< PreviousHRS launches new scraped surfaceheat exchangerHRS has launched a new scrapedsurface heat exchanger to the marketcalled the HRS-Rotex. The HRS-Rotex is a rotary scraped surfaceheat exchanger that brings newpatent pending technology to themarket. Traditional rotary scraped surface heat exchangers work on the principle of a tube in tubedesign and therefore are limited in capacity. HRS has come up with a novel system to make a rotary scraped surface heat exchangerpossible with a multi tube design. This means that capacity per module is increasedconsiderably, reducing capital investment. A helical screw helps to push the product forward during operation and further helps to reducepumping costs when a system operates with the HRS-Rotex system.Also a radical new approach is given to the service side of the heat exchanger. A new and improved baffle design helps to increase fluid velocities andfurther boosts heat transfer.Packaging Automation assistsSouthern SaladsPackaging Automation is assisting Southern Salads, suppliers of freshlyprepared salads, in increasing productivity and efficiency.Packaging Automation has been a supplier to Southern Salads for anumber of years and they have recently supplied a high speed eclipse SL6tray sealer. The SL6 is a high throughput machine capable of sealing up toa hundred packs per minute, providing Southern Salads with cost andenvironmental benefits combined with greater efficiency, minimumdowntime and a consistent seal on all packs. For flexibility and long term value the eclipse SL6 can be easily convertedto a twin lane machine to give speeds of upto 200 packs per minute. To save oncritical downtime, toolchangeovers on the eclipse traysealers can be done manuallyin two minutes as a result of aninbuilt tool loadingsystem. Theingenious top toolcomprises singleimpressionremovable cartridges toenable continued operation duringrepairs and routine maintenance.Linx CJ4000 meets complexdemands of contract packingUniversal FlexiblePackaging says thereliability and simplicity ofthe Linx CJ400 continuousink jet printer is helping itmeet customers’increasingly exactingdemands.After trialling it against acompetitor machine, thecompany was soimpressed it bought sixLinx CJ400s to replacevarious thermal transfer printers, label printers and drop on demandprinters. The award-winning printers are now coding onto an array ofcontainers at the company’s Leicester factory. The versatility of the Linx CJ400 has enabled Universal Flexible Packagingto expand its range of services. Engineering supervisor Steve Potter says,“We can now also code onto plastic tubs, bottles, buckets and all manner ofshapes and sizes – some of which we were unable to do before we usedthe Linx. We’ve even used it to print on to a label while the label is beingautomatically applied to a bag.”Food Option filling machines from SIGCombibloc: SIG Combibloc have launched theirFood Option filling machines, based ontheir standard filling technology, to enableoperators to fill numerous additional foodproducts.If a filling machine comes with the FoodOption, the quantity of chunky productingredients can be up to 10%, the size ofthe particulates can be up to 6mm, andfibres can be 1x15mm in size. Viscositycan potentially be up to 3500 mPas. Thismeans Food Option filling machines can fill an unrivalled spectrum of food products aseptically,with no need for major additional investment. The flexibility of the filling machine technology isalso the key to products that allow higher margins.Frank Ludwig, Global Product Manager Food at SIG Combibloc, says, “A whole host of foodproducts can be filled with ease using the leaner Food Option filling machines, which are basedon the proven and less complex standard aseptic filling technology from SIG Combibloc.”Quick set-upweigher/bagger speedssnack food contractThe single control system and a simple ‘plug and go’connection between the weigher and bagger on PFM’sZC1 combination machine has helped a snack foodcontract packing venture get under way in less than tendays.Processed Snack Products set out to expand itsbusiness last year with a contract packing venture andquickly secured its first major order. Operations directorPeter Fletcher says, “The customer had a particularlytight deadline. We were aware of a stock ZC1 machineat PFM, but it had to be here and running within tendays.”This was achieved with training and product settingsmade at PFM in Leeds, before the bagger and weigherwere delivered to Processed Snack Products. A newforming tube to suit the pack size was also built byPFM within a week. Currently the machine is producing80g bags of snacks in print registered film at speedsaround 35 a minute.10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.net10:Layout 1 17/4/14 10:40 Page 1Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.netTHAIFEX – World of Food Asia celebrates tenyearsTHAIFEX – World of Food Asia, Asia’smost influential food and beverage, foodtechnology and retail and franchise is backwith a bigger and more impressive line-up.Celebrating its tenth anniversary at theIMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centrein Bangkok, from 21st to 25th May, theexpansive exhibition has already soldmore than 90% of its exhibition space, withan estimated growth of 10% from therecord-breaking 2013. Visitors can lookforward to more than 1400 exhibitors fromclose to forty countries occupying three Challenger halls comprising of 60,000 sq m.Over the last ten years, THAIFEX – World of Food Asia has grown steadily with a stronger line-upof international exhibitors. The 2014 edition promises solid international growth, with a 40% increaseof exhibition space in the Fine Food segment. Another milestone this year is the appointment ofJapan as the second partner country, with more than seventy exhibitors on showcase.Convenience, communication and stylecombined Re:Close Tape from Essentra Packaging enablesbrands to maximise the combined benefits ofresealability, consumer communication and productprotection in an easy-to-apply tape. Developed in response to growing consumerdemand, and durable enough to withstand repeateduse, with Re:Close Tape, consumers can keep theproduct in the original pack between uses. This addsto convenience, retains branding in the home toencourage repeat purchase, and can even enhanceenvironmental credentials, by minimising food waste caused by spillage or leaving packs open. Bringing further impact, Essentra’s printing technologies allow the creation of eye-catchingdesigns for maximum visibility on shelf. Printed instructions can also be added, ensuring consumers understand how to use it. Or thegenerous dimensions mean brand owners can quickly add information such as QR codes for theduration of a limited promotion, without the cost of originating a whole new pack design.Spanish sweets andlollipops wrapped infast BOPP filmInnovia Films’ fast sealing, Biaxially OrientedPolypropylene (BOPP) film is being used by aSpanish confectionery manufacturer to individuallywrap its range of lollipops and sweets.Caramelos La Pájara manufacturesconfectionery including their own brand andprivate label. In these Horizontal Form Fill Sealapplications, the individually wrapped productsare hard candy flat lollipops and boiled sweets.Juan Jesús Losada, General Manager andOwner of Caramelos La Pájara says: “The filmsare fast sealing, have good barrier properties andare ideally suited for wrapping small units, such assweets and lollipops, at high speed.”Propafilm FFB and FFC form part of InnoviaFilms’ Fast Flexible Films range. The grades usedhere – Propafilm FFB and FFC - are coated onone side with water based acrylic and on the otherwith a unique water based low temperaturesealing coating. Cutting out wasteDarfresh onTray skinpackaging fromSealed Air isusing patentpending traysealingtechnology tomake a clearlyvisible differenceto operationalefficiency. Combining a revolutionary pre-made tray system with versatile vacuumskin, Darfresh on Tray is packed with innovation. The key differentiators arethe use of a perforated tray/skin and cutting process, affording zeroskeleton film waste, plus the integration of special vacuum valves for optimalproductivity. Developed in close collaboration with G Mondini, the newsolution helps meet the most ambitious efficiency and sustainability goals. Darfresh on Tray is geared to food producers and packers with apreference for pre-made trays or an offline loading process. It uses speciallyformulated skin top web materials and rigid trays to create a vacuum“second skin” for the food product it protects and presents. Demonstratingthe Sealed Air commitment to sustainability is a 30% reduction in packvolume as compared to standard MAP alternatives.Paulaner presents promotional boxin time forWorld CupThe 5+1 World Cup packfrom Paulaner offers footballfans a ‘hassle-free, all-inclusive package’, be it forpublic viewing or for a cosysit-down with friends.In addition to the fivePaulaner Hefe-Weißbier(wheat beer), the promotionalpack also includes a Paulanerfootball beer boot with properglass cleats. The patentednovelty with sophisticateddetailing, the first of its kind inthe world, has the potential tobecome a cult object.The promotional pack, that comes in a stylish dislay, will be available asa limited edition pack in retail. The feedback from retail so far has been sopositive that Paulaner has already scored the first goal with this winningcombination of Weißbier and football beer boot, robust packaging and thefootball World Cup.11:Layout 1 17/4/14 10:41 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!Manor Concepts appointsOperations DirectorManor Concepts of Sandy,Bedfordshire, has appointed anoperations director, Martin Corken. Hepreviously held the position ofoperations manager with the company.With its own flexible manufacturingplant on site, Manor Concepts operatesas two trading divisions - ManorRefrigerated Cabinets andcoolsuredoors. In his new role, Corkenwill be responsible for procurement,production and logistics processes. Hesays: “My new role provides me with theopportunity to make a significantcontribution to the future development ofthe business. “Manor Concepts is on a rapid growthcurve and I am fortunate enough to have been involved in its expansionplans for the last two years. Improving the business in terms of flexibility andagility not only prepares for future growth, but also allows the separatedivisions to broaden their product offerings.”Manor Refrigerated Cabinets supplies refrigerated display cabinets forfood and drink retailers and coolsuredoors is a specialist door manufacturerfor retail chiller cabinets. TC Facilities Management appointsnew CEOTC FacilitiesManagement hasannounced severalchanges to itsExecutive Board,including theappointment ofRichard Chappell asits new ChiefExecutive Officer.To ensurecontinuity andfacilitate futuregrowth, thecompany’sshareholders have asked incumbent Chief Executive Officer, Paul Kennedy,to become Executive Chairman. Peter Ellis has moved into a DeputyChairman role whilst Keith French has been appointed to the Board asStrategic Development Director.Richard joins TC Facilities Management from the Impellam Group, wherehe spent sixteen years in senior management roles, including ManagingDirector of Carlisle Security and four years as Chief Executive Officer forCarlisle Support Services. During his earlier career, he worked for Aldi asDistrict Manager and Lidl as Regional Director.Richard says, “TC Facilities Management has made significant progressunder Paul’s leadership underlined by the recent acquisition of EquinoxSecurity, which puts it in a strong position to capture exciting growthopportunities that lie ahead.”To advertise your services onthe news pages contact us on01472 31030212:Layout 1 17/4/14 10:41 Page 1Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTFor so long, we’ve heard that East Asiais set to explode in terms of economicsuccess and is set to become a realcontender on the world stage. With agrowing population and with that, agrowing middle class, what is being doneto engage with China, Malaysia andThailand in particular?With much of the world looking east interms of new business and the same beingtrue of China in particular with regards toinvesting abroad, it’s an exciting time forthe food and drink industry. With moredisposable income being bestowed on itscitizens, China, Malaysia and Thailandseem to be areas in which demands forgreat tastes, more opulent and luxuriousproducts and better packaging are havingan impact.The upcoming THAIFEXexhibition isa great example of Thailand’s place in theindustry. Running from 21st to 25th May,it promises that delegates can ‘experiencethe best in Asia’ and is this yearcelebrating its tenth year. It’s actuallycelebrating with two new brands underthe THAIFEXbanner. These are TheWorld of Coffee and Tea and The Worldof FoodService, which will no doubtcomplement its most recent addition fromlast year, World of Seafood. In the country itself, Thailand is leadingthe way in terms of foodservice inparticular, with a large amount ofrestaurants and high-end hotels attractingnot only tourists, but also mid-to-highincome Thai nationals meaning thatcompetition is fierce and to stand outmeans standards are improving massivelyLooking East14 With such vibrant and buoyant markets, what is being done to engage with the East Asia?PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/CHUNGKINGChina is set tobecome the UK’sbest trade partnerfor food and drink13-15:Layout 1 17/4/14 11:46 Page 114 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netoverall. This is having a knock-on effectwith regards to suppliers. The USA forexample is enjoying a good trade in freshfruits, nuts, frozen seafood and spicesamong others.It’s Thailand’s high import tax thatsomewhat curtails the chance of furthersuccess however, so it remains a difficultplace to trade with at great profit.However, recent trade missions such asthat led by New Zealand’s Prime MinisterJohn Key, along with New Zealandcompanies visiting the country to forgenew commercial bonds are being touted asa success. Snack products from kiwicompanies in particular have seen successin Thailand recently, so perhaps furtherinvestigation and face to face meetings areproving more effective.Red giantChina is often touted as the world’snext superpower and with a staggeringlylarge population and an industriousattitude, it is certainly becoming a countrywith improving trade links to othersoutside its borders. In the UK forexample, two Yorkshire entrepreneursrecently set up a venture to helpcompanies in the region import andexport to China.Richard Ward, originally from Halifaxand now based in China, and BridgetPearson, based in Barnsley, have joinedforces to offer Yorkshire companies expertadvice and support.Bridget runs her own cultural liaisonand interpretation consultancy, YourBridge to China, which supports businesspeople who want to sell into China, andRichard is managing director of BanfaInternational Trading, which supportscompanies sourcing goods from the FarEast.The two Mandarin-speaking businessconsultants are now collaborating to offera comprehensive two-way import andexport advice service.Malaysia is nowbecoming knownfor luxury13-15:Layout 1 17/4/14 11:46 Page 2Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTRichard says; “We want to help UKcompanies, particularly in the Yorkshirearea, to safely import from and export toChina. Our aim is to help strengthenlinks and build trust, understanding andco-operation. It’s our mission to helpbridge cultural and language gaps andsupport the development of profitabletwo-way business relationships.The company recently supportedBarnsley-based scone producersHaywood and Padgett who went to atrade fair in China, which has led toexport enquiries from Chinese hotelsand caterers.China has actually been called ‘vital’to the future of UK food and drink too,with exports to the country helping toreverse falling margins. The Food andDrink Federation says; “China cannot beignored, with its growing middle class, ithas turned from an export country to animport destination.”It is said that by next year, UK tradewith China will reach £62 billion. Severalcategories have been proof of this, havingalmost zero profile to becoming largeconcerns over the last decade or so,including jams and preserves and bread. Sophistication in MalaysiaMalaysia, although sometimesovershadowed by other countries in thatregion, has a food and beverage sectorthat is increasingly sophisticated andinfluenced by health and conveniencetrends. Reports from the likes of Euromonitorstate that consumer awareness ofnutrition value and food fortification forhealthcare has created the demand forfunctional, minimally processed fresh,organic and natural foods. According to Retail Group Malaysia,60% of retail food sales are made throughtraditional grocery and specialty stores.The retail food and beverage sector isworth US$15.69 billion and will grow toUS$21.17 billion by next year. Malaysia also has its own trade show,INTRADE, which focuses on gettingMalaysian products to market, not just inthe food and drink industry, but acrosselectronics, pharmaceuticals and more.Organised by the Malaysia External TradeDevelopment Corporation it has been agreat promoter of Malaysia’s growing foodand drink offering.To underline this further, USconfectionery giant Hershey has recentlyunveiled plans to open its firstmanufacturing plant in Johor. The $250million facility will incorporateinnovations in automated confectionerymanufacturing technology and high-speedwrapping equipment featuring proprietary,as well as specially engineered, wrappingtechnologies. The new plant is expected toaddress rising consumer demand for thecompany’s products in Asia, againemphasising the changing tastes of theregion.It seems that a mix of promoting theirown unique products and environments,as well as importing products that providea new way of life is showing East Asia tobe a place where business can be done in aserious way. The developing countryassociations are slowly dying andperceptions are now firmly planted inluxury, fine foods and exotic andunknown tastes. PHOTO: THAIFEXThailand regularlyshowcases its wares tothe world and oftenpartners with othercountries to do itPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/HAVESEEN13-15:Layout 1 17/4/14 11:46 Page 316 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netCOMMERCIAL PROPERTYThe bigger pictureAs the supply chain has emphasisedconsolidation and convenience in recentyears, the challenge for companies has beento ensure their logistics and distributioncentres are fit for purpose. Increasinglythere has been a trend for larger, moreconvenient developments that can best suitthe needs of major customers.One obvious example of this isGoodman’s “Bigfoot” development inDaventry. Officially named the Royal OakDistribution Centre, its nickname has comeabout due to its huge size – indeed, at995,957 sq ft it is the largest distributionwarehouse available in the UK. Locatedwithin the UK’s distribution “GoldenTriangle”, the Centre is now available to letand, when the building last came to themarket, Tesco outbid similar blue chipretailers to secure the space on a leaseholdbasis.Charles Crossland, Managing Director ofGoodman UK Logistics says, “Bigfoot’sarrival onto the market is a uniqueopportunity. The warehouse offers a singlecustomer, or a number of customers, anopportunity to fulfil vast logisticsrequirements in a prime location. Thefacility is one of a kind – a warehouse ofthis scale is rarely seen on the market andbeing fully fitted, it is available forimmediate occupation.“Across the Midlands supply levelscontinue to diminish as take-up andcustomer requirements are increasing. As aconsequence, we anticipate high demandfor this facility.”These large scale developments areproving particularly valuable for food anddrink companies. It’s particularly relevant ashome shopping becomes more popular,where distribution centres find themselvesnot just working as a hub where hugequantities of products are sent out in bulkto nationwide retails, but also as a kind of“virtual supermarket” themselves. Whereasinternet shopping orders would previouslyhave been handled by individual branches,operations such as Asda’s Home ShoppingCentre in Leeds now take over theresponsibility for a large geographical area.The advantages of a development such asthis is that, rather than having to workaround shoppers in a busy store, orders cannow be made up and dispatched toindividual consumers in a controlled settingnot open to the general public. It allows formuch greater flexibility and convenience,using a conveyor system to speed up theprocess and more accurately monitor theproducts being sold. This does, however,require substantially more space, hence thevalue of large scale developments.The value of flexibility and efficiency isillustrated by the move towards new, largerdevelopments. For example, Goodman hassecured detailed planning consent for asingle cross-docked unit of 569,500 sq ft atAndover Business Park, enabling it toincrease development options, provideflexibility for potential occupiers and reducethe delivery time of built units forPalsgaard’s newly inaugurated emulsifier factoryin Johor Bahru, Malaysia has recently beenvisited by a Danish trade delegationLarger, more efficient developments are beginning to dominate thecommercial property sectorThe bigger picture16-19:Layout 1 17/4/14 10:45 Page 1Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netcustomers. Andover Business Park isalready home to a 500,000 sq ft warehousedeveloped by Goodman on behalf of TheCo-Operative Group, which employsapproximately nine hundred people.The company has invested £110 millioninto its 800 acre UK land bank to ensurethat outline planning and infrastructure arein place and the sites are ready forconstruction. This dramatically reduces thetime it takes to build fully operationallogistics centres, a key concern for logisticscustomers.Other companies from other sectors infood and drink are exhibiting how improvedflexibility is a top priority when it comes totheir property decisions. Müller UK &Ireland Group’s new £17 million plant inMarket Drayton, Shropshire is a case inpoint. The state of the art butter plant, thelargest of its kind in the UK, is capable ofproducing up to 45,000 tonnes of Britishbutter each year made with cream from RedTractor Farm Assured milk. GEA Process Engineering has suppliedprocess engineering and automationexpertise and equipment for the new plant,which was based in an existing building andtherefore required particular lateral thinkingto ensure the optimum layout. MartinJackson, Director of Sales for GPUK, says,“We were delighted to work with Müller onthis project. It gave us the opportunity touse our process engineering and automationexpertise to bring together technologiesfrom throughout the GEA Group including:butter-making, evaporation, refrigeration,valves, pumps and heat exchangers. Thisallowed us to develop the complete linefrom cream reception to finished butter. Itwas a fast-track project that was madepossible because of the experience of ourengineers and the natural synergies of theGEA equipment.”The equipment and the new plant offersthe means by which the Group can betteroptimise returns for the 90,000 tonnes ofsurplus cream from the milk suppliedannually by dairy farmers to make its freshmilk, cream, yogurt and chilled dessertsproducts. The company will also extend therange of products made at the butter plant,which will initially manufacture 25kg and10kg blocks of salted, unsalted and lacticbutter for the food manufacturing and foodingredient industries.Elsewhere in the world there are alsomajor developments, often from major,successful companies looking towards newmarkets. One such example is Palsgaard’snewly inaugurated emulsifier factory inJohor Bahru, Malaysia. Palsgaard is a proud Danish company andGoodman has secured detailed planningconsent for a single cross-docked unit atAndover Business Park – a Park isalready home to a 500,000 sq ftwarehouse developed by Goodman onbehalf of The Co-Operative Group19 16-19:Layout 1 17/4/14 10:45 Page 2goodman.com/uklogisticsdeveloping customer solutions+Having invested £130 million in infrastructure works across our key sites throughout the country, we can quickly deliver bespoke logistics / warehouse facilities from 25,000 sq ft - 1,225,000 sq ft on our Commercial Parks throughout the UK.Deals +Andover Business Park468,000 sq ftAylesford Commercial Park120,000 sq ftDerby Commercial Park632,000 sq ftCitadel Logistics Centire323,000 sq ftgoodman.com/uklogisticsavailable & good to go16-19:Layout 1 17/4/14 10:45 Page 3Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netCOMMERCIAL PROPERTYa Danish trade delegation, Danish Ministerfor Food, Agriculture and Fisheries DanJørgensen, has recently visited the factory tolearn how Palsgaard has built this hugelymodern and automated emulsifier plant,ready to serve the demands of the growingAsian markets. During the visit, PalsgaardCEO Jakob Thøisen presented Palsgaard’sstrategy and roadmap to a successfulpresence in a global setting, with a specialfocus on a successful planning phase andgood cooperation with the local authorities.The recession in recent years has meantsomething of an over-supply of logisticsspace in many areas, but the increasedinterest with many large deals in placemean that supply levels have actually beendropping quite substantially, to the extentthat many experts are now predicting a lackof space in the foreseeable future.As Mike Baugh, Senior Director ofIndustrial Agency for CBRE’s NorthernRegion, says, “Most of the stock on themarket was completed in the years between2003 and 2006, since when there has beenrelatively little activity and we have enduredalmost eight years of over-supply. Alongsidethis, the last ten years has seen aroundseven million square foot of design andbuild activity, with 96% of this undertakenin the years 2003 and 2008. These figuresrelay that demand has not come close tosignificantly affecting the supply levels,until now. Availability of ‘oven-ready’ sitesis becoming increasingly limited now. Wemay see remaining space start to move morespeedily during the first half of the year,particularly given the improved economicconditions are allowing businesses to makeinvestment commitments.”One issue that could have a furtherimpact on the property available in the UKis that some of the developments are on theprojected site for the HS2 rail project,making their long term future frustratinglyunclear.With the financial picture now lookingsomewhat more attractive than previousyears, the commercial property market isbrightening up – and the new facilities areoffering food and drink businesses fantasticopportunities.Asda’s facility in Morley in Leeds is nowknown as a Home Shopping Centre andhas taken on the role of obtaining anddelivering products to internet shoppersthroughout West Yorkshire. CourtesyExmac AutomationTheo Muller Snr and OwenPaterson MP inspecting GEATuchenhagen mixproof manifoldas Muller’s new plant in the UK16-19:Layout 1 17/4/14 10:45 Page 4Next >