< Previouswww.fdiforum.net 30 ambient air, and the chilled temperature within a cold store. The greatest benefit of these systems is not just the ability for the air curtain to minimise energy loss through temperature contamination, but also to allow continual access for any workers. There is no door to be opened or closed, and the curtain is safe for workers to travel through as they deliver and remove palletised goods. Not only does this improve general efficiency within the cold store, but it also enables rooms to be kept at varying temperatures – important when a facility might have to cater for a wide range of food products that require different refrigerated temperature levels. Of course, there is more to efficiently running a temperature-controlled storage facility than plugging up the entrances. Managing stock within the distribution centre can become increasingly more complex, as the temperatures are kept lower. For instance, machinery and systems that rely on battery power can come under risk, as continued exposure to the cold has a negative impact on batteries – typically resulting in fifty per cent degradation to battery life. This can become a larger concern with the move towards electric lift trucks and fork-lifts, which can see vehicles running out of power at inopportune moments. When it comes to workers within these facilities, there is also a host of new concerns and problems to be aware of, many of which will require some remedial training for companies moving employees to cold store facilities. In the above example of electric vehicles, staff need to be made aware that a vehicle which is marked down as having an eight-hour battery life might struggle to manage more than four or five. Changing the labelling on these vehicles can go a long way to preventing problems, alternatively investing in batteries with larger voltages can help minimise the problems. 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:49 Page 3www.fdiforum.net TEMPERATURE CONTROL 31 Rotronic AwTherm Rotronic Instruments (UK) Ltd Crompton Fields, Crompton Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9EE. Tel: +44 (0)1293 571000 Email: instruments@rotronic.co.uk Web: www.rotronic.co.uk Company profile: Rotronic is a global company manufacturing instruments for the precise measurement of water activity, humidity, moisture, temperature, CO2 and differential pressure. Rotronic devices are specified throughout the food and other industries. Experienced engineers can provide measurement solutions for any application. Rotronic has UKAS / ISO 17025 accreditation for Temperature, Humidity and Dew Point laboratory calibration. Product profile: Rotronic manufactures water activity analysers to determine the free moisture within food products - a good indicator of product stability and shelf life. Controlling the moisture present improves product quality. Analysers provide measurements in typically less than five minutes. The wide product range includes the AwTherm analyser with full temperature sample control; the HygroLab laboratory analyser for up to four probes, handhelds for making spot-checks and a PC-based solution which is ideal when visiting suppliers’ sites. The sensors can be calibrated to confirm performance. Full technical product information is available on the website. The goal with temperature control in the warehousing industry is almost always to prevent leakage of controlled temperature, while also adopting the workforce and equipment to work within the changed conditions. But what about the transport side of things, which is naturally the biggest chink in the temperature-controlled armour. Refrigerated vans and lorries have been common sights for many years, yet they’ve rarely been able to match up to the safety and control of a dedicated storage facility itself. Simply put, the technology has not been in place to bring the same kind of safeguards a warehouse has, into a vehicle. But that’s not to say companies aren’t innovating in this direction, with some interesting results and implications for the future. © stock.adobe.com/adisa 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:49 Page 4www.fdiforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 32 A rguably the first priority in conducting any environmental management analysis is to start with the wider supply chain before macroing in on specifics. Though supply chain management should be undertaken by food and beverage businesses as standard, it’s been obvious over the last few years with the startling revelations of slavery in the supply chain that producers and supplies still have a long way to go. A sector which is currently undergoing a transformation in this regard is cocoa. The biggest players in this field – including Nestlé, Mondelez International, and Cargill – are all currently involved in initiatives to make the cocoa supply chain securer, more transparent and sustainable. This is being accomplished through monitoring and reporting and the deployment of technologies such as GPS, digital payments and smart sensors improving farmer livelihoods, combating deforestation and boosting traceability and transparency. One of the most carbon intensive areas of any company’s supply chain is transport and distribution, and so improvements here must be a critical part of any environmental management. Simple solutions, such as more efficiently designed packaging to allow more to be loaded into a single shipment, can have a big impact. However, reducing these emissions is not only simple a case of swapping one fleet out for another, as many of the alternatives to fossil-fuel powered transportation are no way near close to taking over. Hybrid and electric vehicles have become more commonplace, with major food and beverage players adopting them into their fleet, but they aren’t without their setbacks. Aside from the initial investment involved, perhaps the biggest downsides to these vehicles is charge time, the distance they can travel on a single charge and the amount and accessibility of charging infrastructure. Although stopping to refuel adds time to a journey, it is a relatively quick process compared with charging an electric vehicle. As the technology currently stands, batteries take time to charge, time where a truck or van is spent doing nothing while food and beverage products sit idle in the back. It’s worth noting, however, that battery and charging technology is constantly Responding to the crisis Reducing environmental waste and greener business has been a buzzword for years but a warmer climate and governmental pushes toward Net Zero emissions is finally making it a reality. 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:49 Page 1www.fdiforum.net 33 improving and charge times, especially, continue to fall. Despite these advances, a lack of charging infrastructure remains an issue. While charge points are becoming more familiar sights across towns, cities and service stations, it’s hardly the rival of petrol stations. Although the government has invested in infrastructure, we’re a long way off a tipping point where electrical vehicles overtake petrol and diesel. Although electric and hybrid vehicles aren’t a feasible solution for many companies looking to make their fleets more sustainable, they do present an ideal opportunity for last mile logistics. This refers to the last leg of the journey, where products leave the final warehouse or distribution and are delivered to stockists, suppliers and retailers. Typically taking place in urban areas, electric vehicles are ideally suited to fulfil this crucial final step – helping to reduce a company’s total emissions output. Focussing on a company’s in-house operations now, and one of the biggest changes is the integration of renewable energy into the manufacturing process. More and more companies are signing virtual power purchase agreements, in which a company agrees to purchase power at a negotiated price from a wind or solar project over a predetermined number of years. Elsewhere, companies are installing solar panels at their own sites to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Another area where companies can focus their environmental efforts is in the avoidance of food waste during manufacturing. There will always be some © stock.adobe.com/EwaStudio 34 Á 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:49 Page 2www.fdiforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 34 wastage involved in the production of food and beverage products, but this can be minimised by designing the production process in such a way where lost product is incorporated back in the mix or production line. Examples where companies have done just this include pasta production and the depositing of pre-grated cheese onto pizzas. For food that is wasted, or falls on the factory floor, an alternative to landfill is anaerobic digestors which, in turn, produces renewable biogas. Although food and drink makers are required by law to ensure their machinery, equipment and operations are kept clean and hygienic, there’s also the environment to consider. Of course, industrial cleaning products are often themselves harmful to the environment, but water usage is one of the biggest issues here. According to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), cleaning can account for as much as seventy per cent of a site’s entire water usage. This brings additional costs such as labour, downtime, lost materials, cleaning chemicals, and extra energy expended for heating and pumping. Optimisation requires a change in cleaning routine that, over time, will not only help to slash water supply bills, but also reduce the volume of concertation in effluent. There’s a chain of thought that claims a reduction in water compromises hygiene requirements. But this simply isn’t true, with a number of ways of minimising water usage whilst also maintaining hygiene levels and, in some cases, even improving them. Minimising wastewater should be a priority to food and beverage companies, not just in terms of cleaning, but right across the supply chain. In many cases, wastewater is simply outsourced to a processing plant or treatment facility, but now the onus is not on how best to dispose of wastewater, but how best to put it to use. But before this wastewater can be fed back into the supply chain, it first needs to undergo a vigorous process (or several processes) to purify and filter it. The most ubiquitous technologies in 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:49 Page 3www.fdiforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 35 The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology Experts in solving bulk materials handling problems Consultancy services and training related to: H System Design H Material Characterisation H Storage and Discharge H Product Quality H Abrasion and Wear H Pneumatic Conveying H Product Feeders H Expert Witness H Particle Breakage H and many more Providing cost effective solutions to industrial problems bulksolids.com +44 20 8331 8646 wolfson‐enquiries@gre.ac.uk achieving this are distillation, absorption, electrolysis, reverse osmosis, and filtration – the latter of which is the most commonly used thanks to its cost-effective nature and overall reliability. Yet treating and purifying wastewater with ultraviolet (UV) light boasts longevity, efficiency, affordability and eco-friendly credentials. Unlike some of the other solutions available, UV is an environmentally-friendly alternative and results in no disinfection by-products. Moreover, its electrical needs are low, meaning it can run constantly. It has even been proven to deactivate all the microorganisms attributed to spoilage. Environmental management is a critical undertaking for food and beverage businesses, but there’s no one single approach, but rather, it’s important to adopt a multi-faceted exploration of the supply chain, from end to end, to identify areas where improvements must be made. 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:49 Page 4www.fdiforum.net 36 November 2 – 3 Easyfairs Lab Innovations, NEC Birmingham, UK At the show, the industry will meet to launch its products and innovations to the UK’s leading gathering of lab professionals, suppliers and manufacturers. Lab professionals across all sectors will be able to discover sustainable lab initiatives, secure the latest tech, join exciting free conferences to earn CPD points and explore new ways of future-proofing labs. Supported by some of the UK’s top science institutions, it is a key event for powering the business of science. For more visit www.lab-innovations.com November 21 - 24 All4Pack, Paris Nord Villepinte, France Held every two years, ALL4PACK is the go-to trade fair for 66,000 professionals, who congregate to discover in its aisles the innovative and sustainable packaging solutions provided by 1300 exhibitors and brands. Its next edition, which will take place in 2022, is the opportunity to add another chapter to the story. Today the exhibition is tasked with supporting professionals in facing up to an unprecedented revolution and taking on the new ecological challenges forced upon them. For more visit www.all4pack.com November 23 – December 8 Online December 6 – 8, in person Fi Europe, Online or in Paris Fi Europe is the world’s largest gathering of F&B ingredient buyers and suppliers. Whether you’re looking to boost brand awareness, generate new leads, review the latest product innovations, or showcase yourself as a thought leader in your field, then this event is not-to-be-missed. For more visit www.figlobal.com/fieurope/en/home.html January 25 – 26 Paris Packaging Week, France At Paris Packaging Week, the world’s most renowned beauty, luxury drinks and FMCG brands have access to the packaging and materials suppliers and ideas that will shape the future of their projects. This event is a great opportunity for brands to meet suppliers, find the latest packaging solutions and solve their biggest innovation challenges - from sustainability and smart packaging to premiumisation and the latest design trends. For more visit www.parispackagingweek.com/en January 25-26, London Packaging Week, UK Being part of an industry as fluid and dynamic as packaging, it pays to keep your finger on the pulse. For 2022, you’ll find a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, design, materials and branding. From the suppliers to the seminars, innovation will be key, with over one hundred exhibitors and an extensive range of Q&As, panel discussions, case studies and debates. You’ll hear from the packaging experts at the biggest brands and agencies. For more visit www.londonpackagingweek.com February 8 – 10 Fruit Logistica, Berlin, Germany FRUIT LOGISTICA covers every single sector of the fresh produce business and provides a complete picture of the latest innovations, products and services at every link in the international supply chain. It thus offers superb networking and contact opportunities to the key decision-makers in every sector of the industry. For more visit www.fruitlogistica.com/en February 15 – 16 Packaging Innovations, NEC Birmingham, UK Packaging Innovations & Empack 2023 will once again bring together the very best of the UK packaging and processing market. Key features include: Contract Pack & Fulfilment, in Events & Shows 36-37.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:50 Page 1www.fdiforum.net 37 © stock.adobe.com/Rastislav Sedlak SK 9-10 NOV 2022/KOELNMESSE/COLOGNE/GERMANY Create a world FREE from plastic waste 3,000+ VISITORS / 150+ EXHIBITORS / 130+ SPEAKERS REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR FREE VISITOR PASS OR EARLY BIRD CONFERENCE TICKET – SAVING €300*! www.plasticfree-world.com *Valid before 30 September 2022 collaboration with the BCMPA, bringing the best in UK contract packing, fulfilment, logistics and e- commerce services to the heart of the show. For more visit www.packagingbirmingham.com/the- events/packaging-innovations/ February 20 – 24 Gulfood, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE Gulfood underscores the UAE’s status at the forefront of sector change and leading the role in tackling global issues. Driving creativity and change, in February 2023, the 28th edition of Gulfood will continue to unite food and beverage communities around the world, and act as an industry trend springboard and a global sourcing powerhouse. For more visit www.gulfood.com April 24 – 26 Foodex Manufacturing Solutions Foodex will form part of The UK Food & Drink Shows uniting food development, grocery, manufacturing, specialist retail, wholesale and foodservice. The NEC Birmingham will be the focal point, where between 24-26 April 2023 Foodex will run alongside The Ingredients Show, Food & Drink Expo, National Convenience Show, Farm Shop & Deli Show and The Forecourt Show. For more visit www.foodex.co.uk October 5 - 6 Future Food, Dubai, UAE Following a successful second edition at Expo 2020 Dubai, this year’s event runs under the theme ‘Transforming the future of food and beverage manufacturing’, where global leaders will address the industry’s latest challenges, opportunities and future. The agenda focuses on the critical issues and opportunities in the food and beverage industry, grouped to follow a logical sequence across the two days. Speakers will be selected based on their thought leadership contribution and ability to present their subject in an inspirational and compelling manner. For more visit www.futurefoodseries.com 36-37.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:50 Page 2www.fdiforum.net CLASSIFIED 38 Pallets Gressenhall | Dereham | Norfolk | NR20 4DT | +44 (0)1362 861066 | www.premierpalletinverter.co.uk Wasterwater treatment Tel: +44 (0)1707 331111 info@welwyntoolgroup.co.uk www.welwyntoolgroup.co.uk ToolsSterlization ALWAYS A SOLUTION HOTWIND MISTRALVULCAN 3 Heat output & air volume steplessly adjustable with potentiometers 3 Integrated temperature controls 3 Integrated temperature probes 3 Protection against heating elements or devices overheating 3 Brushless power motors 3 Integrated power electronics Labels Nutrients & Neutralisers For all types of wastewater treatment Reduce operational costs Comply with trade effluent discharge regulations Improve overall plant performance www.omexenvironmental.com Email: environmental@omex.com Tel: 01553 770092 ENVIRONMENTAL @OMEXCompanies Scan the QR code to discuss your printed packaging & label requirements www.delgalabels.com Labels, but better. Printed Label Specialists Personalised & Variable Print Short & Long Print Runs Did you know we also do packaging? d e l g a . c o . u k Often imitated… …never equalled You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink. If you would like further information, please contact Vicky Hunt on +44 [0] 1472 310310, email v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk or visit www.fdiforum.net/directory From field to fork, Food & Drink International is the voice of the industry. Handling solutions 38.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:51 Page 1evolutionbps.co.uk Food Personal Care Household Chemical Pharmaceutical Beer Cider Wines & Spirits Liqueurs Water Soft Drinks Innovative Bottling & Packaging Solutions 39.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2022 14:11 Page 1Next >