Africa and Western Asia for some resins and powders for the packaging, coating and printing industries.

Romer Labs acquisition boosts pathogen detection

Romer Labs has taken a leap forward in its pathogen detection services by purchasing US biotech firm Strategic Diagnostics’ (SDIX’s) food safety and genetically modified organism (GMO) businesses for $13.5m,...

Aluminium-look plastic breakthrough for Faerch Plast

Faerch Plast has made a breakthrough by developing a range of aluminium-look Crystalline Polyethylene Terephthalate (CPET) containers for the UK premium ready to cook sector.

Four million unique Absolut vodka bottles see Ardagh claim ‘packaging history’

Ardagh Group is claiming packaging history after modifying bottle decorating machinery to produce 4m different bottles for Pernod Ricard's Swedish brand Absolut Vodka.

Dispatches from IBA 2012

Increased accuracy with new dough twisting machine: Rondo

Rondo has developed a machine for twisted dough pastries that it says is more accurate and intricate than others already on the market.

Vemag’s vacuum filler handles 25 tonnes an hour

Vemag displayed its latest vacuum filler upgrade at the FachPack trade show in Nuremberg, Germany, last week: the HP30E.

Duo Plast launches ‘trend-setting’ freight testing lab

Duo Plast’s new freight security testing laboratory has opened its doors to German manufacturers and distributors seeking to safeguard lorry loads against the rigours of transportation.

Commission launches packaging cartel probe

The European Commission (EC) has informed 13 firms supplying packaging for meat, fish and cheese products that they may have participated in a cartel for up to eight years.

Food advocate launches volley on Oz produce plan

An Australian food policy unit yesterday branded the country’s food system as “broken”, and blamed it for contributing to a raft of issues currently affecting society.