Processing & Packaging

19-Aug-2010 - Kraft Foods is reaching out to industry and academic partners to find a packaging technology that will protect chocolate bars from melting.

Products carrying “may contain” allergen labels often contaminated, finds study

13-Aug-2010 - Consumers allergic to milk, egg or peanut should not ignore “may contain” labels – as they are often contaminated with the stated allergen – much more so than those that make no claim, new research suggests.

New OPP wrap for figurines claimed to ensure EU compliance

12-Aug-2010 - A new thin polypropylene film layer that coats retro gravure inks can provide a barrier coating between the printed material and confectionery products, said its developer, the Slovakian packaging firm Moneta.

Special Edition - Plant Efficiency

EMS offers food processors benefits and challenges

03-Aug-2010 - Environmental management systems (EMS) can be a good tool for food processors looking to achieve the twin goals of improved productivity and corporate responsibility.

New microwave spectrometer brings in-line excellence to processing

03-Aug-2010 - A new in-line guided microwave spectrometer cuts costs and downtime, while boosting the speed and accuracy of measuring a raft of key food product properties, said Thermo Fisher Scientific.

SPECIAL EDITION - PLANT EFFICIENCY

Should anaerobic digestion plants be on the menu for food processors?

02-Aug-2010 - The financial and eco-benefits of investing in anaerobic digestion (AD) technology to generate energy from food waste is something that all processors should be considering, said InSource Energy.

Special Edition: Plant Efficiency

Consultant reveals the secrets behind water efficiency

30-Jul-2010 - Food and drink processors can achieve savings of up to 30 per cent on their water and effluent bills without even having to resort to major capital investments.

Special Edition: Plant efficiency

Computer modelled heat recovery could slash processors' energy bills

29-Jul-2010 - In the first part of a special edition on plant efficiency, we look at the results of a recently published Australian project, which found that a combination of computer modelling and dehydrator redesign can cut energy bills in half in dried fruit manufacture.

Ageing food factories suffer electrical problems

26-Jul-2010 - Electrical problems at ageing food factories are a principal cause of almost 20% of industry property losses, according to insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT).

New depositors follow confectionery sector resurgence, says Baker Perkins

20-Jul-2010 - An increase in the amount of new product development in Europe and the US was the trigger behind two confectionery machinery launches that provide increased capacity and a greater range of layers, centre-filling and inclusion applications, claims Baker Perkins.

Bosch Packaging pinpoints Asia as future growth engine

15-Jul-2010 - Bosch Packaging has identified Asia as a key engine for future growth as its chief announced its international presence had helped the firm to “stand our ground in the global market place” during a tough 2009.

HPP can boost consistency of poor quality gum arabic, study

02-Jul-2010 - Treatment by high pressure processing (HPP) was seen to enhance the consistency of both ‘poor’ and ‘good’ quality gum arabic, finds new research from two UK universities.

News in brief

Upgrade to eco-packaging measurement tool

30-Jun-2010 - An upgraded version of a computer programme that measures the carbon footprint of packaging has been released.

Russia and Ukraine choc sales fuelling Theegarten growth

17-Jun-2010 - Confectionery wrapping machine supplier Theegarten Pactec claims Russia and the Ukraine have been the fundamental growth drivers for the firm over the past three years, citing greater affluence and increasing demand for Western style products in the region.

New eco white film for premium confectionery

10-Jun-2010 - UK cellulose acetate film supplier Clarifoil has produced a new ultra-gloss white film for luxury confectionery packaging to meet the demand for differentiation in this category.

Aerial conveyor said to ensure efficient handling of fragile goods

07-Jun-2010 - A single point of transfer from loading to discharge is claimed to make the new multi-axis, overhead Gough Elecon bucket conveyor and elevator system suitable for applications requiring gentle handling in bakery and confectionery manufacturing.

Special Edition: Nanotechnology

Food sector and R&D need to chew the nano fat for wider take-up: analyst

01-Jun-2010 - The benefits for nano-packaging, showing how it can overcome current food and drink industry challenges in terms of shelf life, distribution or sustainability, need to become more apparent in order to ensure widespread commercial implementation, says an industry insider.

SPECIAL EDITION: NANOTECHNOLOGY

Is the food processing industry poised to embrace nanocoatings?

31-May-2010 - Nanocoatings on food processing equipment hold huge potential for boosting safety and performance but lingering doubts and cost concerns among industry players are hampering take up, said an expert

Confectionery wrapper said to meet rapid changeover demands

24-May-2010 - Meeting confectionery and cosmetic industry demand for flexibility and reliability in wrapping large pack formats, UK firm Marden Edwards said its new semi-automatic tooling system is also suitable for small batch runs.

Researchers claim novel method to boost polyphenol levels in cocoa products

19-May-2010 - A wet heat treatment process that avoids the cocoa fermentation and roasting steps produces polyphenol-rich cocoa powder, claims a Spanish study.

Moneta develops new nanotech foil and waxed paper confectionery wraps

11-May-2010 - A new nanotechnology based coating for aluminium film can be used to wrap chocolate figurines and is currently being trialled with a Polish confectionery manufacturer, claims its Slovakian developer.

News in brief

Loma's metal detection technology wins UK award

11-May-2010 - A metal detector range from Loma Systems won the Technical Development award at the UK’s Food Processing Awards.

Near infrared detection system beats X-ray blind spots

06-May-2010 - A breakthrough non-ionising food defect detection system that identifies the presence of materials in foodstuffs that are normally transparent to X-rays is reliable, fast and versatile, said the UK company behind the development.

SPECIAL EDITION - SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Investment in sustainable packaging essential, says study

03-May-2010 - Producers must ensure packaging is more sustainable as customers remain convinced that food packing is excessive and are altering their consumption patterns as a result, warns research from Datamonitor.

Pack designed to reduce chewing gum litter, claims developer

03-May-2010 - A paper dispenser on packaging designed for a new chewing gum launch aids more responsible disposal of the product, claims its UK based developer.