< PreviousLinx launch groundbreaking new CIJ printer Linx Printing Technologies is breaking new groundin the coding and marking industry with the launch ofa compact and totally portable entry-level CIJ printercapable of delivering quality two line codes.The Linx 10 will particularly appeal to smallerbusinesses that need to code products for the firsttime or whose potential for business growth ishampered by the use of less flexible, non-digitalcoding which can restrict a business’s ability toincrease production rates to meet demand. Manyretail customers may also require higher quality codesor more detailed information, which must becontained within a small space.The Linx 10 is around half the weight and footprintof other CIJ printers and can be mounted directly onto a conveyor or production line to save evenmore space.Typical applications will include specialist and artisan food producers who are seeking their firstcoder, as well as contract packers.Innovative leak detection techbenefits map quality controlIshida’s revolutionary AirScaninline system for detecting leaks inMAP packs has greatly enhanced thequality control procedures, as well asreducing labour costs, for a newsnack product from M-Back GmbH inGermany which is being producedfor dairy giant Meggle.The ‘Ofenschnecke’ is a small puffpastry product that is available in twoversions. When the delicate pastriesare packed, it is not uncommon forproduct traces to get into the sealingarea of the trays. This can result inleaks, which may cause protectivegas to escape and draw in moisture. Ishida AirScan uses lasertechnology to detect leaks of CO2,which is used in many MAPapplications. The system checkseach individual tray in less than 20 milliseconds for traces of escaping CO2.It can also find holes with a diameter as small as 0.25 mm, at speeds of upto 180 packs per minute. API’s OneBoard™upgraded with whiterfinish & FSC certification API’s OneBoard™ has been further enhanced toprovide customers with a whiter finish and fullForest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification –both of which help it meet the demand forenvironmentally sensitive and impactful packagingprovided in quick lead-times.The new OneBoard enables API to react quicklyto customers’ laminated board demands, with itsfast-track processing typically delivering finishedlaminated product on the environmentallyapproved board base within days of the order.Particularly suitable for applications incosmetics, pharmaceuticals, confectionary andmultimedia, OneBoard is ideal for high qualitypackaging applications that require high bulk,smooth surface and a white reverse in combinationwith superior film bond strength. The new certification from the FSC is widelyrecognised by customers as the hallmark ofresponsible forest management. This ensures thatOneBoard not only meets all production andsupply requirements, but also provides theenvironmental credentials demanded by its manycustomers. IT solution gives poultry producer wings An IT solution from CSB-System has helped aBelgian manufacturer of breaded and frozenproducts for the foodservice sector to greatlyexpand its operation. Since introducing the SmartBusiness Processes and Smart Automationmodules, Volys Star has doubled its productionand picking volumes and all orders are deliveredon time.The CSB solution enables Volys Star to deliverquality of service and customer satisfaction. Onemajor benefit is the way it optimally supportsoperators during order intake, providing up-to-dateinformation about stock in-hand, resources,capacities and production & picking orders. Thismeans operators can precisely indicate whether the requested order can be delivered on time. Ifproducts are not available, the system automatically determines the next possible production anddelivery dates, or suggests alternatives.The precision of Volys Star’s deliveries has also improved considerably. Faulty deliveries havebeen rendered all but impossible by a sophisticated combination of picking system, weigh labellingunits and controls in loading. 10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netNestlé, R&R launch ice cream &frozen food ventureNestlé and R&R havetogether created Froneri, a newjoint venture in ice cream,frozen food and chilled dairy. Froneri will combine Nestléand R&R’s ice cream activitiesin Europe, the Middle East(excluding Israel), Argentina,Australia, Brazil, the Philippinesand South Africa. Nestlé andPAI Partners have equal equity interests in the joint venture.Froneri will also include Nestlé’s European frozen food business(excluding pizza and retail frozen food in Italy), as well as its chilled dairybusiness in the Philippines.With sales of around 2.6 billion Euro, Froneri will operate in 22 countriesacross the world, employing around 15,000 people. As announced in April,the company will be headquartered in the UK and will have sites primarily inEurope, the Middle East, (excluding Israel), Argentina, Australia, Brazil, thePhilippines and South Africa.Froneri’s leadership team combines industry expertise and businessacumen from across Nestlé and R&R. The company’s board of directors ischaired by Luis Cantarell, Nestlé’s Executive Vice President, Europe, MiddleEast and North Africa and its CEO is Ibrahim Najafi, formerly CEO of R&R.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ANNA-MARI WEST10_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:36 Page 1Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.netOrganised by the Nutrition Health andLongevity Cluster and Eurasanté (theeconomic development agency for thehealth sector in the north of France),NutrEvent is the result of observations ofthe nutrition and health market: • There are increasingly strictregulatory and scientific demands oncompanies that make product healthand/or well-being claims;• Nutraceutical companies need toshow innovative scientific and clinicalvalidation to guarantee their owncredibility and that of the sector as awhole;• There is an increase in disorders,imbalances and pathologies wherenutrition is clearly a major causal factorsuch as diabetes, obesity and cancer.The previous editions of NutrEventhave gathered Glanbia, Nutricia, Cosucra,Wageningen University, Lesaffre, CocaCola, DSM, Jungbunzlauer, McCain,Naturex, Nestlé, Friesland Campina,Roquette, Unilever, Reading Universityand BASF with one main objective: topromote today’s products, processes andservices, identify tomorrow’s innovationsand build partnerships in food, nutritionand health.“NutrEvent is designed to acceleratescientific, technological and commercialpartnership opportunities to bridgeacademia and industry,” said Mr. EtienneVervaecke, General Commissioner ofNutrEvent 2017 and Eurasanté GeneralManager.NutrEvent aims to be the annualmeeting place for those in nutrition, foodand health, assisting them to lay thefoundations for mutually beneficialcollaborations and facilitate networking.The business convention enablesorganisations from the food chain to meetresearch and business partners, identifysources of funding and discuss the latestscientific and clinical advances in thesector. It also permits attendees todiscover market trends, understandregulatory changes and discover thesector’s success stories.NutrEvent features a businessconvention, allowing participants to meetduring pre-qualified one-to-one meetings.This is definitely the most efficient wayfor participants to identify and connectwith potential international business andresearch partners. All participants willhave the opportunity to contactcompanies or academic groups of interest.Thanks to an online platform, delegateswill be also able to create their ownprofile, which displays information abouttheir product and service portfolio and thetype of collaborations requested.Nutrevent also offers a rich and variedconference programme. Organised aroundthree tracks, the NutrEvent conferenceswill explore how to combine expertise,ensure the success of cross-sectorialcollaborations and translational researchand adapt to current market trends.Nutrevent will continue to feature the‘NutriAwards’ competition, whichrewards the most innovative product andprocess, supported respectively by themarketing company Nutrikéo Consultingand the investment firm SeventurePartners. The closing date forNutriAwards 2017 call for applications is19th May 2017.Over 600 participants from more than 25 countries will gather in Lille on14th and 15th June 2017 for the 5th edition of NutrEvent – the key businessconvention for innovation in food, nutrition and health.For more information or to book a stand,visit www.nutrevent.com or email nutrevent@eurasante.com. NutrEvent11_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:37 Page 112 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTIf international trade is built on mutualgain and forging links, then the UK’snetwork of exporters were right to beworried following the outcome of June’sEU referendum. Indeed, the Departmentof International Trade (DTi) reports thatmany UK businesses are wary of tradingabroad. The depressed value of the poundmay well spell good news for foreigninvestors and the tourism sector, butleaving the EU – the UK’s largest tradepartner – means the Government willhave to forge links further afield and caterto the international demand for Britishproducts as it negotiates trade policy in apost-Brexit future. The UK Government is encouraging allUK businesses to increase exports aroundthe world to strengthen and solidify thecountry’s trade position. As PrimeMinister Theresa May has now set a dateon which Article 50, the architecture ofleaving the EU, will be trigged, this isdoubly important. Yet, although exportsare understood to be on the up, UKbusinesses appear to be slow off theirmarks. According to the DTi, only 11 per centof British businesses export, despite allthe economic benefits of selling Britishgoods and services overseas. Furthermore,only 7 per cent of UK goods exporterstarget increasingly high growth economiesA viewto export Following the result of the EU referendum, UK businesseshave been wary of exporting, but the Government isencouraging British SMEs to invest in exports and secureinternational trade deals. 12-15_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:39 Page 1Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTsuch as China and India. Food andbeverage products are among the UK’sfastest growing exports, and the Chinesemarket will prove paramount in scaling upand maintaining the amount of productsshipped overseas. Since 2011, trade performance hasdeteriorated, and over the past 10 yearsUK exports have grown more slowly thansome of its G7 counterparts, including theUnited States, Germany and France. Arecent study by the Federation of SmallBusinesses found 54 per cent of smallbusinesses do not even consider exporting,while a further 21 per cent who haveconsidered doing so in the past, have beenput off. It appears that too often smallbusinesses resist exporting because theyfeel they do not have the time, are wary oflanguage and other cultural barriers, orthink that their products will not selloverseas. Without a trustworthy,reputable source to seek out advice, manybusinesses do not want to take the risk. As part of its plans to bolster exports,the UK is targeting a £2.9 billion boost tofood exports over the coming five years.In order to accomplish this lofty aim, theGovernment will offer business supportsuch as mentoring and training to newcompanies looking to break into food andbeverage export markets. In its recentlypublished ‘International Action Plan forFood and Drink’ plan, the Department forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs(Defra) has said it will also assist existingexporters to strengthen their tradingoperations. According to Defra, the ministry istargeting an extra £185 million pounds ofexports in Japan, catering to theincreasing demand for traditional Britishproducts such as jam, tea and biscuits.Moreover, it will seek a further £293million pounds of sales in Australia andNew Zealand – a territory which has agrowing thirst for British beers and ciders.Mexico and other parts of Latin Americacould add a further £215 million of salesof alcoholic beverages such as whisky andgin. Of course, UK trade is far less than it14 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTYOCK.COM/NITO12-15_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:39 Page 214 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTwas in its hey-day, but these disappointingstatistics highlight that the UK is missinga prosperous opportunity, particularly inlight of the EU referendum and thecurrent exchange rate. As the UK has oneof the most multi-cultural populations inthe word, with a food industry to match,it’s disheartening that it would be missingout on such vibrant overseas trade. A key area where businesses can takecharge and feel confident in their effortsto export is through their supply chain. Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of theUK’s leading distributor of plastic palletsand containers, Goplasticpallets.com, says:“It’s a shame to see so many businesses,regardless of size, evading the opportunityto export and grow their business, as wellas boosting the UK’s economy. We haveshipped to countries all over the world,some harder to reach than others such asQatar and Nigeria, so we understand thepressures and work involved. It cancertainly be a daunting prospect, howeverwith the right tools, support andinformation, it can open up new, excitingbusiness opportunities and bolster yourbottom line.”Mr Hardisty adds that overcomingcultural and language barriers can bedaunting, especially if you have to attendlong distance business trips to visitpotential overseas clients. Do yourresearch before you go and get to knowyour customers, understand their localand global pressures, and how you canhelp. Some assistance to market isavailable through the DTi, who oftenprovide free consultations, or the UKExport Finance office who consult withsmall to medium size businesses. It mayalso be useful to contact your localChamber of Commerce.Before you start, you need to know theregulations involved in exporting yourgoods, otherwise they may not arrive attheir destination, costing your business alot of time and money. For example,ISPM 15 (International Standard forPhytosanitary Measures), aims to reducethe risk of introducing and spreadingquarantine pests associated with woodpackaging material. In order to comply,wooden pallets must be heat treated orfumigated and officially marked as such –although this is not without its problems.Often the markings can be damaged intransit and the wood could still pick upbugs on its way to its destination. Although at the moment ISPM 15 isnot currently a global requirement, thenumber of countries opting to implementit is growing and already includes China,Canada, India, much of Africa and SouthAmerica, as well as the EU. Ensuring your supply chain runssmoothly when exporting is vital and so ischoosing the best pallet or container tosafely transport your goods, withoutbreaking the bank or any internationalregulations.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/FREELYSKYUK importers at risk as prawnprices reach all-time highThe price of prawnshas reached an all-timehigh and willremain high into2017 makingChristmascocktails moreexpensive thisyear, accordingto UKpurchasingcompanyBeacon. Increased pressure onsupply and extreme globalweather conditions have meantseafood suppliers have seen prawnprice increases of up to 15% in the last three months, with black tiger prawnsnow 40% more expensive than some other species. The knock on effect is likelyto be seen in Christmas menus this year as hospitality firms are forced to reactto the lack of supply and the higher prices.Beacon’s leading seafood suppliers, M&J Seafood and Direct Seafoods,report price increases at source due in part to Vietnamese production being farbelow usual levels following a drought in the Mekong delta earlier this year.Additionally, low harvests in China have caused substantial increases in localdemand for prawns, which has reduced supply for European importers and keptprices at record highs.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/HONG VO12-15_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:39 Page 3Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTIf you’re unsure of where to start, speak to adistributor or supplier before you purchase who canadvise you on what pallet or container best suits yourneeds. As Goplasticpallets.com will attest, plasticpackaging is a boon to the food industry, and can betailored to application, budget and transportation.Plastic pallets are made from low grade, recycledmaterial and are an ideal choice for exporting goods,in particular nestable pallets. This makes themlightweight yet incredibly strong, exempt fromISPM15 regulations, easy to clean and cost effective. With UK trade at the forefront of Britishbusinesses’ minds, an increase in export can bechampioned by pioneering businessmen and women,small to medium-sized business and homegrowncorporations. Exporting may be daunting at first butwith a little persistence, investing in a smooth-running supply chain and the support of your localtrade organisations, export sales can grow successfullyand open new opportunities with China, India andbeyond. UK Government prepares to takefood exports to “next level”The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s role in facilitatingexports for UK agriculture was recently in the spotlight when the Government’sexport hub arrived at its Warwickshire headquarters.Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Affairs,visited Stoneleigh Park to speak to dairy processors at an export forum.Food and drink is the UK’s fourth largest exporting sector worth £18 billion ayear, with exports of agricultural commodities alone valued at £6.25 billion a year.It demonstrates the value to the British economy gained from the exports offarmer and grower produce, along with the work being undertaken to developnew overseas markets.Addressing stakeholders in the export hub, Ms Leadsom said the Governmentwas there to help and would do so whenever it could to help farmers, growersand processors looking to sell their goods overseas.She said: “Through our Great British Food campaign I want to championfavourites from across the region both at home and abroad to help cementBritain’s reputation as a global food nation.”Ireland agrees sheep meatexport deal with IranFollowing anagreement with therelevant Iranianauthorities, Irishexporters can nowship sheep meat toIran. Michael CreedIreland’s Minister forAgriculture, Foodand Marine, said: “Iam delighted to seeyet another thirdcountry market openfor Irish meatproducts, particularlyfor the sheep sector which I am very keen to see develop further and deliver morefor all levels in that sector,” he added.The Irish minister further said that the agreement came after an agriculturaltrade mission visited Iran back in April and held talks with the country’s economicand agricultural officials. He added: “We have already had a very successful trade mission to four AsianCountries in recent weeks and I expect to be making further announcements onupcoming trade missions in the near future.”Iran is the second largest consumer market in the Middle East and North Africaafter Egypt. Irish beef gained market access to Iran four years ago and overallIrish food exports to Iran last year totalled €3.6 million.PHOTO: ROSLI OTHMAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COMPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/CHARLIE EDWARD12-15_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:40 Page 4HYGIENIUSThere’s no hiding place for contaminants, germs or bugs with our tough and hygienic furniture and equipment. That’s hygienius.QUALITY OF SERVICEQUALITY THROUGH MANUFACTUREQUALITY BY DESIGNT: 01603 788 833 | W: teknomek.co.uk | E: mail@teknomek.co.uk16-19_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:41 Page 1Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netFACILITIES MANAGEMENTFor many, facilities management mightmean nothing more than calling in thecleaners and ensuring that the premisesruns on a day by day basis, and while thisis important – it is only half the battle.Effective facility management is insteadabout making the most out of existingfacilities, and pushing efficiency as far asit can be. This can be in terms of staffproductivity, morale and motivation,reduction of business costs – or all ofthese things combined. It is a multi-stageprocess that takes many individual aspectsof the business infrastructure intoaccount. Within the food and drinkindustry it is particularly important due toissues of hygiene as well.Gone are the days where managersmight seek to drive their staff intoexhaustion in efforts to increaseproductivity – as we now know that aworkforce which is able to maintain anefficient pace continuously, is morevaluable than one that is burned out toosoon. Beyond that, with rising energy costs,fuel costs and the general cost of a livingwage – there is a real push towardsoffsetting costs through overheads, ratherthan hoping for that lucky break on a newcontract. For many in the food industry,when facilities management is mentioned,this refers to some form of manufacturingplant – or processing line, often with tensof thousands of units travelling throughthe system on a daily basis. The smallest hiccoughs with efficiencyon such a line can have drastic effectsthrough the entire system, andconsidering that large retailers are some ofthe least forgiving in terms of deadlines –and that there are many competitors inthis industry, then it becomes obviousPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/CHINAHBZYGRun like clockworkManaging a food and drink facility can be a daunting task, yet some of the best ways toimprove efficiency are also the easiest. 18 Á16-19_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:41 Page 218 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netFACILITIES MANAGEMENTStriping the confusion out of PVC curtainsWith the trend towards modularisation of hygienic environments, Teknomek have announceda new range of PVC strip curtains, suitable for use where maintaining clean airflow is critical.This new PVC curtain range includes specialist perforated and electrostatic discharge (ESD)alternatives to the standard options of clear and polar (-25 degrees Celsius) versions.PVC curtains are often used to help segregate different areas, usually production or packing;reducing the risk of contamination between each zone. Sue Springett, Commercial Manager from Teknomek, said: “We’ve responded to ourcustomers’ demand for using PVC curtains as a means of segregation within their workspaces.We’ve also seen curtains used as an additional layer of protection when storing equipmentwithin a clean environ; helping to protect while supporting airflow and cleaning routines.”The standard kits are supplied ready-to-fit, complete with a light-duty universal hook-onsystem. Every kit is backed-up by a full spare replacement strips and plates service.For more information, visit www.teknomek.co.uk.that companies cannot afford to take anyrisks in this regard. Recent mediahighlights of scandals and health scareswithin the industry have highlighted atrend of mistakes in recent months, orperhaps it is just that consumers caremore about these mistakes than they didbefore. Either way, the fallout can bedevastating for a brand’s reputation.Automating the system whereverpossible is the preferred method ofincreasing efficiency, as this takes out theever unreliable human element whichcould slow things down. On a manageriallevel, software can be used to ease theburden on an Operations Manager, byorganising and arranging shift hours basedon delivery times of raw materials to theprocessing plant. This removes anothertask for the manager to try and deal with,while also instantaneously checking theshifts of workers within the factory – andassigning those that are free to the task. This automation also has the addedbenefit of reducing any paper-trails withinthe facility, or at the very least –centralising them all in a single location,which can be accessed at the push of abutton. Another benefit to higher levels ofautomation is of course the protection itcan offer to other members of the team.Most health and safety accidents occur asa result of over-working, or poorallocation of resources, leaving a singleworker to try and lift more than theyrealistically can. An automated systemdoes not make the same mistakes, and assuch reduces the risk in that regard.And of course, health and safety doesplay a large role in facilities management.It is not uncommon for sections of a plantto be closed down when an accidentoccurs, and then there is, of course, theinjured party to try and treat – reducedproductivity from those who are trying tohelp them. Not to mention the lost man-hours as the person recovers, and thepotential for legal action as well. As such,investing in a good health and safetyscheme is paramount to the successfulrunning of a food and drink facility. A benefit to the food market however,is that many health and safety productsalso work towards improving hygiene –allowing a company to effectively kill twobirds with one stone. Non-slip andhygienic flooring is one such example thatcan both reduce the risk of accidentswithin the facility – while also adding aclear hygienic defence againstcontaminants. When it comes to hygiene itself thereare actually many things that can be doneto minimise both cost and downtime,some of which can be quite simple. Infood manufacturing in particular, build upinside machinery can prove a major sourceof contamination, requiring regularcleaning and downtime as workersscramble to clear this away. Small changesin how a site is set up, however, can helpto minimise this. Hard corners and rightangles, especially inside storage tanks andmixers, can be problem areas, as itprovides a sharp corner for food to getstuck in. Simple changes to make theserounded corners or to blunt them canhelp reduce levels of build up significantly. But there is also the question of wherehygienic material is kept and how easy itis to bring to bear if there is a problem.Sanitation stations are commonplace infood and drink production facilities andyet for many they are locked away out ofreach, wasting employee time as they needPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ASA STUDIOto leave an area entirely to ensure theyare properly sanitised. Moving thesefacilities, as well as any others thatemployees might make use of, closer tothe actual production line can improveefficiency. This might seem a small factor,especially if it only saves a minute of anindividual employee’s time a day, butconsidering it over a longer period of timecan make for more savings. That singleminute might also become moreimportant if a problem happens during it,along with a product recall because thatstaff member was unavailable to solve theproblem at the instance it happened. Efficient use of space might be another16-19_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:41 Page 3Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netFACILITIES MANAGEMENTconcern, particularly where operationstake place in a smaller area. Expansionand new buildings can be costly, but insome cases the need for such can bemitigated with a review on how the spaceis currently used. Mezzanine floors andupwards expansion (if there is room) canenable staff to operate on multiple planeswithout difficulty – squeezing moreefficiency out of the existing premises. Of course this might come with newchallenges, but even implementing those –and any training required – is sure to costless than the process of locating,purchasing and refurbishing a newbuilding. Ultimately, the goals of good facilitiesmanagement must always be theprotection and efficient operation of allaspects of a factory. And while some maysuggest seeing the workforce as nothingmore than a tool to be politically incorrect– investing in their protection is asimportant as any maintenance one mightperform on a key piece of machinery. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/APOSTOLOS MASTORIS16-19_Layout 1 24/10/2016 10:41 Page 4Next >