< PreviousFor the latest generation of radars, condensate on the sensor is not an issue. Totally unaffected by condensation or buildup on the antenna, VEGAPULS 64 accurately detects the liquid level. With the smallest antenna of its kind and exceptional focusing, it delivers outstanding performance every time. Simply world-class!www.vega.com/radarA perfect view – even with condensation!The future is 80 GHz: a new generation of radar level sensors28-31_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:38 Page 3simply throw theirhands up and claimthat there are toomany factors triggeringrecalls, and that itwould be impossible toaddress them all.Recalls happen becauseof many diverse factors.Also, they are detected inall areas of the supply chainfrom ingredient supplier toretailer and consumer.But there are a number ofproduction-level checks which can beintegrated into control and informationsystems. Taken together, they candramatically - and reliably - reduce therisk of recalls. If we take a common typeof production line including primarypackaging (robotic pick-and-place and traysealing), secondary packaging (top-loadcartoning), and tertiary packaging (case-packing and palletising), there are numberof points at which faults can occur. Thesecan in turn result in an out-of-specification product and the threat of arecall.Despite originating in the same fewmetres of the production line, many ofthese potential problems may appear to beunrelated. In fact, all of these functionscan be managed and monitored from asingle control system. Vision systems forverifying packaging, product and codes,temperature control, sensors and robotcontrols can all sit on a single machinecontrol platform with direct two-wayconnectivity with factory or enterprise-level databases. Vision systems may not be a part of thequality control armoury of every foodmanufacturer, or may only be one ofseveral technologies used. In the past,PROCESS, CONTROL & AUTOMATIONlargely upon paper-based systems faceshuge risks in operator error. In this highlycharged environment, with the need tomaintain some semblance of efficiencyamongst the increased complexity andfrequent changeovers, it is not so much aquestion of if something goes wrong, butwhen.Efficiency does not only mean thequantity of a product created, however.Product recalls have expanded over recentyears, particularly as supermarkets becomemore demanding in terms of the freshnessof their food. Recalls can be devastatingfor everyone involved, leading not only toloss of profits, but also perhaps loss ofcustomers and reputation. Automationcan help to minimise this risk, as RobertBrooks of Omron Electronics points out.“Ever-widening product ranges meanthat manufacturers are producing shorterruns of more variants, each with theirown labelling. Recipes for establishedproducts, too, are changing as NPDdepartments reformulate. New packaginggrades and materials may be substitutedfor cost or environmental reasons. At the same time, audits from withinthe sector have increased both thepressure and necessity for factorytraceability, both internally and externally.And as well as adhering to existingregulations such as the Food Informationto Consumers (FIC) regulation in 2011,the sector is continually discussing newand improved regulations.Manufacturers will be only too aware ofthe plethora of existing and debatedregulations, plus the advice given onhandling a crisis should it occur. But ourhope is that producers take a look at howexisting technology can assist to meettargets to reduce recalls.It would be easy for food producers toFood & Drink International 31www.fdiforum.netJ-Flex introduce new metal detectable, X-ray visiblefood safe rubber J-Flex has introduced a metal detectable and x-ray visible food safe rubber materials infood industry blue. Available in a variety of formats, as well as offering custom madesolutions, this material provides food and drink manufacturers’ with peace of mind. Foreignparticles in food processing equipment can now be detected quickly and easily, reducingboth downtime and food wastage.John Kirk, Managing Director at J-Flex, said: “The new material is made in easilyidentifiable blue colour, synonymous with food processing, making it clearly visible if a smallparticle gets into the food during the production process. And for smaller fragments youhave the metal detectable and x-ray visible functionality of the new material adding a furtherlevel of sophistication.”The J-Flex Metal Detectable and X-Ray visible rubber materials offer food manufacturersthe opportunity to reduce downtime and food wastage as the contamination is detected faster.For more information, visit www.j-flex.co.uk.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/PAUL MATTHEW PHOTOGRAPHYequipment pricing may have promptedpotential beneficiaries to treat vision withcaution. But that perception is changing,and it is not only end users who arechoosing to fit vision systems on theirlines. Increasingly, original equipmentmanufacturers (OEMs) are alsointegrating the technology into theirpackaging machinery. It can offer high-speed checking of codes, graphics(reconciling each with the product on theline), pack components, label presence,print legibility, shape, colour and opticalcharacter recognition (OCR). Themultiple checks that vision can carry outeven at the highest line speeds are makingthem an increasingly valued qualitycontrol tool.Automation has been adopted by otherindustry sectors, sometimes driven bystrict regulation. There is no reason whythe food industry cannot do the same, forreasons of efficiency and flexibility butalso - increasingly - in order to minimisethe risk of product recalls.”28-31_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:39 Page 432 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netINNOVATIONS IN PACKAGINGFirstly, a package must house a foodproduct, meeting the specific storagerequirements of said product to preserveand prolong shelf life. It must secondlyconvey all nutritional, dietary andinstructional information on its labelling.Lastly, good packaging needs to appeal onan aesthetic level, both visually andfunctionally. The latter is proving moreimportant in recent years asmanufacturers explore new ways ofpacking food for ease-of-access, usingmore sustainable materials and methods,or to capitalise on the latest trend. Sofood packaging is constantly evolving andadapting to trends, tastes and thetrickledown effect from government andhealth bodies. Two of the most powerful motivatorsdriving the industry towards ever moreinventive food packaging are the rise ofalternative diets such as veganism andfree-from, and the proliferation of smartphones. These two occurrences areentwined, with information, recipes andlikeminded individuals available on-demand and at the touch of a button. Inthe UK alone, the vegan market hasincreased by almost 360 per cent in thelast decade. Food producers quickly caughtPass thepackage Functionality is the prime purpose of packaging, designedto contain, protect and transport any given product. Yetpackaging also plays an important role in the relationshipconsumers have with food and beverage products.32-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:09 Page 1Food & Drink International 33www.fdiforum.netINNOVATIONS IN PACKAGING IN PACKAGINGwind of this flourishing new market withmeat- and dairy-free products now acommon site in supermarkets and highstreet coffee shops, cafes and othereateries. More recently, the market hasseen a seismic shift where vegan productsare targeted towards meat eaters for theirpurported health benefits rather than the‘cruelty-free’ tag. Animal-free products go hand-in-handwith organic products, with both requiringpackaging that emphasises the good-for-you aspect and natural qualities of thegoods therein. Therefore packaging isdrawing on more natural branding,incorporating vibrant earthy images andrecycled materials to appeal to thisgrowing subset of consumers and thebroadening mainstream appeal. Manyproducts will display various eco-friendlyclaims, such as being made of materialsfrom sustainable sources, or free-rangeand organic claims. Smart phones have forever changed theway that we interact with our food.Where once going out for a meal andphotographing your plate was the preserveof hipsters and tech savvy millennials, it’sPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/VLADIMIR NENEZIC34 Á32-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:10 Page 234 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netINNOVATIONS IN PACKAGINGCroxsons create distinctive primarypackaging for artisan gin newcomerLeading glass packaging company Croxsons has produced a distinctive new bottle product for theHouse of Elrick, a newcomer to the premium spirits market.Producing just 600 bottles per batch, the House of Elrick is located on an historical estate inAberdeenshire and is the only artisan small batch gin producer that uses fresh, filtered water straightfrom Loch Ness.In creating the primary packaging, Croxsons used the luxurious look and feel of the 700ml LittlePasha bottle, a design created and produced exclusively by specialist manufacturers, Saverglass.The bottle was then sprayed in a matt blue finish and screen printed with silver ink for a unique anddistinctive appeal. In addition to the 700ml version, which is due to be released prior to Christmas, Croxsons are alsoworking with Saverglass on new capacity options including a miniature 50ml and a 350ml version ofthe same artwork. For more information, visit www.croxsons.com.now expected and encouraged.Restaurants and other establishments areactively making food that appeals on avast sensory level, with its visual portfoliomore important than ever. One need lookno further than the ‘freakshake craze’taking the world by storm, or the myriadrainbow coloured products flooding socialmedia. These crazes may be fleeting, but itproves the power of smart phones and theimportance that we live in an integrated,interactive and incredibly visuallyorientated time. Packaging that strikes achord with consumers and has strongaesthetic qualities can become a viral hitwhich can translate as huge exposure for acompany – advantageous especially withthe launch or re-brand of a product. Perhaps the culmination of these twodisruptors is the rise of snacking andgrazing in favour of the traditional threemeals a day, otherwise known as‘snackification’. Modern living meanssnacking is now more popular than ever,but due to its prevalence and the growinginterest in healthy living, consumers wantaltogether better-for-you snacks. Giventhat the consumption of crisps and36 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ROMAN RYBALEOV32-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:10 Page 31 & 2 MARCH 2017 | NEC BIRMINGHAMINSPIRINGIDEAS &INNOVATION» New exhibitors » New solutions » New feature areasGO TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS2017 | NEC BIRMINGHAMew solutions »New feature areasBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS1 & 2 MARCH 2»New exhibitors NGO TO OUR WEOrganised byREGISTER NOW qqwww.easyfairs.com/Label&PrintUKwww.easyfairs.com/PIUKwww.easyfairs.com/EmpackUK REGISTER FREE TODAY32-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:10 Page 436 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netINNOVATIONS IN PACKAGINGNational Flexible’s grab baggrabs attentionNational Flexible had several new packaging formats on show at the PackagingInnovations Exhibition but were surprised when most visitors simply wanted to talk about thenew flowwrap grab bag. It was undoubtedly the star of the show.The pack is formed using standard flow wrapping machinery with few modifications. It isessentially film on the reel which dramatically reduces the labour costs associated withpacking by hand, whilst also improving manufacturing efficiencies at speeds of up to 30packs per minute.Currently available in a paper or lacquered finish, the film has no pre-creasing and the window aligns 100% every time. Extra benefits of this thinnerfilm are that it not only saves packaging waste but gives perfect ‘on shelf pack presentation.’ The combination of this upright laminate pack, on anautomated machine has already been recognised as a breakthrough for sandwich pack manufacture and presentation. For more information, visit www.nationalflexible.co.uk. biscuits etc. are down, this segment is farfrom a minority. Ready meals and other conveniencefoods are also undergoing a radicaltransformation as consumers shift fromthe typical MSG-laden, salt, sugar andsaturated fat fare to healthier alternatives.Savvy manufacturers have been usinggraphic design to disassociate the newwave of healthier convenience offeringsfrom their forerunners to much success.With the emphasis on fresher, morenatural ingredients, the extension andpreservation of shelf life has taken centrestage. To help lengthen shelf life andprotect the goods inside, somemanufacturers have taken to using a foillayer. Clear rigid plastic is also becomingprominent so as to showcase the product’snatural qualities rather than relying on apotentially misleading shot on thelabelling. The evolution of food products, aswe’ve seen, influences the design andfunctionality of the packaging thatcontains it. When it comes to snackingand, more commonly, people eating on-the-go, resealable packages have become38 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KPG PAYLESS232-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:10 Page 5T. Freemantle Ltd is the UK Market Leading manufacturer of Cartoning and Sleeving equipment. The equipment is simple, robust and reliable and proven to be easy to operate, simple to maintain with a fast unskilled size change. From simple manually operated machinery through to fully automac high speed systems, we have a machine to suit almost every cartoning and sleeving applicaon. We have the full range of equipment on show at our UK demonstraon facility and invite you to try the machines out for yourself. The UK Market LeaderSpecialists in Sleeving Experts in Cartoning Call us on 01724 276908 Email the sales team at sales@tfreemantle.com 32-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:10 Page 638 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netINNOVATIONS IN PACKAGINGInnovia’s wrap rage solutionsInnovia Films isexpanding itsportfolio ofpeelable BiaxiallyOrientedPolypropylene(BOPP) films withPropafilm™ RCPnow available in 52and 60 microns.This significantlyproven, easy-to-open foodpackaging filmrange now includesheavy duty, highbarrier and snap wrap options. Amaia Cowan, Product Manager - Speciality Packaging Films, said: “Brandowners are waking up to the fact that easy-open is increasingly becoming a majorpurchase consideration for consumers, especially those with reduced dexterity.We have listened to consumers who often complain about the difficulty of gettinginto conventional packaging. Our easy-to-open packaging range makes their lifethat little bit easier. Rest assured, these films continue to protect the products theywrap while providing an enhanced product experience.”The acrylic coating ensures a broad sealing range, which enables a widepackaging operating window and good machinability in all standard formats: flowwrap, VFFS or overwrap.For more information, visit www.innoviafilms.com.more important. A resealable packet is commonplace acrossthe retail sector, but it wasn’t always so. Now, however, it’sa selling point, used to pique consumer interests whenportability can be used as a viable selling point. Smallerhouseholds, longer working hours and the need forconvenience have all paved the way for flexible, resealablepackaging and the market is becoming flooded with suchsolutions. Lighter weight trays are also proving beneficial,both logistically and sustainably. As the material weighs lessthan traditional packs, less fuel is expended in its transport.By the same logic, adopting smaller packs means more canbe fitted on a pallet, shipping container or truck. Sugar levels aside, perhaps the most presiding concern forthe food industry is waste. The issue, of course, is a complexone and no one party is to blame. Food packaging, however,does have a key role to play in alleviating the issue. Beingable to reseal a packaged good means that consumers will beless inclined to throw what remains in the bin.Packaging is so much more than the sum of its parts. Itexists in duality with the goods inside to convey a messageand spark a connection with consumers. And like theproduct it contains, packaging is never static and willcontinue to evolve as trends change and the need for moresustainable, innovative and exciting packaging grow. 32-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:10 Page 7Food & Drink International 39www.fdiforum.netINNOVATIONS IN PACKAGINGSweet success for M&H andTangerine ConfectioneryWhether youngor old, you aresure to know someof the iconic sweetbrands TangerineConfectionery havein their books. ThePontefract-basedcompany producesome of the UK’sfavourite sweets,including the muchloved Dip Dab,Refreshers andWham bar.So whenTangerine decidedto expand its new Sweet Champions range into a seasonal sharingtub, they knew they needed packaging reflecting the fun nature of thesweets inside. This is where M&H Market Rasen, part of the RPCGroup of companies, provided its expertise in injection moulding.Using its in-mould labelling capabilities, M&H Market Rasenproduced a Polypropylene tub which is vibrant, colourful andexceptionally detailed. The new tub also features a flush fitting tamperevident lid, allowing it to be easily re-used.Emma Stanbury of Tangerine Confectionery said: “M&H were ableto fulfil our requirements with a fast turnaround, producing vibrantpackaging that we are sure our customers will really love.”For more information, visit www.mhplastics.com.Aptar providespremiumpackaging forNestle ProfessionalAptar Food + Beverage was selected by Nestle Professional todevelop a new premium flip top closure for the redesign of itspackaging for the NESCAFÉ® out of home portfolio. NestleProfessional’s new premium metal tin features a slimmer, elongatedsquare / round, or “sqround” shape, complete with a custom flip-topclosure by Aptar Food + Beverage.Additional benefits of the closure include an intuitive fingerrecess, an audible ‘click’ when closed to ensure proper closing toseal in the flavour. The closure also has a ‘peel-off function’ for easyremoval after use which enables separation of materials forrecycling. The lid of the closure provides added convenience as itwill remain open during use for ease of access to the coffee granules. Consumer feedback shows that the new NESCAFÉ® packaging iseasier to lift and pour and is more hygienic as the closure stays onthe container and does not touch the countertop. The new packaging has also optimised logistics and storage as thenew shape allows for easier packaging and transporting and fitsbetter on shelves, both in the store and at home. Flip-top closures by Aptar Food + Beverage are also ideal forapplication fields such as infant formula, dry foods, snacks andcereals, vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as granulate andpowder additives. Aptar Food + Beverage is a part of the AptarGroup family ofcompanies, along with Aptar Beauty + Home and Aptar Pharma. For more information,visit www.aptar.comPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/WK1003MIKE32-39_Layout 1 22/11/2016 11:10 Page 8Next >