In some African countries milk is packaged in bags. The bags go into a jug and into the fridge. Cut off the corner of the bag and the milk can be poured via the jug. "It's their equivalent of the milk bottle, if you like," says Chris Bolton, sales and operations director at PFM Packaging Machinery.

For many consumers, canned foodstuffs are a fifties stalwart - long-lasting and reliable, but a little bit dull. Unsurprising then, that with the current focus on fresh and healthy, shoppers' perception of canned products is as inferior to other convenience foods. But canned foods manufacturers are fighting back, with new shapes, convenient openings, and even alternative packaging to the traditional can.

Walkers Snack Foods has installed three new Schubert automated robotic packaging systems for packing crisps at its factories in the Midlands and the North East.

Redpack Packaging Machinery has supplied an innovative, purpose-designed packing line for wrapping individual chocolate-covered cereal bars at a well-known manufacturer of nutritional foods based in Northamptonshire.

Detection of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, even those with thin walls and complex shapes, is easy now with the new E3ZM-B sensors from Omron Electronics. Combining innovative feedback and sensing technologies, the new retro-reflective sensors are easy to set up, and operate reliably without the need for regular adjustment, even in areas where dust and other contaminants are present.

The Brady IP printer system is a new thermal transfer printing system that safeguards against illegible or faded labelling caused by the incorrect combination of label material and ink.

A range of large format intermittent and continuous thermal transfer printers has been introduced by Allen Coding Systems. Offering maximum production flexibility with increased print speeds, the new systems are ideal for food companies that require large-area printing directly on to bags.

After the insolvency of the UK based Bradman-Lake Group companies and the subsequent sale of the businesses in October 2007, the management of the Bradman-Lake in Germany decided to spin off and to form an independent packaging technology organisation, 3S Packaging Technology.

After rigorous tests, Serious Desserts has chosen Riggs Autopack to supply 10 single-head depositors for the manufacture of its chilled desserts brand range.