Processing & Packaging

08-Jul-2010 - SABMiller has introduced a series of projects and schemes in a new sustainability report as it aims to reduce emissions on beer by 50 per cent by 2020, cut water use a quarter by 2015, and take advantage of lightweight packaging.

Guala boosts Eastern Europe presence with Danik takeover

08-Jul-2010 - Guala Closures Group has said its takeover of Bulgarian company Danik had been carried out as part of its expansion strategy in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

SPECIAL EDITION: SHELF LIFE

Fraunhofer develops nano-thin coating to enhance shelf life

07-Jul-2010 - A breakthrough technology that coats polymer films with an ultra-thin clear barrier layer to enhance product shelf-life has been unveiled by the Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology.

Special Edition: Shelf Life

CO2 process could herald new dawn for heat sensitive liquids

06-Jul-2010 - Carbon dioxide (CO2) under pressure could rise to the top in terms of alternatives to conventional heat treatments for liquids but must be used in unison with stress inducers such as modified atmosphere packaging and lower pH to render microbes ineffective and extend shelf life, claim researchers.

Lightweighting and cost saving potential as Mocon upgrades WVTR line

05-Jul-2010 - Converters and manufacturers will be able to measure the real-life performance of packaging barrier products with greater speed and accuracy thanks to an enhanced water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) instrument, said Mocon Inc.

News in brief

EU glass federation appoints new president

05-Jul-2010 - The EU association for container glass, FEVE, has elected Ardagh Glass CEO Niall Wall as its new president.

Soft drinks firm labels Coca-Cola's production plant 'a disgrace'

02-Jul-2010 - Andrew Cawthray, boss of soft drinks maker Cawingredients, has challenged competitors' commitment to efficient, eco-friendly processing.

Which? picks holes in tea bag biodegradability

02-Jul-2010 - Tea bags sold in the UK are only 70 to 80 per cent biodegradable, according to a report published by Which? - a consumer rights watchdog.

New angled x-ray beam targets blind spots in glass and metal containers

02-Jul-2010 - Mettler Toledo said its new beverage inspection system can meet high speed filling requirements, and includes new beam geometry to ensure beverage makers are regulatory compliant.

News in brief

Rexam expands US bottle, jar closure plant

28-Jun-2010 - Rexam is to expand its closure operations at one US plant as it announced plans to create 150 new jobs by the end of the year.

Tetra Pak and Ball Corp showcase eco-initiatives

25-Jun-2010 - Packaging giants Tetra Pak and Ball Corporation both underlined their green credentials as they presented new sustainability initiatives.

Sidel unveils game-changing heat-shrink and roll-fed labeller

23-Jun-2010 - A unique two-in-one sleeving and roll-fed labelling system offers significant cost and material savings, flexibility and a quick return on investment, said manufacturer Sidel.

Elopak secures FSC certification for key European sites

17-Jun-2010 - Having just obtained FSC chain-of-custody (CSC) certification at its main European sites, Elopak is now taking on the higher hurdle of worldwide certification.

Brazilian carton plant to meet aseptic demand growth - SIG

14-Jun-2010 - SIG Combibloc has unveiled plans to invest €90m in a giant packaging plant in Brazil as it seeks to tap into an explosion in demand for aseptic carton packs in South America over the next few years.

Aluminium beverage can recycling trends upwards

08-Jun-2010 - Aluminium beverage can recycling in Europe increased to 63 per cent, according to the latest figures from a leading trade association.

Bosch unveils flexible and integrated packaging system on market demand

08-Jun-2010 - Increasing customer demand for integrated and flexible systems were the drivers behind developing new vertical flat pouch equipment for packing a range of free-flowing goods including granulates and powders, said Bosch Packaging Technology.

Hydrohermetic seal boosts beverage separator performance

07-Jun-2010 - High throughput capacity, versatility and a special feature to enhance gentle handling of product are benefits of a new separator for clarifying wine, grape must and fruit juice, said manufacturers GEA Westphalia.

Anti-dumping PET ruling could push prices up for European converters

03-Jun-2010 - A European Union proposal to impose import duties on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) shipments from Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to result in cost increases for European converters, said Brussels.

X-ray transparent belt boosts performance on contaminant detection lines

03-Jun-2010 - X-ray transparency and added durability are benefits of a new conveyor belt that helps improve performance for contaminant detection in glass containers on food and pharmaceutical lines, said Mettler Toledo Safeline.

Special Edition: Nanotechnology

Nano risk assessment a work in progress

02-Jun-2010 - The risk assessment framework for nanotechnology in Europe – like so much else connected to the technology – appears to be in its infancy but developing at a rapid pace.

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.

Europe facing rPET supply gaps – recycling body

01-Jun-2010 - European packaging converters could be facing gaps in supply of recycled PET (rPET) as a perfect storm of soaring exports to the Far East combined with other market conditions has hit material availability, warned one trade body.

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

Special edition

Markets: Nanotech food struggles to graduate from the lab

28-May-2010 - Nanotechnology has been a buzz word in the food industry for years but that has done little to turn ideas in a lab into commercially viable innovations.