< Previous10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net APP & FOOPAK Q&A Could you tell us a little about APP and your Foopak range? Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) is one of the world’s largest integrated pulp and paper companies, with operations in both Indonesia and China. From sustainable forestry management to downstream production, APP supplies a full range of paper-based products, from copy paper and tissue to premium-grade luxury packaging. Within this wide portfolio, our Foopak range is specifically dedicated to food and beverage packaging. It is designed to meet the industry's demanding requirements, balancing performance with sustainability. One of our key innovations is the development of eco-friendly Q&A Paper packaging revolutionises the industry Food & Drink International sits down with APP’s Benny Chiadarma – Regional Sales Head Europe, Industrial White Business Unit for Foopak, to learn more about APP and its Foopak range. water-based barrier coatings, which serve as an alternative to traditional plastic laminations. This technology allows converters and brand owners to move away from single-use plastics without sacrificing functionality, safety, or consumer convenience. How is paper packaging revolutionising food & drink industry packaging? The global packaging industry is experiencing a significant change. For decades, plastic led the sector because of its durability and low cost. However, the environmental impact of plastic—especially its persistence in oceans and landfills—has become a major concern for consumers, regulators, and brands alike. Research indicates that paper packaging is viewed by consumers as a more sustainable and responsible choice. For instance, studies from the Two Sides campaign show that 62% of consumers prefer paper because it is recyclable and biodegradable, and 57% see paper as more environmentally friendly than plastic. Paper’s renewability, recyclability, and compostability provide it with a distinct advantage in promoting a circular economy. This shift is transforming food and beverage packaging, with paper-based solutions increasingly replacing plastic in items like cups, trays, cartons, and wraps—delivering both Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net APP & FOOPAK Q&A environmental benefits and positive brand differentiation. What should businesses look out for when choosing paper packaging? Not all barrier papers are identical. Selecting the appropriate option largely depends on the specific application. For example: * Cold beverages need a double-sided barrier coating to prevent condensation. * Hot beverages usually require only a single-side coating, which can reduce costs without compromising performance. * Cup-shaped formats generally have higher production costs compared to box or tray designs because they require more complex converting processes. At APP, we work closely with both converters and brand owners to evaluate their specific needs. Our aim is to recommend the most practical, cost-effective, and high- performing solutions that maximize production efficiency while ensuring a positive end-consumer experience. Can paper packaging make businesses more competitive and influence buying decisions? Absolutely. Sustainability is no longer just a regulatory requirement – it is a key driver of consumer choice. A McKinsey survey found that more than 60% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, while research by NielsenIQ indicates that environmentally friendly packaging significantly improves brand perception and trust. Design also plays a crucial role. Paper offers excellent printability and surface appeal, enabling brands to create impactful graphics and natural-looking finishes that connect with today’s eco-conscious consumers. By switching to paper, businesses can not only reduce their environmental footprint but also stand out on the shelf, strengthen consumer loyalty, and gain a competitive advantage. How can APP and Foopak help food & drink producers and support them in meeting their sustainability goals? APP’s Foopak Bio Natura line has been developed to support the food and beverage industry in achieving its sustainability commitments. The range is: • Compostable – certified to break down naturally in industrial composting environments. • Recyclable and repulpable – ensuring compatibility with existing paper recycling streams. • Without conventional PE lining, using NCM (Nano Composite Material) coatings instead of PE or PLA films. • Compliant with global food safety standards – guaranteeing safe use across a wide range of applications. By adopting Foopak Bio Natura, producers can meet regulatory requirements such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), reduce reliance on fossil- based plastics, and demonstrate tangible progress toward their sustainability targets. For more information, please visit https://www.foopak.com/ 12 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT Poland pushes exports forward A key food exporter in Europe, Poland is strengthening its reputation on the global stage. But with geopolitical tension and protectionism intensifying, as well as environmental and digital transformation, the country’s food and drink sector must adapt to maintain its position. A major contributor to the Polish economy, agri-food goods account for almost 15% of the country’s exports. While in 2024, the value of agri-food exports saw an increase of 3.1% year on year, reaching €53.5bn, this represented the slowest growth since 2015, according to Bank Pekao. In volume terms, exports stayed stable. The EU remained the main force behind growth in Polish food exports, while the county also recorded a rise in exports to third-country markets, with significantly expanded activity in Switzerland and increased exports to Turkey, though drops were recorded in sales to South Africa, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. The figures came as foreign sales were hampered by a decline in prices of agricultural products and the strong Polish zloty. Polish exports have been further challenged by the EU’s liberalisation of access for agricultural products from Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, seeing upticks in imports for many categories. Though the need to aid Ukraine did not arouse public opposition, the increased competition on EU products sparked concern from agricultural communities in some member states, primarily those bordering Ukraine, leaving Poland to adapt to these conditions. The EU- Mercosur agreement has also raised apprehension for competition on Polish products. With a trade agreement potentially leading to further liberalisation of imports from countries such as Brazil and Argentina, widened competition with Poland could be seen due to product overlaps, including poultry, beef, and sugar. The EU has been running a deficit in the agri-food sector for years with Mercosur countries, according to Bank Pekao, where in 2024, the value of food imports from South America to the EU amounted to €24.1bn, yet exports from the Against a complex international picture, Poland is casting its net wide to expand agri-food exports across the globe. 14 ÁFood & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © stock.adobe.com/mehaniq4114 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT EU amounted to €3.3bn. Although a significant recipient of Mercosur food imports to the EU, Poland in return has a weak presence. The potential benefits to open Mercosur markets to Polish chocolate products, beverages, and bakery products, however, has been noted. Compounding on this pressure is the impact of the shift in trade relations between the US and EU, with volatility likely to remain, although Poland’s lower exposure to the US should limit the effect of tariffs. With a complex international picture, the diversification of sales markets is a vital consideration, and wins have been achieved in the past year as the Singapore Food Agency announced approval of Polish beef into the market, allowing entry to all of Poland’s major meat exports, while Qatar branches of Lulu Hypermarket launched a ‘Taste of Poland’ promotion, boosting the visibility of Polish products in the country. 2025 has seen Poland continue discussions across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa to expand access for food and drink firms. Strengthening ties across Africa, a delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was recently received at the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Minister Stefan Krajewski emphasised the significant, untapped potential for cooperation with the DRC, particularly in the trade in agri-food products. According to preliminary data, in the period from January to May 2025, the value of Polish exports of agri-food products to the DRC amounted to €58.2m, representing an increase of 4.6% compared to the same period last year, with the main exports being meat and edible offal of poultry, wheat and meslin, and edible offal of pigs. With the DRC delegation expressing interest in cooperation regarding knowledge transfer, technological advice, and improving the quality of crop production, Poland’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture shared hope that procedures regarding veterinary arrangements would be accelerated, enabling access to the DRC market for, among others, beef, pork, poultry, fishery products, as well as milk and dairy products. Heading the delegation, Marie- Claire Kengo Wa Dondo, Member of the National Assembly of the DRC and Chair of the DRC-Poland Parliamentary Group, assured that she would forward the Polish requests to the relevant DRC authorities. In Southeast Asia, opportunities for the enhanced cooperation between Poland and Vietnam in agri-food trade has been a key topic. In a meeting between Secretary of State Jacek Czerniak and the Ambassador of Vietnam to Poland, Hà Hoàng Hải, earlier this Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT year, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland highlighted that Polish food products have gained a good reputation among Vietnamese consumers, and that the Vietnamese market is receptive, presenting an opportunity to bolster the export of Polish agri-food products. It comes as Poland has stated its aims to eliminate its trade deficit and boost the recognisability of Polish products in the Vietnamese market. Polish exports of agri- food products to Vietnam reached €193.4m in 2024, an increase of around 10% compared with 2023, while imports from Vietnam to Poland amounted to €369m in 2024. It follows agreements last year on phytosanitary requirements for highbush blueberry exported from Poland to Vietnam, and progress on the approval of Polish meat and fish establishments for export to the Vietnamese market, addressing veterinary issues and streamlining administrative procedures. Delays on this have, however, been seen in the registration and updating by the Vietnamese veterinary authority of the list of Polish establishments authorised to export products of animal origin to Vietnam. A Vietnamese Ambassador has attributed the delays to an administrative reorganisation. Elsewhere, Poland is building and repairing its relationship with Kazakhstan, a major customer of Polish food in Central Asia. In 2024, Poland sold agri-food goods worth €122.9m to the Kazakh market, but a number of bans have held back trade. The Secretary of State Jacek Czerniak recently met with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Poland, H.E. Nurlan Zhalgasbayev, discussing the lifting of barriers to Polish export. Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Paweł Meyer presented Polish commercial priorities, including lifting the bans on poultry products in connection with outbreaks of Newcastle disease and avian influenza, restrictions introduced in connection with bluetongue, restrictions on pork and pork products in connection with the outbreak of African swine fever, and agreeing on the procedure for approval of new exporters interested in reaching the Kazakh market. Restrictions introduced by Kazakhstan are preventing Polish exporters from selling to the market and to other Central Asian countries, such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Ambassador Nurlan Zhalgasbayev has informed that the veterinary services of Kazakhstan are conducting internal arrangements regarding the conditions for importing goods of animal origin from Poland and stressed the importance of developing bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture. With these just three of the diverse spread of countries being targeted by Poland, the country has a clear eye on expanding its exports. © stock.adobe.com/netsay16 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SILVERSON MACHINES Q&A What is high shear and how do high shear mixers work? ‘Shear’ in the simplest terms, means to cut. Silverson high shear mixers achieve the ‘cutting’ action as the blades of the rotor rotate inside a static stator. The high-speed rotation of these rotor blades creates a powerful suction, drawing liquid and solid materials upwards from the bottom of the vessel and into the centre of the workhead. Centrifugal force then drives materials towards the periphery of the workhead where they are subjected to a milling action in the precision-machined clearance between the ends of the rotor blades and the inner wall of the stator. This is followed by intense hydraulic shear as the materials are forced, at high velocity, out through the perforations in the stator and circulated into the main body of the mix. The materials expelled from the head are projected radially at high speed towards the sides of the mixing vessel. At the same time, fresh material is continually drawn into the workhead maintaining the mixing cycle. What applications can I use high shear for in the food industry? Time after time, companies specify Silverson mixers as the “standard” equipment for their manufacturing process, with a single Silverson high shear mixer able to perform a wide range of mixing applications with speed and consistency. With the exceptionally rapid mixing action of a Silverson high shear mixer, process times are substantially reduced compared to a conventional agitator. Silverson mixers can be used for many mixing applications in the food industry and are advantageous when: Q&A Silverson Machines High speed, high shear mixers for the food industry Food & Drink International speaks with Silverson Machines about their high speed, high shear mixers, their applications and benefits.Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net SILVERSON MACHINES Q&A * Hydrating and deagglomerating gums and thickeners Agglomerates are instantaneously broken down as they pass through the rotor/stator workhead, resulting in an agglomerate-free mix with maximum yield. * Reclaiming waste or out-of-spec product Product can be efficiently disintegrated and dissolved, ensuring optimal product recovery. * Dissolving For example, Silverson mixers can produce a 66 Brix sugar solution at ambient temperature. * Homogenising In many cases, a Silverson mixer can replace a high-pressure homogeniser in a processing line. They can also be used to create a uniform premix that will pass through a high-pressure homogeniser at a much faster rate and often in a single pass. * Reducing particle size * High viscosity mixing The innovative pumping rotor design of some Silverson mixers allows them to process higher viscosity products. * Blending liquids of varying viscosities The unique design of a Silverson rotor/stator assembly facilitates a positive mixing action that swiftly draws the liquids into the workhead, where they are rapidly combined. * Forming stable emulsions A Silverson mixer can easily create a stable emulsion with a droplet size of 2 – 5 microns, results down to 0.5 microns can be achieved depending on the formulation. What if I am manufacturing more than one product? For companies manufacturing multiple products in their factory, many of the Silverson in-tank models are available on mobile floor stands. This option greatly increases the flexibility of these mixers, allowing them to be moved from vessel to vessel and to be raised and lowered during operation, if required, to give the optimum mixing position at varying stages of the process. For mixing In-Line, all Silverson In-Line mixers are designed for cleaning in place (CIP). This enables thorough cleaning of the equipment between batches without the need for dismantling, saving time and allowing subsequent batches to be processed quickly and easily. The versatility of Silverson high shear mixers is further increased by the range of interchangeable workheads. With a range of options, the perforations in the stators can be changed to suit specific applications and processes. For example, the emulsor screen is ideal for liquid/liquid preparations and especially useful for applications which require the forming of stable emulsions. Whereas the Slotted Disintegrating Head would be more suitable for the disintegration of fibrous materials such as animal and vegetable tissue. Can products we’ve created in the lab during R&D be easily scaled up to full production? Silverson Machines offer the largest capacity range from a single manufacturer and part of our success – and that of our clients – is the accuracy with which we can predict the performance of our production scale mixers based on laboratory trials. We see no point in using a laboratory mixer capable of speeds of 25,000 rpm or more if the results cannot be replicated in production. That’s why all Silverson laboratory mixers are designed and built to the same tolerances as the production units; comparable rotor tip speed and shear rates across the entire product line means scalable results, every time. This often enables scale-up with minimal formulation or processing amendments. If you’d be interested in seeing the benefits of high shear mixers for yourself, please contact Silverson Machines to discuss your application or arrange a trial. For more information, please visit www.silverson.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1494 78633118 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT SPOTLIGHT S tep inside a modern food factory and it is the machines, not the people, that dominate the floor. Conveyor belts move trays of dough at speed, robotic arms stack products with precision, and high-speed cameras inspect each pack in real time. What once demanded dozens of operators is now orchestrated by lines that rarely pause. For a business the size of Nestlé, with plants producing confectionery, cereals and coffee for global markets, this transformation has been vital. The company has spent heavily on robotics and automated packaging to keep up with demand while also tightening safety and quality controls. It illustrates how automation has moved from a specialist option to the default approach for manufacturers operating at scale. Fitting new machinery into existing facilities, however, is never straightforward. Legacy equipment often dictates line speeds and layouts, while older buildings can make space and power supply a constraint. To work around this, many producers test equipment in pilot plants before committing to full installation. Others turn to modular systems that can be Machines reshape the future of food production From robotics on the factory floor to predictive maintenance and safer lines, investment in advanced machinery is redefining how food and drink reach the shelves. 21 ÁFood & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT SPOTLIGHT © stock.adobe.com/romasetNext >