< PreviousIt’s a seven from G Growers for ParamountPackaging flow-wrappersFleet-based Paramount Packaging Systems -exclusive distributor of Fuji MachineryCompany’s horizontal and vertical form-fill-sealequipment in the UK and Ireland – hasannounced that G’s Growers recentlyconfirmed an order for seven custom-designedAlpha VII FW3710BS/B back seal flow-wrappers.With G’s Growers reporting that two FujiAlpha VII flow-wrappers supplied byParamount Packaging early last year havehelped increase production efficiencies by upto 25%, the seven new units will also beadapted for reliable, high-speed operation on mobile field harvesting rigs. The bespoke Fuji flow-wrappers, which will be used to pack celery, will be mounted onrobust stainless steel support frames to ensure stability and rigidity when installed on G’sGrowers’ harvesting rigs. This allows the machines to be easily repositioned when the sides ofthe rig are folded up for transportation between fields and from the UK to Spain. They alsofeature integrated ink jet coders and labelling systems.10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.neton lineAutomated system boosts performance A Dutch manufacturer of pre-packedmeat products has automated its in-houselogistics using an IT solution from CSB-Automation and CSB-System. The newsystem is helping ProMessa BV meet theneeds of its customers more efficiently,with a delivery performance of over 99%,enhancing its market position.With the CSB solution, the entirematerials flow at ProMessa has beenautomated – from packaging followingproduction, to storage and picking, andloading onto trucks. In the past, goods andcrates were moved manually, whereas today, state-of-the-art robotic technology, conveyorsystems, sorters and the CSB software work seamlessly together to get the job done.“We have nearly doubled our output – sometimes to more than 100,000 packages perday,” said ProMessa’s Managing Director Harold Rouweler. “We would never have achievedsuch growth rates without the new logistics system, which was established in the existingbuildings without any major staff increase.”Dirty supermarketcrates – there’s noexcuseThe BBC programme Watchdog recentlyinvestigated claims that customers werereceiving their online grocery orders in dirty andmouldy crates. Although soiling is unavoidablewhen transporting fruit, vegetables and otherfoodstuffs, there’s no excuse for failing toremove this soiling before the crates are reused. Industrial Washing Machines Limited (IWM)has a full range of tray and crate washers thatare specifically designed for cleaningsupermarket crates after each use. Thesemachines are ideal for removing the tough, stickyresidues often found on supermarket deliverycrates. Dependant on throughputs required; variouswash processes may be utilised from the widerange of options available from IWM. Pre-washing systems, sustained detergent washsections with hot water, re-circulated from aheated tank and high temperature or sanitisingrinse sections ensure efficient cleaning andsanitation of trays and crates. The machines arealso water and energy efficient, and minimise theuse of detergent. New models extend laser codingcapabilities Linx Printing Technologies islaunching two laser coders that willopen up the benefits of thetechnology to more companies andapplications in the food and drinksector. Key benefits of the new LinxCSL range are even faster printingspeeds and greater versatility, makingthe coders ideal for a wider variety ofproducts, along with quicker andeasier installation and set-up helpingto make laser coding simpler andmore accessible.The Linx CSL10 (10 watt) andCSL30 (30 watt) laser coders featurea new, more powerful processingboard that is able to relay themessage from the control unit to the marking head more quickly,delivering higher speeds. The coder can handle complex messages andgraphics without any loss of quality, ideal for the requirements of highspeed packing and bottling lines. Both models can be specified in an IP65 version, allowing the coderto operate in harsh, wet and dusty environments such as frozen, dairyand beverage.combibloc RS offers greatersystem stability combibloc RS is anew compositestructure for cartonpacks developed bySIG Combibloc thatfurther improvessystem stability duringprocessing, whilecontributing to evenbetter environmentalperformance. In the medium term,this new laminate willbecome the standard composite structure for all combibloc andcombifit formats used to fill liquid dairy products (LD) and non-carbonated soft drinks (NCSD) on SIG Combibloc filling machines. Norbert Garitz, Head of Product Management Technology at SIGCombibloc, said: “For customers, the use of the new combibloc RSstructure will mean further improvement in our system robustness. Thefact that less material is required also reduces the overall weight of thepackage, which in turn has a positive effect on environmentalperformance. The carbon footprint of each package will be reduced byup to six percent with the use of combibloc RS – compared to theprevious structure.”10_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:29 Page 1API’s Micro Glitter is second skin to ViniqShimmery Liqueur A state-of-the-art foil from brand enhancementspecialist API is recreating the glamour and impact ofViniq Shimmery Liqueur on its retail display box. The holographic Micro Glitter foil flawlesslyintegrates with the overall graphic intent to conveythe brand promise of the distinctive new liqueurfrom E & J Gallo Winery in the US.Marketed to millennials, Viniq Shimmery Liqueuris a fusion of premium vodka, Moscato wine andnatural fruit flavours. Initially only available on theWest coast, the liqueur’s remarkable success soonprompted E & J Gallo to distribute it nationwide. The Micro Glitter foil, part of API’s Holofoil™ range, is applied to the retail display box by Pacific SouthwestContainer (PSC). It creates sparkling waves of light that emanate from a printed image of the Viniq ShimmeryLiqueur bottle. This graphic display represents the swirling shimmer effect of the liqueur when it is poured into a glass.Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.neton the shelfSIG’s filling flexibility eases market entrywith ‘favourite apples’In Europe, the market for juice andjuice drinks is largely saturated, and itis a highly competitive market:beverage manufacturers try todifferentiate themselves from thecompetition with new products, tosecure market shares. ‘Variety’ is the current catchwordfor fruit juice specialists. More andmore companies are bringing outjuices made from specific varieties, tocater to the tastes of discerningconsumers and encourage them to drink juice. In Poland for example, the Maspex Group has brought out apple juices in the varietiesAntonowka, Champion and Jonagold under the company’s Tymbark brand. In Germany,Amecke has the unmixed variants Golden Delicious (‘velvety and balanced’), Idared(‘powerful & original’) and Cripps Pink (‘temptingly fruity’) on shelves. All of the varieties are available in carton packs from SIG Combibloc.Clondalkin FlexiblePackaging Bury bring asmile to Bute Island CheeseClondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury (formerlyChadwicks) has produced a set of distinctiveshaped lids for a new range of dairy-free cheesefrom Bute Island Foods.Guy Crichton Director of Bute Island Foodspraised Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury for itsexceptional technical support and customer service:“The unusual shape of the packaging caused somechallenges for us on the filling line. Not knowingwhether this was machine or packaging related wecalled on Bury’s expertise. They had no hesitation inmaking the journey across to us on the Isle of Buteto provide us with technical assistance and resolvedthe issue for us promptly.”Paul Whelan, Technical Manager for Lids atClondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury, added: “Our jobisn’t complete until the lids are securely on thecustomer’s pot or container and if that requiresadditional technical support from us than we arealways on hand to offer advice, no matter where acustomer is located.”Moy Park introduce new ready-to-eat snacking rangeUK food company,Moy Park has created anew branded ready-to-eat snacking range,‘Good to Go.’The range wasdeveloped to addresschanges in consumereating habits in thesnacking market, withshoppers seekingnutritious, convenient snacking solutions tailored for busy lifestyles.Made with 100% chicken breast and high in protein, the four strongrange includes two Moy Park ‘Good to Go’ chicken breast fillet chunks –each with a dip, BBQ and sweet chilli, and two flavoured chicken breastfillet chunk options – flame grilled and piri piri.Aisling Graham, Interim Brand Marketing Manager said: “Consumerpriorities for 2017 are focused on convenience and health – and this hastranslated into the snacking market. The range is individually portioned,and high in protein – making it an ideal option for snacking throughoutthe day.“In a competitive market place, we’ve designed the packaging toensure maximum shelf impact in the food to go fixtures, using brightcolours and unique branding to engage consumers.”Saucy Fish Co. debut first frozenfish rangeBritish seafoodbrand The SaucyFish Co. haslaunched a brandnew frozen productrange with a majorUK-wide listing inSainsbury’s.The company willaccompany the launch with an extensive digital marketing campaign,utilising online food platforms over four months. The new frozen range comprises five products: Sea Bass with SalsaVerde, Smoked Haddock with Vintage Cheddar & Chive Sauce, Salmonwith Chilli, Lime & Ginger Dressing and two Saucy centre fishcakevariants.Saucy has capitalised on its image and contemporary design, pairingsplashes of colour against black packing for differentiation it what is abusy category. The new design introduces a window on the packs,allowing shoppers to view the fillets before they buy. In a strategic partnership, the fish brand is joining forces with JamieOliver’s Food Tube cooking talent, Katie Pix, in a move to illustrate theconvenience of cooking from frozen in a mid-week meal mini-serieschallenges. 11_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:30 Page 112 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netDon’t forgetyou can now readFood & Drink International Digital Editionsnow available on iPad & iPhonewww.fdiforum.netIdeal for those who spendtime away fromthe officeonthego!AB Systems bolsters businesswith new Sales Director AB Systemsis meetinggrowingdemand for itsaward-winningmaterialshandling andprocesscoolingservices withtheappointment ofMilton Shelleyto the role of Sales Director.A highly experienced and well-known figure in the plasticsprocessing arena, Mr Shelley is charged with delivering technical salesservices to AB Systems’ wide client base, a role which includes workingclosely with the company’s engineers to deliver bespoke ancillarysolutions to manufacturers across the UK.Mr Shelley said: “AB Systems is a highly ambitious firm that’s growingthrough a genuine dedication to service excellence, engineeringexpertise, and innovative, out-of-the-box solutions. Their approach andethos are really refreshing, and I’m excited to take AB Systems’ offeringout into the market.”Despite having joined AB Systems only recently, Mr Shelley hasalready secured a major new contract for the company, with severalmore in the pipeline.Seafood Scotland nets newleaderPatrick Hugheshas been appointedas the new Head ofSeafood Scotland,the organisation setup “by the industryfor the industry” in1999 to increase thevalue of return tothe Scottishseafood sector. He joins fromSAC Consulting, theconsulting arm ofthe Scotland’s RuralCollege, where hewas Senior Foodand Drink consultant. He worked closely with emerging and establishedfood & drink businesses across Scotland to highlight best practice,identify collaborative opportunities and facilitate key learnings thatwould affect growth, profitability and greater commercialisation of thesector. Mr Hughes said: “My remit is to transform Seafood Scotland into asustainable organisation that will continue to support and grow thesector whilst working closely with the wider food and drink industryand I relish the opportunity to be at the head of the organisation atsuch a transformative time.” Seafood Scotland promotes the wealth of Scottish seafood to aglobal trade market, which increasingly values the quality andprovenance that Scottish seafood is famed for. appointments12_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:35 Page 1Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netInstructed by Arla Foods UK plc due to the closure of the Hatfield Peverel DairyFor Sale by Online Auction The Contents of a ModernMilk Processing Dairy Online Auction Closes from 12 Noon GMT on Thursday 23rd February 2017Capacity 356,000 litres per dayTanks & Silos up to 113,000 litresBottling LinesProcess Equipment Packaging Machinery Refrigeration PlantIndustrial Steam Boilers Effluent PlantWorkshop Equipment Spare Parts StockCanteen and Offices Electrical Distribution TransformersViewing: Tuesday 21st February, 10am – 4pm & Wednesday 22nd February 9am 4pm. Earlier viewings can be arranged and PreAuctionOffers may be considered.Location: Arla Foods UK plc, Hatfield Peverel, Essex CM2 2DG. All goods to be removed from site by 31st March 2017. Further Information Contact: CJM Asset Management on +44(0)1724 334411, sales@cjmasset.com One of the largest dairy asset disposalsin Britain for years is to take place onFebruary 23rd when industrialauctioneers CJM Asset Management putthe entire plant, machinery andequipment of the ARLA Dairy at HatfieldPeverel in Essex under the hammer.The site was closed in July last yearfollowing ARLA’s decision to concentrateproduction at its new billion-litres-a-yearsuper-dairy at Aylesbury inBuckinghamshire.Paul Cooper, a Director of North-Lincolnshire-based CJM, said: “TheHatfield Peverel site is being cleared andperhaps redeveloped for housing so wehave been instructed to sell everything.“At its height over 250 people wereemployed on the site which, consideringhow automated modern dairies are,provides some indication of the size ofthe operation.“The auction will include the processingplant, machinery and equipment as wellas the bottling plant, refrigerationequipment and a large number of silosand tanks. We’ll also be selling thecontents of the engineering workshop,the stores, the offices and the canteen.”He added: “The auction is attractinginternational attention from a wide varietyof potential bidders. Clearly everything inthe auction is of interest to people in thedairy processing industry but equallythere is a lot of extremely good kitinvolved that has much widerapplications. The equipment included inthe auction could go to anywhere in theworld.“Due to the size of some of theequipment particularly the tanks, we willbe considering pre-auction offers frompotential purchasers.”The full catalogue for the auction willbe available at www.cjmasset.com.Viewing is on Tuesday 21st February,10am – 4pm & Wednesday 22nd February9am- 4pm. Earlier viewings can bearranged.CJM put milk processing dairyplant up for online auction CJM ASSET MANAGEMENT13_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:36 Page 114 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTGetting afootholdImport and export is the lifeblood and future of the food and drink industry,but with many new markets emerging – it’s important to get the initial pushright, otherwise one might lose out to competitors who know better. 14-17_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:38 Page 1Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTWhen it comes to exporting food and drinkproducts, identification of an attractive market andquickly getting a foothold are important factors.The early bird gets the worm, as the old sayinggoes, and attempting to unseat a well-knownproduct in a country can be a daunting task. Assuch companies are often keeping a close eye oncountries that are not the biggest, or the highestspending on products. But what countries arebooming, or are showing sudden increases indemand. According to a study by IESE and Deloitte, the USstill stands at the top of the table when it comes totheir demand for foreign food. This is according to anumber of factors involving, imports and exports,and is ranked on the Food and BeveragesAttractiveness Index (FBA). The problem is that theUS is also one of the most well-established marketsin the world, with thousands of brand namescompeting for shares of the customer base. Assuch, introducing a food and drink product from theUK for instance, can be difficult. The marketingbudget alone necessary to break into the marketcan be staggering, particularly in competitivemarkets such as confectionaries or soft drinks. More attractive markets to prospective exportersmight be those who are just starting to becomebigger players in the world economy. They are farless likely to have a wide range of products in themarket, and it gives a company a chance to buildtheir own brand and marketing strategy, withoutbeing pressured by existing brands with multi-million marketing budgets. China remains a promising market for many in thefood and drink sector, though it is not a recentlydiscovered or new one. Some meat imports in Chinasaw over 100% growth last year, and according tothe FBA this is due to a rapidly-growing middleclass, which expanded over 10% in 2014 alone.Looking a little further afield, out of the 82countries included in the report, Nigeria was thefastest climber – rising 13 spots in a single year. Thiswas due to a boom in imports of food and drinkproducts, and again an increasing middle class,16 Á14-17_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:38 Page 216 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTmeaning the country could be anattractive growth sector for the foodand drink industry. Closer to home however, the CzechRepublic also moved up twelve spots torest at 36th. The country saw significantgains in terms of its food and drinkimports in the last few years, while thelegal framework for exporting to thecountry has become more accessible. The scores for legal framework tendto revolve around the legal requirementsfor introducing and selling new productsin the market, of which Singaporescores the highest in the world. This islikely due to the efforts they have madeto open their markets to as manyexporters as possible, including signinga number of free trade agreements tofacilitate growth. Of course what makes a marketattractive to exporters often isdetermined by what specific exports arebooming. A clear sign of increased foodand drink imports in a country mightmean little if a company’s particularproduct is not experiencing the samedemand. For instance, when it comes toeggs and dairy products, Germany sitsat the top of the table, based on sheervolume. On the other hand Japan leadsin terms of meat imports, with Chinaalso showing a high amount of specificmeats. Fish imports dropped in Japanlast year, while rising in the US –particularly salmon imported from theUK.The lifting of China’s ban on Irishbeef has provided welcome to relief tothe Irish market, prompting many meatproducers to travel to China’s SIALexhibition which took place last month.China placed a ban on EU beef almost15 years ago, when the BSE epidemicwas reaching across mainland Europe.At the moment Ireland is the onlyEuropean country allowed to exportbeef to China, providing a strong14-17_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:38 Page 3Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTcompetitive advantage for thecountry. China is currently Ireland’ssecond biggest trade partner forboth dairy and pigmeat - with theirexports to China totalling over£440m. China’s recent SIAL exhibitionhighlighted the importance of thegrowing Asian market as an exportpartner for many Europeancompanies, with over 2,700exhibitors from around the worldpitching to over 55,000 buyers. Theevent itself was hosted in Shanghaiand covered 115,000sq m, within 10different halls. China tapped as key marketfor post-Brexit BritainChina will be a key market for food and drink post-Brexit Britain, according to Andrea Leadsom,Secretary of State for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs. Speaking at a farming conference in Oxford, Leadsom said that the country’s food, farming andfishing industries will be given the opportunities to thrive in the Chinese market, as Britain targetsmarkets outside of the European Union as its seeks to capitalise on its biggest manufacturingsector. “I saw this for myself in China, where there’s a growing appetitive for British food and drink,”Leadsom said. “We now have our biggest export team based there, and the past year has seen ahuge rise in British exports to China, up over 50% on 2015.”China has been identified as one priority market in Britain’s international action plan, though itslikely South East Asia and the Middle East will also play an important role in the plan. Ireland’s food & drinkexports top 11bn The value of Irish agri-food and drink exportshas exceeded 11 billionfor the first time ever in2016, marking the 7thsuccessive year ofgrowth from Irish foodand drink exports. Michael Creed,Minister for Agriculture,Food and the Marine,said: “One of thenotable features of thisachievement is theimpact of marketdiversification in theyear in which the UKdecided to leave theEuropean Union. Whiletrade with the UK fell by8%, triggered by challenging exchange rates, uncertainty arising from Brexit and furthercompetitive pressures, this was offset by increased exports to international and emergingmarkets such as North America (+200 million to reach 1.1 billion), China (+35% to reach 845million) and the rest of Asia (+6% to reach 330 million).”Export markets look set to remain challenging in 2017 amid ongoing market uncertainty.However, the pickup in global dairy demand is expected to continue while furtheropportunities for growth are likely in beverages. Increased beef export availability may putsome pressure on returns while prepared consumer foods exports are likely to face on-goingcompetitive pressures, most notably the UK.14-17_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:38 Page 418 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSThe modern warehouse isincreasingly looking like aharmony of forwardthinking software workingin tandem with practicaltechnologicalapplications, but whatdoes that mean forloading bays and doors?Think of the supply chain as a relayrace, with loading bays and doors thepassing of baton from runner to runner,and the importance of loading quicklybecomes apparent. These are the literalgateways into the food chain, and asthe connective tissue betweenwarehouse, logistics and supplier, thesecrucial stages see products at perhapstheir most vulnerable. Contamination is an omnipotentthreat, with a number of potential entrypoints for adulteration to occur alongthe supply chain. No more is that realityevident then with loading bays anddoors, with upholding hygiene levelsequally as important as deterring theft.For a product that has passed through acontrolled and strictly observed cleanenvironment to come into contact withcontaminates as it’s being loaded isfarcical. Loading bays should be thoughtof as an extension of the production line,with the same due care and attentiongiven to the end of the process as forthe raw ingredients being processed atthe beginning. Regular wash-downs willhelp keep the threat of contaminates toa minimum, whilst also ensuring trucksare regularly cleaned, both inside andout, will bolster defences. A vigorousand thorough washdown should alsoinclude bay doors, many of which aredesigned with hygiene in mind. Gooddesign can make a huge difference whenit comes to downtime, so investing adoor with fewer exposed parts wheredirt can gather is advised. Dirt isn’t the only environmentalfactor that manufacturers need to becautious of, with wind and rain bothpresenting persistent threats. Thedifficulty is in finding the balance, aswhile lightweight materials areadvantageous for constant opening andclosing, conventional doors might notwithstand high winds. Heavy dutydoors, on the other hand, will betterstand up to unpredictable weather andsafeguard the loading bay itself. Havingto halt operations on even one bay canbe devastating, so investing in weatherproof doors is paramount. The design of robust security doorsshould factor in water and airproofingmeasures, as well as good thermaltransmittance. In recent years, specialistdoor manufacturers have been turningto wood fibreboard such as MDFtreated with polyurethane-basedinsulators as a waterproofing solution.The doors are then bolstered withNow loading18-20_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:39 Page 1Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSheavy duty metal armours such as stainless steel toprovide a rigorous defence. Of course, not all loading bays are made equally, andwhat is sufficient for ambient products can bedetrimental to frozen goods. There’s a whole spectrumof specific temperatures on which food and beverageproducts exist, and the temperature loss involved withinadequate loading docks is staggering. Even thesmallest changes can spell disaster, leaving a wholeshipment wasted, with the producer left to absorb thecost. Creating an unbreakable cold chain is a priority formany producers, leaving loading bays a particular causefor concern. A four sided vehicle seal means the truckwill only be opened from inside the facility, where it canthen be loaded, secured and deployed without affectingthe carefully controlled temperature. As well as conforming to hygienic design anddefending against the elements, bay doors must alsoemploy stringent security levels. For thieves, these doorscould offer an easy way into a food production facilityor warehouse. There are a number of security measureswhich can be used in synergy to not only deter thievesand forced entry, but also stop them in their tracks.PS Doors introduce slam-proofloading dock safety gatePS Doors has introduced the Loading Dock Safety Gate to ensureworker safety and bays run efficiently. When closed, its simple,counterbalanced design significantly reduces the danger of falls fromdocks, bays or exposed edges.“The uniquely placed dampening system is mounted high up, safefrom potential pallet and forklift damage,” said Dean Thorsen, PS SafetyAccess National Sales Manager. “Our gate stands apart as it liftsvertically a full 90 degrees to provide plenty of clearance for loadingand unloading.”Built from heavy-gauge steel with a durable powder coat yellow finish,PS Doors has built a gate that welcomes repetitive use and easily standsup to the punishment of a busy dock.Once installed, the Loading Safety Gate improves building ventilationby allowing companies to lead loading dock doors open with the safetyconcerns that result from an unprotected edge, PS Doors said. It addedthat the product is unique to the material handling industry because it isadjustable. PHOTO: PS DOORS20 Á18-20_Layout 1 01/02/2017 09:39 Page 2Next >