< Previous20 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net COLD STORAGE NewCold fills UK’s biggest deepfreeze NewCold’s deep frozen storage and distribution centre, the largest of its kind in the UK, is now often near to capacity. The Wakefield plant, which opened in spring 2018, handle’s 3,000,000 pallets annually and with a total volume of over 4 million cubic metres, the giant deepfreeze has the capacity to store 143,000 pallets – at a constant, minus 23 degrees. 175 pallets come in and out every hour and just five minutes is required to unload NewCold’s bespoke-designed moving floor trailers. NewCold has so far committed around £100 million on build cost alone, and their growth plans over the coming two years will see further investment, including the recruitment of an additional 70 personnel. “With the success of the Wakefield facility and the increasing demand for a quality temperature-controlled logistics offering, NewCold are actively looking for a site for their second UK facility,” said NewCold’s Country Director, Jon Miles. For more information, visit www.newcold.com. One of the biggest threats to frozen foods lies in the changeover from one facility to another, such as a manufacturing line to a distribution centre. Manufacturers will likely have temperature controlled loading bays to ensure a constant temperature is carried across and maintained from production and packing. Curtain walls will help to maintain this consistency, creating a barrier to ensure that cold air stays inside its designated area whilst also allowing workers, loaders and forklift trucks to easily pass through. Yet there’s no getting around the fact that loading bays are literal openings into the outside world and so could therefore scupper this carefully controlled chilled environment. To compensate for this, and to maintain the cold integrity, manufacturers and logistics operators rely on hoods around the bay door opening. In © Shutterstock / Sorn340 Images 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:37 Page 3Food & Drink International 21 www.fdiforum.net COLD STORAGE Monitoring temperatures and humidity in cheese making In natural cheese making, ageing and storage temperature (7 - 14°C) and humidity (80 – 90%) are vital for the development of flavour and texture. Here in the UK, Gough’s Cave in Cheddar Gorge is used to mature cheddar cheese for around 12 months, due to the constant conditions of the cave system. In more variable environments it is important to monitor temperatures and humidity closely, lest intermittent changes or spatial inconsistencies should occur. This can be achieved by using a calibrated Digi-Sense™ Traceable® Memory-Loc™ Data Logging Thermohygrometer with which you can easily monitor the environment, track alarms, and transfer auditable data. Each device has a unique ID, a memory capacity of at least 2 years, and can safely secure data which cannot be overwritten. Learn more about this product by visiting www.coleparmer.co.uk/p/digi-sense-traceable-memory-loc-data-logging- thermohygrometers-with-calibration/71740. practice, this means a truck or lorry can back into a bay and open its doors, thereby creating a seal and ensuring that the cold air isn’t diffused and compromised by the warm. Frozen and chilled foods can then be loaded without fear of their thawing or warming up. Though many of the precautious observed in the cold chain might seem obvious, there are other subtler dangers that must be considered. Now that we’re in the thick of summer, it’s important that manufacturers understand how the performance of their temperature controlled systems can be affected by the heat and what they can do to counteract those negative effects. Electrical equipment of all kinds generate heat, and these temperatures have been attributed to electronic components tripping or failing outright altogether. Moreover, temperatures can get so high inside a panel that fire risks become a clear and present danger. The importance of temperature control in the food and drinks industry cannot be overstated. The tiniest changes in the carefully controlled environment can render product integrity null and void. As well as ensuring that food remains at its best, manufacturers also need to mind their equipment, especially in these summer months where the heat inside machines can be a very real danger. © Shutterstock / igorsm8 Star Refrigeration installs CO2 solution for BrewDog’s beer warehouse Star Refrigeration has successfully delivered an eco- friendly CO2 refrigeration solution for a new cold storage and distribution centre at BrewDog’s recently purchased Eurocentral warehouse in Motherwell, Scotland. Star were awarded the contract after presenting the energy-efficient, cost-effective cooling solution to BrewDog among a range of bidders. As one of the fastest growing beverage brands in the world, Scotland’s BrewDog is constantly expanding and required a refrigerated space to store and chill their evolving range of boldly flavoured craft beers, from which to distribute to supermarkets, stores, pubs and outlets across the world. Star was responsible for every aspect of the plant’s development from the design and supply, through to installation and commissioning. Given the proximity of Star’s branch in Bellshill just five miles away, the company was uniquely positioned to rapidly respond to BrewDog’s requirements and queries at all times. For more information, visit www.star-ref.co.uk. 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:37 Page 4The path to commercial success requires a combination of a great strategy and the right equipment. At Labelexpo Europe 2019, view hundreds of live demonstrations of the latest innovations, examine the most advanced collection of label and package printing technologies and acquire what your business needs to succeed. Explore the world’s largest label and package printing trade show and advance ten steps ahead of the competition. Make your next move - book your tickets at WWW.LABELEXPO-EUROPE.COM 4 DAYS 600+ EXHIBITORS + 9 HALLS + LABEL ACADEMY MASTER CLASSES + SELF-ADHESIVE LABEL MATERIALS WORKSHOP 24 - 27 September • Brussels www.labelexpo-europe.com MOVE BUSINESS YOUR FORWARD 22-27.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:43 Page 1Food & Drink International 23 www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING Packaging is the initial impression consumers have of food; therefore companies must keep up with trends - from sustainable packaging to minimalistic design - if they are to hold consumer attention in such a competitive industry. F ood and drink packaging continue to evolve, adapting a variety of factors from consumer demand to style preferences. Perhaps the most impactful trend continuing to change the food packaging sector, though, is sustainability. While public awareness of the damage plastic has on the environment rises, more companies are signing up to initiatives like the UK Plastics Pact to phase out single use and black plastics and innovate with a desire to be more environmentally friendly. This switch also comes at a time of more stringent regulation that is forcing companies to reduce plastic use and meet more demanding recycling targets, with the EU for instance planning to make all plastic packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030 and Chancellor Philip Hammond detailing in the last Autumn Budget, a tax on plastic produced in the UK or imported that does not contain 30% recycled content. The shift in consumer preference for sustainable packaging that “closes the loop” to contain 100% recycled materials, or that can be 100% recycled, has been a large contributor to change for food and drink companies. According to the European Consumer Packaging Perceptions Survey, 9 in 10 UK consumers want packaging to be easily recyclable while half are now reducing the number of products they buy that are packed in unsustainable materials. In fact over half of 19-29-year olds have switched brands because of packaging - in particular as a result of overpackaging and recyclability. It is not only millennials who are concerned about sustainable packaging however, with 8 in 10 over 50s indicating that more should be done to implement environmentally-friendly packaging. This concern is also set to impact labelling with 88% of British consumers wanting on-pack information indicating the environmental attributes of packaging. The preference for sustainable packaging extends outside of the UK too with, for example, 81% of Spanish and 77% of German consumers saying packaging affects their decision to buy a product. Unsurprisingly then, big names have announced their plans to reduce plastic use, such as Nestlé who have shown commitment to sustainable packaging by launching a research institute for the development of functional, safe and environmentally friendly packaging as part of its commitment to make its own packaging 100% reusable or recyclable by 2025. Nestlé’s research is focusing on recyclable, biodegradable and compostable polymers, and new technologies to increase recyclability of plastic. Meanwhile firms like Diageo, perhaps most famous for Guinness, are replacing plastic packaging, shrink-wrap and plastic ring carriers from beer with sustainable alternatives (ethically © Shutterstock / Andrej Sevkovskij Adapting to demand 24 Á 22-27.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:43 Page 224 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING Looking for assistance labelling your product? HERMA are committed to meeting your requirements With over 110 years’ experience of manufacturing labellers and labelling machines HERMA have a wealth of knowledge in providing both local and international customers with labelling solutions. Visit HERMA to see how they can help with your labelling requirements. Labelling Systems HERMA Labelling Systems, The Hollands Centre, Hollands Road, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 8PR Tel. 01440 763366 Email. sales@herma.co.uk Web: www.herma-labellingmachines.co.uk Parkside helps Two Farmers create first compostable crisp packet Savoury snack manufacturer, Two Farmers, has become the first brand in the world to use a compostable pack for crisps after collaborating with packaging solutions specialist, Parkside. The pack comprises a multi-layer laminate created from wood-pulp that has been sourced from waste from eucalyptus plantations. Its high oxygen and moisture barrier performance helps to extend the shelf life of the crisps contained inside and maintains optimum flavour and freshness to enhance consumer enjoyment of the product. At the end of its service life the pack is fully home compostable and has been designed to break down within 26 weeks, gaining accreditation from TUV (formerly Vincotte). Developed to support Two Farmers’ vision of being a sustainable, environmentally-friendly brand offering plastic-free packaging, the collaboration with Parkside has enabled the company to become the first crisps manufacturer in the world to use an accredited home compostable pack, beating the likes of Walkers to the punch. For more information, visit www.parksideflex.com. sourced, recyclable and biodegradable cardboard packs) to reduce its plastic use by over 400 tonnes annually. A further company lighting the way to sustainable packaging is Waitrose, who recently launched “the world’s first” home compostable ready meal packaging to take almost 9 million products out of black plastic. Not only are businesses investing in sustainable food packaging, but Governments are happily backing the change too. In the UK, for example, new government funding is challenging innovators to transform scraps of food into environmentally friendly plastic bags and cups to boost sustainable packaging, as well as develop new forms of plastic, smart packaging labels and living sell by dates that deteriorate in conjunction with produce. The desire for new forms of packaging has seen a rise in the development of bioplastics as well as biodegradable and edible options to replace poorly degradable plastic known to cause real harm to the environment. Researchers at the University of Nottingham for instance have created a cling film-like wrap made of plant carbohydrates and proteins that has the potential to improve storage, safety, shelf life and reduce plastic pollution. With a special technical approach, the researchers are now working on plastic films made from konjac flour and starch, cellulose or protein that are edible and harmless to people and animals. The researchers say that in addition to being edible, degradable, strong and transparent, the packaging materials have low gas permeability, making them more air tight, cutting moisture loss, which slows down spoilage and seals in flavour, which is of great importance for the quality, preservation, storage and safety of foods. Further interesting developments come from New Zealand, where Meadow Mushrooms is trialling packaging for its mushrooms made from mushroom stalks to keep its product fresh for longer, and from Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania where scientists have created cellulose-based biodegradable plastic which has been claimed to have the potential to decompose in a compost bin in 2 years. In addition researchers are working to replace the famously un- environmentally-friendly metallized film in crisp packets, often rejected from recycling centres, with a nanosheet made of non-toxic synthetic clays that after being tested is said to hold up to the stresses of food packaging in manufacturing, handling and distribution. While sustainable packaging takes up much of the news space, smart and connected packaging, offering enhanced functionality with new technologies, are also taking the sector by storm. Incorporating advanced technologies, this form of packaging aids distribution, storage, communication and traceability, and can assist with consumer concerns/boost consumer experience. Heinz has used smart packaging in the sense of the latter to engage consumers with an augmented reality app by presenting a secret recipe to customers scanning the product label with a smart phone. Further, with QR codes consumers are now able to discover more detailed information on products and ingredients. Another form of smart packaging sees packages incorporate visual indicators that display the freshness of food, changing colour as freshness decreases until it is no longer edible. Ultimately this could © Shutterstock / Rido 26 Á 22-27.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:43 Page 3Food & Drink International 25 www.fdiforum.net Stainless steel conveyor systems Stand alone units or fully integrated Robotic and end of line equipment Bespoke engineering capabilities Turnkey and standalone solutions Integration and project management Service support and upgrades Partnered with Lita Palletising Systems for over 30 years www.kensal.com sales@kensal.com | tel: +44 (0) 1 582 425 777 Kensal Handling Systems Ltd, Kensal House, President Way, Luton, LU2 9NR Embracing the latest technology, Kensal consistently delivers improved line efficiency for customers, whilst reducing operating costs. Handling a Better Solution 11 & 12 September 2019 | Olympia London Packaging Innovations is your platform to get face-to-face with the packaging industry REGISTER TO ATTEND www.easyfairs.com/PI-London www.easyfairs.com/LuxuryPackaging Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London 2019 22-27.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:43 Page 426 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING Bespoke travel sector designs mark throw-back for Kingsmoor Packaging Kingsmoor Packaging has produced three packaging designs for Harvey & Brockless, specialist producer and distributor of artisan foods. The packs, which are destined for in-travel catering firms, provide a throw-back for Somerset-based Kingsmoor Packaging with orders from the travel sector dominating their early years as a start-up. The designs include a ‘chip and dip’ tray for use in first class rail travel, four small trays that are set in a carton outer, also destined for rail travel, and a twin cavity rectangular tray to be used for in- flight catering. All three designs are made in clear rPET, which contains at least 50% post-consumer recycled waste and at least 30% industry recycled waste. The company can also offer products in 100% rPET - material that is created from 100% recycled content. For more information, visit www.kingsmoorpackaging.co.uk. dŚĞh<ΖƐůĞĂĚŝŶŐƉĂĐŬĂŐŝŶŐƐƵƉƉůŝĞƌƚŽƚŚĞ ĨŽŽĚĂŶĚĚƌŝŶŬŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͕ŽīĞƌŝŶŐĂǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞŽĨƉĂĐŬĂŐŝŶŐƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ͗ ŝƌ^ŚŽĐŬďŽƩůĞƉĂĐŬƐ WĂůůĞƚǁƌĂƉΘƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ ŽdžĞƐĨŽƌďŽƩůĞƐ >ĂďĞůƐ an employee-owned business help reduce food waste stemming from people relying on best use dates. Food packaging design also continues to evolve with design trends reflecting those seen across society such as minimalism for easy to understand, sleek products which in their simple design help reduce costs. Use of bold colours is also proving popular to stand out from shelves and reflect the product packaging contains, as well as use of innovative shapes to add dimension to products and vintage designs to invoke nostalgia. As packaging is the initial impression consumers have of food, keeping up with trends is essential to increase the likelihood of purchase. For some UK food companies new packaging design challenges could soon arise, however, after last month the IPPR advised that all confectionary, sugary drinks and crisps be contained in plain packaging to put them on a level playing field with fruit and vegetables. The possible move aims to reduce the numbers of consumers whose health is affected by unhealthy products. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has responded, saying that plain packaging would not be an effective choice to battle concerns like obesity. With the important role packaging and branding play in the purchase process, this has the potential to present a big disruption to the industry and even inhibit the mechanism used by brands to promote new products, as a spokesperson for the FDF noted. The government has not yet ousted the idea of plain packaging for some products, as the Department of Health and Social Care waits to hear what England’s chief medical officer thinks. Bringing the Iberian sunshine to Suffolk Following the award-winning success of the salami range, the Whitehead family recently turned their attention towards the Iberian Peninsula, and Chorizo. Taking the finest cuts of pork form their family farm they add a blend of different types of the finest Paprika from La Chinata and Santo Dimingo both of which have DOP status. They then add some other spices, garlic and herbs before gently smoking them over oak and beech chippings. They are then hung to dry until ready to eat. They can be eaten straight from the pack or used to spice up your favourite dish. It is great when added to spaghetti bolognaise, chicken and even fish. It won ‘Best Product’ in the Charcuturie category of the Great British Food Awards in 2018 judged by Jimmy Doherty. “National Flexible’s graphic designer Ryan worked really hard with us to design a pack which we feel compliments our brand,” said Rebecca Lane. For more information, visit www.nationalflexible.co.uk. 22-27.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:43 Page 5Food & Drink International 27 www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING Meeting industry demands with new Meypack series The packaging industry is continually evolving and changing. More frequently, products require sensitive handling in addition to increasing outputs, smaller footprints and flexible packaging formats. These product and industry demands have now been brought together into the new Meypack VP501 Neo series of case packers. The strengths of this new machine series are consistent with the familiar Meypack packing principle and capable of producing wrap- around cases, and/or trays with lids. Additionally, by reducing the number of components, Meypack have minimised the number of different spare parts needed on stock and increased the hygienic design and accessibility within the machine. The result is a highly efficient and capable flexible case packing solution, ideally suited to modern and demanding production environments. For more information, visit www.penn-packaging.co.uk. Market welcomes availability of fully integrated slicing lines Interfood Technology, the sole distributor for Weber in the UK and Ireland, recently attended the IFFA show to help introduce several initiatives, including the newly released Weber wePACK 7000 packaging machines which are making fully integrated high- speed slicing lines possible. Fully integrated control of every function on the line is provided, with seamless integration with the slicer, along with options such as the Weber Pick and Place Robot systems and Compact Loaders which are integrated within the packaging machine frame to substantially reduce the required footprint. Also on show was the Weber wePICK 3000 compact Pick and Place loading system, the first Pick Robot with an integrated buffer function. Its dynamic buffering capability compensates for the reloading time of the slicer in a machine with a very small footprint since no external components are required for buffering sliced portions. For more information, visit www.interfoodtechnology.com. Barrier packaging films for the circular economy Innovia Films is launching the first of its new range of transparent high barrier packaging films. Propafilm™ Strata SL has been designed to be a standalone mono filmic solution, or to be used in laminate constructions to be ‘recycle ready’, or recyclable in countries which have the infrastructure to recycle polypropylene films. Alasdair McEwen, Global Product Manager Packaging, Innovia Films, explains: “Our new in-house technology has enabled us to produce a totally new film with unique barrier properties. Strata SL has a very effective barrier to aroma, mineral oils and oxygen even at high relative humidity levels ensuring increased shelf life and reduced food waste. Our target markets for this packaging film are cereal bars, biscuits, snacks, dried fruit and nuts as well as tea and coffee. This new development is very timely in view of the industry move towards recyclability and a circular economy.” For more information, visit www.innoviafilms.com. 4Sight Automatic Print Inspection System ‘gets the message’ A ground-breaking collaboration between SICK and AutoCoding Systems has resulted in the launch of the first fully-automatic smart vision inspection system for printed coding and marking on food and beverage packaging. The 4Sight Automatic Print Inspection System achieves significant savings in day-to-day production stoppages for producers. A breakthrough innovation achieved in the AutoCoding 4Sight software, operating on SICK’s Inspector P smart vision camera, enables direct closed-loop communication of the printed message from any brand of printer using standard inkjet, laser or thermal transfer technologies. The application, one of the first to be developed using SICK’s AppSpace software platform, has delivered an error-proof, high- speed inspection system for printed codes such as dates, batch and line numbers. Powered by SICK AppSpace, onboard the high-resolution SICK Inspector P smart camera with no need for a lineside PC, the 4Sight software simultaneously checks whether the printed code is correct, present and legible. For more information, visit www.sick.co.uk. 22-27.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:44 Page 628 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PPMA TOTAL SHOW W ith over 400 exhibitors and 1,600 brands, PPMA Total Show 2019 encompasses the breadth of the packaging and processing industry, including food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, household products and toiletries, building materials and supplies, pet care, micro- brewery and distilleries, FMCG, and contract packers. Exhibitors will showcase the very latest products and solutions in processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision systems. Dr Andrew Mint, Chief Executive Officer of PPMA Group of Associations, says: “PPMA Show 2018 saw the largest ever audience to a PPMA event, surpassing all our expectations. From the incredible range of new products to the vibrancy of debate during the conference, last year’s show reinforced our confidence that the industries we serve never stop developing and looking for new ways to achieve growth.” The Enterprise Zone PPMA Total Show 2019 will offer visitors a focal point for networking, discovery and live debate via its Enterprise Zone. Alongside holding dedicated meeting areas and activities, there will be a full conference programme across all three days of the show, which will include insightful keynotes courtesy of high profile and respected industry experts. Collectively, they will provide information on the latest challenges facing the packaging and processing industry. Case studies, panel discussions and presentations will provide visitors with real examples of best practice manufacturing and excellence in processing and packaging production, aiming to motivate and inspire visitors to improve their businesses. PPMA Group Industry Awards 2019 The PPMA Group Industry Awards 2019 will be held at the National Conference Centre (NCC) Birmingham. Now in its eighth year, the Awards ceremony brings together more than 300 industry professionals and stakeholders from the world of processing and packaging machinery and celebrates the finest examples of innovation, smart manufacturing and entrepreneurship. Entries will be judged by a panel of eight independent industry experts, including academia, end-users and engineers. Featuring a three-course gala dinner, the PPMA Group Industry Awards will be hosted by UK television presenter and magician, Stephen Mulhern, who has appeared as host on Britain’s Got Talent, Catchphrase and Big Star’s Little Star . For further information and details on how to enter, visit: www.ppmatotalshow.co.uk/awards/ppm a-group-industry-awards. Dr Mint adds: “This is an especially important time for the industries we represent. We’re entering a phase where political changes are set to impact our business dealings internationally and we’re also seeing, now more than ever, our practices and procedures being examined. “We’re very confident that this year’s PPMA Total Show will provide visitors with an array of product launches and thought-provoking content to help them drive their business forward.” Visitor registration for the PPMA Total Show 2019 is now open. PPMA TOTAL SHOW 2019 Staged every three years, PPMA Total Show (1-3 October 2019, National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham) is the UK’s largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition. To register and attend the show for free, visit the PPMA Total Show website at: www.ppmatotalshow.co.uk 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:50 Page 1FOR MANUFACTURING IN FOOD, BEVERAGES, PHARMACEUTICALS, TOILETRIES, COSMETICS AND MORE… 1-3 OCTOBER 2019 NEC, BIRMINGHAM THE COMPLETE PRODUCTION LINE EVENT ppmatotalshow.co.uk OWNED & ORGANISED BY FREE TO ATTEND REGISTER NOW 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:50 Page 2Next >