Packaging equipment

The Village Bakery has installed two Fuji Alpha VII box motion flow-wrapping systems

Village Bakery installs flow wrappers

By Rick Pendrous

The Village Bakery in Wrexham has recently installed two additional Fuji Alpha VII box motion flow-wrapping systems from Paramount Packaging Systems in a move designed to increase efficiencies, reduce labour costs and ensure faster product changeover.

Bread basket stacking system

Bread basket stacking system on show at Gulfood

By Rick Pendrous

Bakery production system supplier Oddy, together with its parent Newsmith Stainless – a specialist in cleaning and handling equipment – will be displaying its capabilities at the Gulfood Manufacturing Exhibition, which takes place in Dubai this month...

Linx Printing Technologies' Linx 10 printer

Portable and compact continuous ink-jet printer

By Rick Pendrous

A compact and portable entry-level continuous ink-jet (CIJ) printer, that is capable of delivering high-quality two-line codes, was launched by Linx Printing Technologies at the PPMA Total show.

Fatalities at food and drink firms cause over the past year are reviewed in this gallery

Food firms: fatal injuries and prosecutions

By Gwen Ridler

Over the past year, more than 20 food and drink firms have been fined for health and safety failings. Four of these prosecutions were for fatalities.

System checks integrity of cans inline

System checks integrity of cans inline

By Rick Pendrous

InterVision Global has released the inline CanCheck inspection system for checking the integrity of food canning lines during manufacture.

The Fuji Vision system is mounted in the film-drive roller housing

Integrated vision comes into focus

By Paul Gander

The pressure on the food industry to align more with the automation, quality control, traceability and wider security standards of sectors such as pharmaceuticals appears to be feeding through, at least in the availability of integrated vision systems...

Bottle filling flexibility has been highlighted by Sidel

Carbonated drinks get filling flexibility

By Rick Pendrous

Bottle filling accuracy, along with production flexibility and sustainability are crucial for the packaging of carbonated soft drinks (CSD) in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), claims equipment supplier Sidel.

Pouch coding system meets growth in demand

PPMA Total Show 2016 preview

Pouch coding system meets growth in demand

By Rick Pendrous

A pouch feeding and coding system that can personalise codes at twice the speed of its existing kit, will be unveilled by Rotech.

Tesco poultry split-pack reduces waste

Tesco poultry split-pack reduces waste

By Rick Pendrous

Fresh food packaging manufacturer Linpac has teamed up with Tesco and chicken processor Cargill to launch a new split pack for poultry that addresses portion control and food waste concerns.

Ishida makes X-ray a focal point

PPMA Total Show 2016 Preview

Ishida makes X-ray a focal point

By Rick Pendrous

Models from Ishida Europe’s newly-launched X-ray range will form the centrepiece of the company’s stand at the show, which will also showcase the company’s abilities in multi-head weighing, tray sealing and checkweighing.

Packaging roll handling equipment on show

PPMA Total Show 2016 preview

Packaging roll handling equipment on show

By Rick Pendrous

Supplier of converting, packaging and printing equipment Jarshire will demonstrate handling equipment from Dotec. The highlight will be the new Dotec roll handler quick change concept.

Tata Steel was ordered to pay more than £2M for safety failings

Hand slice accidents cost packaging firm over £2M

By Gwen Ridler

A firm that manufactures steel for food packaging has been ordered to pay more than £2M for safety failings, after two workers suffered injuries to their hands in two separate incidents.

The first paper-only vertical form-fill-seal is claimed to boost processing speeds

Paper vertical form-fill-seal system aims for higher speeds

By Paul Gander

A new paper-only vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) technology for dry goods, able to produce both gable-top and ‘brick’-type sachets with dust-tight seals, is likely to expand further into windowed options and higher-speed machine versions.

Continuous inkjet printers get enhanced features

Continuous inkjet printers get enhanced features

By Rick Pendrous

Linx Printing Technologies has extended its recently-launched Linx 8900 CIJ (continuous inkjet) printer range with the introduction of two models, which further enhance their capabilities in the food and drink sectors.

Labeller can wrap around corners

Labeller can wrap around corners

By Rick Pendrous

Industrial printer supplier Videojet has launched a Corner Wrap applicator for its 9550 ‘print and apply’ labeller.

Combination food-to-go pack from Colpac

Combination 'food-to-go' packs now in smaller sizes

By Rick Pendrous

Packaging supplier Colpac has expanded its range of Combione packaging in direct response to foodservice and retail demand for more varied packaging sizes for the ‘food-to-go’ market.

World's lightest aluminium seafood can

World's lightest aluminium seafood can

By Rick Pendrous

Pioneering development work at Ardagh Group’s specialist aluminium can plant in Cuxhaven, north Germany, has resulted in the production of the world’s lightest aluminium seafood can.

CrownSmart DataMatrix codes can be used to protect firms against counterfeiting

Canned drinks: product differentiation more affordable

By Paul Gander

Various options for making a beverage can distinctive in terms of graphics, structure and additional features are becoming more affordable and will change the way brands differentiate themselves over the next few years, says metal packaging specialist...

‘When companies don’t comply, it’s usually a matter of ignorance’, said Elizabeth Shepherd

Regulations focus to avoid food industry non-compliance penalties

By Paul Gander

Government agencies are hoping that a redrafted version of the 2007 Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, incorporating subsequent amendments, will focus industry attention on the requirements and avoid the sometimes hefty...

Entry-level sleeve and carton coder is launched

Entry-level sleeve and carton coder is launched

By Rick Pendrous

The Celtic Bakers, a north London baker of hand-crafted breads, cakes and patisserie, has become one of the first users of Rotech’s new RF-Lite sleeve and carton coder.

Multi-page labels add more space

Multi-page labels add more space

By Rick Pendrous

Food labelling will become more complex from December 2016 when the latest requirements of the EU’s Food Information for Consumers Regulation come into force, making it mandatory for products to carry a nutrition declaration on the back of packs.

AVT has further developed its Machine Sentry condition monitoring system

Condition-based maintenance keeps kit rolling

By Rick Pendrous

The Machine Sentry condition monitoring (CM) system for rotating equipment from AVT Reliability has been further developed to enhance its condition-based maintenance (CBM) capability.

Expertise is needed to correctly interpret CM data that is collected

Condition monitoring needs hands-on diagnostic expertise

By Rick Pendrous

An overreliance on collecting condition monitoring (CM) data could be hampering maintenance teams in their quest to improve plant operational efficiency, industrial service provider Eriks UK has warned.

Questions from Food Manufacture’s lean and green webinar were answered by Jeremy Praud and Simon Spanyol

Lean webinar

Lean manufacturing: your questions answered

By Michael Stones

The Food Manufacture Group’s recent webinar – Lean and green manufacturing: realising world class potential – drew an audience of hundreds of food and drink industry professionals, who put more than 50 questions to our expert panel. Here we answer some...

Metal packaging has the capability ‘to be infinitely recyclable’, says William Boyd

Metal market ‘well-placed’ on innovation and environment

By Paul Gander

Metal’s ‘endlessly recyclable’ credentials, along with continued structural innovation, will become more important over the next few years according to director and chief executive of the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) William Boyd.

Food industry fires over the past six months are reviewed in this photogallery

Seven food manufacturing fires – in pictures

By Gwen Ridler

Fires, some linked to suspected arson, have continued to devastate food factories and other premises connected to the sector over the past six months. Here’s a quick photo tour of the affected businesses.

Serac in pre-printed plastic trial.

Bottles therformed from pre-printed plastic

By Rick Pendrous

An award winning thermoforming technology for polypropylene (PP) bottles used by the dairy sector has been further developed to allow manufacturers to make their bottles out of pre-printed plastic sheet materials.

Musculoskeletal disorders and skin conditions becoming an increasing concern

Food firms challenged by musculoskeletal disorders

By Alyson Magee

Occupational health is becoming an increasing focus for the food and drink manufacturing sector with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and respiratory and skin conditions of particular concern. Taking health and safety figures overall, the sector also...

Crisps to celebrate Leicester's crunch Premier League win

Leicester football win celebrated in crisps and rum

By Gwen Ridler

Snack food manufacturer Walkers has released special edition Salt & Victory crisps to mark Leicester City Football Club’s shock Premier League win, while Morgan Rum is to pay tribute to team captain Wes Morgan.

Multi-layer on-the-go cup from RPC Bebo Plastik.

Multi-layer on-the-go cup for iced coffee drink

By Rick Pendrous

RPC Bebo Plastik has developed a multi-layer on-the-go cup for a new ready-to-drink iced coffee sold by one of the fastest growing coffee shop brands in the world.

Biometric security can change the level of access dependent on an operators fingerprints.

Combination unit features biometric security

By Rick Pendrous

A biometric fingerprint access device has been added to Loma Systems’s range of CW3 combination metal detector and checkweigher units in response to customer demand for greater security of inspection equipment.

Natural milkshakes in Tetra Pak Prisma cartons

Natural milkshakes in Tetra Pak Prisma cartons

By Rick Pendrous

Newcastle drinks brand Canny is planning to revive the flavoured milk category with the launch of what it claims is the UK’s first 100% naturally-flavoured milkshake.