range of electric counterbalance forkliftsThese forklifts are designed to exceed your performance, robust durability and versatile tough shift patterns, demanding applications, you covered. Plus, our exceptional customer need, whenever you need it.
schedule a demo.
The Schmersal Group has designed a new safety light barrier especially for hygiene-sensitive uses in the food processing industry, such as milk and meat processing.
This version has evolved with the demands of standard cleaning operations in the industry as the sophisticated design helps to ensure IP69 degree of protection (protection against the ingress of water from high-pressure of steam cleaning).
The protective enclosure with external gaskets satisfies stringent standards and is designed to cope with frequent cleaning with water, foam, lyes, high-pressure or hot steam.
SCHMERSAL | Enigma Business Park Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 1GL
www.schmersal.co.uk
uksupport@schmersal.com
All our pilot/small production and R&D systems are listed here to buy or to rent.
We were first to publish in 19912001 mechanisms of PL sterilization/ purification and showed that the IPL effectiveness increases with both its pulse power w/cm² & its UV content to the point where bacteria & spores are fully disintegrated.
IPL fully sterilises clear liquids in transparent packs as it was proven on our standard IPL system by Baxter Corp. with UV resistant spores of B. Pumilos. We offer to develop your IPL applications or to customize our standard systems.
The PEF pilot on the left provides a high-indemand dual capability by 3 sets of processing chambers:
• coaxial PEF chamber for liquids with changeable gaps,
• colinear PEF chamber to form volume discharges in juices.
• 12L batch volume with controlled juice heating/cooling,
• flat PEF chamber with 14cm round ground and HV electrodes and a variable gap between both of 0.5-3cm. and broad fixed & gradually changed pulsing:
• positive rectangular pulses 2,5-50µs at 4Hz to 500Hz;
• el. fields 5-65kV/cm by our 25kV 2kW pulser;
• pulsing time 1s-1h,
• convenient LED lighted control panel.
Please click on its photo to get its pdf brochure.
The brochure of its small table-top version is here.
PEF sterilizes juices by 1 of 2 different processes: 1: by electrical stretching bacteria only up to its ruptures or 2: by creating volume el. discharges in a co-liner chamber where free electrons destroy both bacteria and spores.
Details: All requests please send at: info@wek-tec.de
wek-tec systems have benefits of the German manufacturing
Kadant PAAL contributes to limiting the environmental impact of recycling related transport activities by optimising the logistics of recycling. As each person has its own carbon footprint, saving natural resources is a necessity. Recycling or energy recovery from waste contributes to this essential economy. Increasing the loading weights of trucks reduces transportation and transport costs; increasing the weight of the bales allows you to reduce the consumption of bale ties; improving the performance of machines allows you to reduce energy consumption.
Kadant PAAL are working at a level to build a sustainable world; optimisation means using as few natural resources as possible while improving the financial profitability for customers. To achieve this, our equipment is designed to be efficient at every stage of its life. They are built to last and designed to be easily maintained or refurbished after use, to extend their life. Through
more than 160 years of experience, our company has learned each application is different. Each customer has their own working habits, each material grade is different, each outlet for ‘new raw materials’ has its own constraints. It would be inconceivable, both in terms of competitiveness and spare parts, to reinvent a baler for every application. On the other hand, it is not conceivable for us to offer the same baling press to each of our customers, when each need is truly different. This is why in the company’s PAAL range, we are constantly developing a wide range of standard equipment, to which they add referenced options to meet all our customers’ needs. Designing, developing, manufacturing and maintaining compacting solutions for the optimisation of handling, storage and transport for recycling. In the PAAL range, we design channel balers, twin ram balers, tin/aluminium can balers and all the accessories required for your operation. In the DICOM range, we design vertical balers, semi auto balers and compactors.
A decentralised after-sales service is structured to support users in the maintenance of equipment. We are an international company, providing access to services in more than 60 countries, and a local company, acting as close as possible to customers through Kadant PAAL Ltd in Alfreton, Derbyshire, UK.
www.kadantpaal.com
For over 40 years, BS Handling Systems has been delivering first-class warehouse, storage, and conveyor solutions across multiple sectors – with food and drink processing and packaging now among its fastest-growing markets. The company’s turnkey approach covers everything from conveyors, sortation, and racking to mezzanines, automation, and robotics, helping manufacturers optimise throughput, product handling, and hygiene standards.
At the heart of BS Handling Systems’ growth is a strong focus on automation. Strategic partnerships with Musketeers Capital and EAE Solutions have brought cuttingedge innovations to the UK, including autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and high-speed cross-belt sorters. For food and drink businesses, this means faster, more accurate order fulfilment and streamlined material flow, all whilst reducing manual handling
– essential in an industry where efficiency and product integrity are critical.
The company’s service-first ethos is evident from initial design through to installation and aftercare. Every project is tailored to the customer’s unique operational requirements, whether upgrading a packaging line or creating a fully automated distribution hub. Intelligent layouts, energy-efficient equipment, and modular designs are standard, supporting sustainability goals while allowing systems to adapt as needs change.
Labour shortages and growing demand for traceability are accelerating automation adoption across the sector. BS Handling Systems is helping food and drink manufacturers bridge these gaps by delivering systems that reduce
reliance on manual labour while maintaining flexibility. From palletising to carton sortation and clean-in-place-friendly conveyors, the company’s solutions are designed to meet both production and hygiene demands.
With a clear vision to be the UK’s most trusted partner for end-toend material handling solutions, BS Handling Systems continues to invest in talent, technology, and partnerships. For food and drink processors and packers, this means a partner who understands the challenges of the industry – and has the tools to turn them into opportunities.
For more information on how BS Handling Systems can support Food & Drink Operations, call +44 (0)116 289 4958 or email enquiries@bshandlingsystems.com
www.bshandlingsystems.com
.... to a fresh and innovative approach to turnkey solutions
In a world where supply chains are the invisible lifeline delivering food from farm to fork, the pressure on companies to have a compliant, food safety fit-for-purpose solution, increase efficiency, cut waste and boost sustainability has never been greater. Tosca, a global leader for 100% reusable and recyclable plastic packaging and pooling solutions, plays a crucial role in reshaping the modern food supply chain, ensuring that every meal begins with smarter logistics and ends with satisfied, sustainability-conscious consumers. From producers and processors to distributors and retailers, Tosca’s solutions touch every stage of the journey, supporting safer handling, reducing waste, and helping
businesses meet rising demands for performance and responsibility. In today’s food supply chain, the right packaging choices are proving more essential than ever.
“Tosca’s mission is to eliminate waste and unlock hidden value across the supply chain,” says Jurgen Van Roy, Vice President of Supply Chain. “From reducing packaging waste to increasing the durability and safety of assets, our model enables businesses to operate more sustainably while enhancing their operational performance.”
Today’s consumers care not only about what they eat but also about how it gets to their
table. Transparency, traceability and sustainability are no longer optional.
Tosca’s technology-driven solutions support these goals by enabling clear traceability of products and reducing food waste through more stable and hygienic load carriers. Marco Gonzalez, Managing Director of Central Europe Downstream, notes: “Customers want to know that their food is safe and sustainably sourced. Our reusable plastic pallets and crates are not only more durable and hygienic, but also designed to prevent damage and contamination. That’s critical for preserving food safety and quality.”
By helping retailers eliminate food waste resulting from damaged packaging or spoilage, Tosca plays
a crucial role in meeting ESG goals and reinforcing consumer trust. Whether it’s meat, dairy, produce, or packaged goods, Tosca provides customisable solutions that are aligned with each product’s unique needs and handling requirements.
Driving efficiency from the ground up
Food supply chains are complex, spanning thousands of kilometres and involving multiple stakeholders. At every link, Tosca’s packaging solutions provide an infrastructure that is both standardised and flexible, allowing retailers and producers to scale without compromising quality.
One of the clearest benefits of Tosca’s approach is its impact on logistics. By using foldable, stackable, and standardised assets, customers can significantly reduce transportation costs and maximise the use of truck space. More impressively, Tosca’s pooling system slashes “empty miles” – trips where trucks return with unused capacity.
Vincent Nagels, Managing Director of Upstream, points to a realworld case: “We had a customer in Denmark sending pallets to Spain, and instead of returning those
pallets empty, we now collect them locally and deliver them to another customer in Spain. This simple switch has led to a huge reduction in carbon emissions and transport costs.”
Tosca’s customers also benefit from improved asset visibility and inventory control. In markets such as Central Europe, where Tosca’s RFID and IoT technologies are already in place, customers have access to real-time tracking data that enhances pool transparency and reduces the need for buffer stock, lowering working capital requirements. This leads to greater predictability, fewer surprises, and more strategic planning. From passive RFID tracking to active IoT monitoring, Tosca’s asset tracking capabilities are designed to evolve with customer needs. The company continues to invest in these technologies as part of its broader commitment to smarter, more responsive supply chains.
Sustainability through circularity: Tosca’s closed-loop approach
Reusable packaging is inherently sustainable, but Tosca takes it a step further by embedding circular economy principles into every layer of its business. Instead of relying
on single-use packaging that ends up in landfills and drains resources, Tosca’s plastic-based assets are designed for durability, and when they reach the end of their usable life, they are recycled and reborn.
“Our entire model is circular,” says Jurgen Van Roy. “We collect assets, inspect them, repair if needed, and clean them thoroughly with foodapproved detergents. If an asset is beyond repair, it’s recycled and reintroduced into the system. No plastic is wasted, and the loop is fully closed.”
This closed-loop approach results in tangible environmental benefits. Tosca’s pooling model reduces packaging waste, cuts down carbon emissions, and helps customers comply with evolving legislation across Europe, such as the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
A powerful, complete solution across the supply
What sets Tosca apart is its ability to apply this circular approach across the entire supply chain, offering a complete, reusable packaging solution from producer to retailer that delivers both operational value and environmental benefits.
As Vincent Nagels explains, Tosca is vertically integrated, which means it manages all the value contributors across the entire supply chain. “We are uniquely able to combine our upstream and downstream products to create a powerful, effective returnable packaging for our customers, ranging from small-medium companies to one of the largest European FMCGs and retailers.”
Innovation is at the heart of Tosca’s identity. With a dedicated team focused on product design, material science and digital technologies, the company continues to push the boundaries of what reusable packaging can achieve.
“We’re not just reacting to change; we’re anticipating it,” says Jurgen Van Roy. “Our innovation team looks at how to improve the strength and durability of assets, how to make materials more sustainable, how to embed technology like tracking to create smarter, more responsive systems.”
Automation is another area where Tosca is anticipating evolving needs. As warehouses become increasingly automated, the consistency and reliability of plastic pallets become
critical. As Marco Gonzalez explains, “plastic load carriers are much more suitable because they maintain their shape, weight, and integrity across multiple uses, which is essential for reliable handling by machines and AI systems.”
Tosca’s value extends beyond products. At its core, the company operates as a strategic partner, working closely with customers to assess their needs, identify opportunities for efficiency, and develop long-term solutions. This collaborative approach sets Tosca apart in a crowded marketplace.
“Customers approach us because they see us as experts in reusable plastic packaging. They come to us for our insights. Whether it’s reducing costs, increasing food safety or adapting to new legislation, we work hand-in-hand to find the best way forward,” says Vincent Nagels
Laurent Le Mercier, EMEA President, concludes: “We value long-term relationships with everyone in the supply chain – from carriers and retailers to third-party wash centres and recyclers. It’s only through
close partnerships that we can continuously improve and evolve together.”
As the pressures on the global food supply chain grow, Tosca’s reusable packaging solutions become vital and transformative.
Tosca is a global leader in reusable plastic packaging and performance pooling solutions. Committed to driving sustainability and innovation across industries, Tosca focuses on supplying innovative packaging solutions for a wide variety of industries.
Tosca’s end-to-end pooling capabilities offer a smart and sustainable solution for growers, suppliers, and retailers. By utilising reusable containers and pallets, Tosca not only reduces costs but also enhances supply chain performance.
For further information about TOSCA, visit www.toscaltd.com
Consistent, high-quality extruded snacks
With more than 200 years of industry experience, we know your snack processing needs are as unique as you are. That’s why every solution from CPM is created just for you.
Learn more at OneCPM.com/food-processing
Rehne, CEO at Clasado Biosciences
Few trends have shaken up the functional beverage world quite like the rise of prebiotic sodas. The major brands in the space are seeing significant growth in the area, and are in the process of flipping the traditional soft drink script - swapping sugar for fibre and functional health benefits. It’s a perfect case study in how gut health has moved into the mainstream, and why consumers are demanding more from what’s in their bottle or can.
But what can we learn from it, and what might it tell us about where the functional drink category could head next? We believe the next wave of opportunity lies in a more established - and rapidly expanding - space: ready-to-drink (RTD) dairybased protein beverages. With the US RTD protein drinks market projected to more than double from $1.73 billion in 2024 to $3.23 billion by 2032 according to data from
intelligence firm SkyQuest, the category is ready for disruption.
Here’s why we think now is the right time for protein RTDs to learn from the prebiotic soda playbook, and how adding a clinically validated prebiotic like Bimuno® GOS could help brands redefine what “protein performance” really means.
Protein shakes are evolving… but so is consumer expectation
The RTD protein space is growing fast, driven by convenience, shifting dietary habits, and broader health consciousness. While protein remains a headline nutrient, consumers are now looking deeper: what else does this product do for me?
We’re already seeing early signals in the shift toward added benefits like immune support or energy
metabolism, yet still most dairybased RTD proteins still focus on muscle-building - overlooking gut health, cognitive performance, and immunity, which are now firmly on the consumer radar. This is exactly where prebiotics step in.
Gut health is the new performance driver
Once seen as the concern of digestive supplements, gut health is now a foundation element of overall health and wellbeing. Thanks to the expanding field of microbiome research, the connection between the gut and immune function, cognition, stress response, and nutrient absorption is clearer than ever.
Adding a scientifically supported prebiotic ingredient, like our Bimuno® GOS, unlocks the ability to enhance a protein RTD’s health profile far beyond high protein and
low sugar. This is critical because as the market matures, features alone won’t cut it - functional depth is becoming the key differentiator.
From elite athletes to casual gymgoers, the global sports health category has exploded in recent years - and it’s fuelling a wave of innovation in supplements and functional foods. One of the most exciting areas is sports nutrition products that support the gut microbiome.
In athletic performance, consistency is everything. Yet studies show that following behind injury, gastrointestinal and respiratory issues are among the leading reasons athletes seek medical attention. UK Sport data reveals that around a third of athletes will experience health issues over a typical season, resulting in an
average of seven lost training days per episode - a major hit to performance progress. This is an example of where gut health matters.
Around 70% of the body’s immune cells reside in the gastrointestinal tract, making a resilient gut a key player in fending off illness that could derail training or competition schedules. But beyond immune health, the gut microbiome is increasingly understood to influence non-digestive factors critical to athletes, including energy regulation, hydration, and nutrient absorption.
From a nutrition perspective, typical sports-focused diets and products are often high in protein but low in fibre - an imbalance that can compromise gut health over time. Prebiotic fibre, particularly from clinically validated sources like Bimuno® GOS, offers formulators
a clear opportunity to enhance the nutritional profile of high-protein sports products. For brands, the intersection between gut health and sports nutrition presents a powerful avenue to stand out in a market where consumers - and athletesare increasingly looking for products that work as hard as they do.
It starts with format flexibility. Dairy-based protein shakes already offer a nutrient-dense base that complements gut health positioning - both in terms of delivery and consumer expectation. The potential result is a functional dairy-based protein shake that goes beyond muscle maintenance and starts addressing immune resilience, stress response, and digestive wellbeing - all major purchase drivers for today’s active consumer.
In addition, where other typical prebiotics require a higher dose to be clinically effective, which can also potentially lead to gut discomfort, Bimuno GOS’ especially low dose makes it easier to integrate without significantly impacting protein levels. This is critical for meeting consumer needs for maintaining high protein intake, while also ensuring the consumer doesn’t experience tolerability issues.
Borrowing from the prebiotic soda playbook
The big prebiotic soda brands are not just selling beverages with added prebiotic fibre either, they
are reframing the category. These brands positioned gut health as a daily wellness ritual - and made it taste great, look clean, and feel modern. Protein drinks can do the same.
We see a major opportunity for RTD protein brands to position themselves as not only supporting recovery and performance but also working with the body’s internal systems to improve consistency, energy, and resilience, powered by gut health. With the rise of clear protein waters and sparkling protein drinks, there’s space to build a bridge between the hydration + performance world, and the microbiome conversation.
For formulators and brand owners, particularly those in the sports nutrition sector, now is the moment to rethink what success in the RTD protein space could look like. With global growth on the agenda and health-focused consumers becoming more discerning by the day, the path forward is differentiation through evidence. Adding a targeted and low dose prebiotic like Bimuno GOS gives brands the scientific foundation to support broader health claims, meet real-world needs, and resonate powerfully in a crowded marketplace.
www.clasado.com
In our latest case study, we’re discussing three new hygienic progressing cavity pumps we supplied to a UK food manufacturer.
They needed proven, reliable food grade pumps for the smooth and uninterrupted transfer of lecithin and cream in their production facility.
So what is Lecithin?
Lecithin is a generic term which is used to describe any type of yellow-brownish fatty substances which are found in both animal and plant tissues. They are amphiphilic which means that they attract both water and fatty materials.
It occurs naturally and comes from egg yolks, corn, marine foods, milk, rapeseed, cottonseed, soybeans and sunflowers.
In the human body, it’s a mixture of fats which are essential to many of our body’s processes. Lecithin is used in the metabolic process and to move fats around our bodies. In our diet, Lecithin is the main source of choline, a nutrient similar to the various B vitamins. It’s converted into acetylcholine, a substance that transmits nerve impulses.
Where is it used commercially?
In food manufacturing, Lecithin is commonly used as a food additive to combine foods. It’s also a natural emulsifier that’s often used in many everyday foods, it keeps flavour in mixtures and is an antioxidant.
More specifically, Lecithin also plays a big part in animal feed, pharmaceuticals, paints, and other industrial applications.
How is it made?
Lecithin is a mixture of phospholipids which is found in plant and animal tissues and is vital for proper biological function. In fact, phospholipids are a major part of all cell membranes.
Commercial lecithin is made from vegetable oils, usually soybean oil, through a production process that starts with degumming. Here, the crude soybean oil is mixed with up to 3% water or steam and slowly agitated to add water to the lecithin.
Next, the hydrated gums are taken out by being spun in a centrifuge, and the wet gums are dried by batch or film drying. Finally, the lecithin is filtered, deodorised, and divided up, and the oil residues are taken out.
Our specification for this project
Here at North Ridge Pumps, we’re not restricted to just one type of pump technology.
We use our wide-ranging expertise to provide a tailor-made solution, not something straight off the shelf. We choose the best pump for each specific client and job –and offering the lowest lifetime cost.
For this demanding application, we specified three of our DX range of hygienic progressing cavity pumps.
Our DX sanitary progressing cavity pump series are state-of-the-art units specifically designed to meet the exacting requirements of the food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and cosmetics industries.
The whole pump design complies with EHEDG and 3A hygiene standards to ensure the highest levels of sanitisation.
High
The geometry of the pumps is designed precisely to provide the best sanitisation characteristics thanks to the design of the casing and the rotating parts. These allow maximum drainage, and avoid dead zones and stagnation where bacteria can accumulate.
In addition, we manufacture every component to the highest level of finish and utmost cleanliness. All parts have excellent finishes,
and the casings are polished to make sure that the surfaces are completely sanitised.
The parts in contact with the product being transferred can be constructed from AISI 304 or AISI 316 stainless steel. As well as the parts that touch the liquid, the block and base plate too are made of stainless steel AISI 304.
This all means that all these pumps are top rated for adhering to Clean-in-Place (CIP) and Sterilisation-in-Place (SIP) automated processes. These mean that units can be cleaned and sterilised without the need for disassembly. These systems are widely used in the food and pharmaceuticals industry to ensure total hygiene and sterilisation of critical processes. Why this pump was selected
The brief from our client was to specify a pump which would smoothly transfer the cream and lecithin at a range of flows from 10l an hour to 10m³h at pressures up to 8 bar.
We chose these pumps because of their low pulsating, shear-sensitive flow and high hygiene rating. In addition, they will consistently transfer the product at the flow rates the client required regardless of changes in viscosity or pressure.
In short, using our DX sanitary progressing cavity pumps will ensure that the fats in the cream and lecithin will remain suspended, spread evenly and that the mixtures will remain unchanged from source right through to delivery.
Have an application needing the transfer, circulation or injection of any liquid of any viscosity and need help and advice? Contact North Ridge Pumps to see how we can help.
Optimise performance with specialist support
Whether you’re dealing with clogging, separation, downtime, or other issueit’s costly. Time wasted troubleshooting and lower production mean missed targets and less profit. A sanitary pump is the solution but choosing the right one feels like stepping into a minefield. You know what you need it to do but with so many options, it’s difficult to know which is best for your process and parameters.
+ Accelerated stator wear
+ Clogging
+ Changes to fluid consistency
+ Clean-in-place and sterilise-in-place hygiene issues
+ Crushing of sensitive products
+ Inconsistency in finished product
+ Inaccurate transfer of flavourings or ingredients
+ Liquid separation
+ Seal wear or failure
We’ve been engineering sanitary pumps for sectors such as distilling, brewing, food manufacturing/processing, and more, for 20+ years. We understand industry-specific processes and know what it takes to optimise performance through better-suited pump design - giving you complete peace of mind.
Our expert engineers understand your process and guide you through the options, so you can confidently select the most suitable sanitary pump.
EXAMPLE PRODUCTS:
+ Abrasive mixtures
+ Creams, milk & ice cream
+ Edible oils & fats
+ Fish & meat
+ Fruits eg. cooked apples, plums, berries, grapes
+ Grains & seeds
+ Pastes & purees
+ Syrups, juices & alcohols
+ Vegetables & peelings
+ Waste eg. trimmings, packaging & offcuts
+ Sheer sensitive liquids
+ Solid laden or viscous mixtures
In food and drink processing, every minute counts. Yet across the sector, skilled people are often tied up with low-value tasks — moving ingredients, carrying packaging materials, or transporting finished goods between lines. These short interruptions feel minor, but across an entire site they add up to lost shifts of production every week.
It’s a challenge faced well beyond the food industry. In one medical equipment factory, for example, welders were found to spend just 10 minutes of every hour at their stations, with the rest lost to material handling. A single autonomous vehicle was introduced to manage those movements, tripling productive time and output — without adding staff. The same principle applies on a beverage filling line or in a packaging hall: when robot workers take over the walking and waiting, throughput rises dramatically.
A similar issue was uncovered in a cushion factory, where 50
machinists spent a few minutes each hour walking materials across the floor. It didn’t seem significant — until the figures were calculated. Those short trips added up to more than 30 lost hours every day, the equivalent of four extra employees. When transport was automated, the machinists got their time back for skilled work, and overall productivity soared.
These hidden inefficiencies are common in food and drink production, yet they’re often accepted as part of the job. With the UK industry under pressure from labour shortages, rising costs, and increasing product complexity, such wasted time is costing manufacturers billions in lost output.
Why isn’t automation already everywhere?
Three barriers traditionally hold food and drink manufacturers back:
• High upfront costs – capital expenditure is difficult to justify.
• Complexity – fast-moving, hygiene-sensitive environments make integration daunting.
• Uncertainty – fear of choosing the wrong solution or struggling to prove ROI.
Traditional automation can feel like a gamble: big outlay, uncertain payback, and the risk of idle equipment.
A new approach: Automation by the Hour
Instead of heavy capital investment, Automation by the Hour allows manufacturers to pay only for the hours a robot worker is in use. Systems are deployed and fine-tuned on site, and if they aren’t the right fit, you simply walk away — no strings attached.
Better still, the risk is shared. If a robot worker saves you six hours of labour, you only pay for three — and keep the rest as pure productivity gain.
Supporting people, not replacing them
In food and drink production, skilled staff are critical for quality, safety and compliance. Automation by the Hour isn’t about removing people, but about freeing them from repetitive, low-value tasks. Operators can focus on production, monitoring and consistency, while autonomous vehicles take care of the heavy lifting.
The result? Improved throughput, better use of resources, and a workforce empowered to add value where it matters most.
Time to reclaim your wasted minutes
As the UK food and drink industry works to boost competitiveness, every inefficiency is an opportunity. Automation by the Hour allows you to turn those wasted minutes into a genuine advantage — without risk.
To explore how flexible automation could transform your operation, get in touch: +44 116 243 6250 enquiries@guidanceautomation. com
www.guidanceautomation.com
In the world of manufacturing, precision is everything. You will know how a consistent appearance, performance, taste and texture is vital in meeting your quality standards, reducing waste and protecting your brand with the consumer. Relying on the manual control of transfer is not only putting the burden on your production team (and we all know that time is money!), but also increasing the chance of recipe inaccuracies due to human error.
And that is why the accurate transfer of chemicals, process fluids or ingredients combined with the AMP-CONTROL peristaltic pump really is a “batch made in heaven”.
Castle Pumps have recently solved two clients’ batching requirements with their AMP-CONTROL peristaltic pump. The first was a manufacturer of low calorie sweeteners looking to batch 10 litres of Glycerin at a time during the production process of their products. The second was involved in the treatment of industrial wastewater and wanted to dose 5-10 litres of ferrous sulphate and caustic soda at a time from an IBC into the water being treated.
Both wanted control over the speed at which they could transfer and the ability to accurately determine how much to transfer in each batch. And that’s when Castle Pumps knew the AMP-CONTROL was the ideal solution.
Peristaltic pumps are often used for batching applications thanks to their smooth operation and ability to accurate dose even the smallest volume of fluids at low flow rates. Another huge benefit of the peristaltic design is that with the inner hose being the only wetted part, there is only one component to wear and maintain without risk of seals leaking and valves blocking.
The AMP-CONTROL model in particular however had the intelligence to satisfy the companies’ requirements of automation and accuracy without the need for the clients purchasing and installing additional control equipment.
As well as its variable speed drive, the beauty of this pump is that it allows batching to be specified either by volume or by intervals, as well as a calendar for operation automation at set date/times.
This peristaltic dosing pump also comes with configurable inputs and outputs that can be used for signal relays to determine when the pump should operate for example when fluid in the receiving container has dropped to a set low level. These benefits allow for highly precise dosing of the additives whilst also freeing up operator time to carry out more value adding tasks.
As a fail-safe the AMP-CONTROL also comes with a hose leakage sensor to shut down the pump and alert the operator, as well as a hose replacement alert for preventive maintenance after a set interval to prevent downtime in production.
Getting the wrong pump for your process can result in inconsistency in the finished product, crushed solids, clogging, excessive wear, loss of productivity, waste of costly product or at worst, contamination. Always trust technical experts to specify the right pump for your application.
www.castlepumps.com
Pump smarter, not harder. Use our 15 years’ experience to save excessive wear, process failures, product waste & operator time.
✓ FDA & 3A hygienic solutions for food and drink
✓ Highly accurate dosing of ingredients & additives
✓ Delicate fluids sensitive to consistency changes
✓ Solid-laden products without crushing or clogging
✓ 99.98% barrel emptying to prevent product waste
✓ Models for the safe handling of cleaning chemicals
Contact our technical sales engineers now!
Packaging legislation across the UK and Europe is evolving rapidly, prompting businesses to rethink how they package, transport, and manage goods. With Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) now active in the UK, and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) coming into force, companies must shift from single-use packaging toward sustainable, circular solutions.
For retailers, producers, and distributors, this is more than a regulatory challenge. It is a strategic opportunity. Reusable packaging unlocks a future where supply chains are not only compliant, but also smarter, sustainable and more efficient.
Tosca, a Circular Solution for a Circular Economy
Tosca is a global leader in 100% reusable and recyclable plastic packaging and pooling solutions. Its model and products are designed to support compliance, improve efficiency, and enhance supply chain sustainability, helping
businesses meet EPR and PPWR requirements while strengthening supply chain performance.
At the heart of Tosca’s offering is a closed-loop pooling system. Durable, hygienic assets such as crates, pallets, dollies, and bulk containers are reused up to 100 times. When they reach the end of their life, they are fully recycled and reintroduced into the loop. No plastic is wasted. Alongside pooling, we also offer flexible rental and purchase options to meet different customer needs.
This system helps businesses avoid the costs and risks associated with single-use packaging. It also delivers more than regulatory compliance - offering a resilient, reliable and cost-effective supply chain solution.
Pooling is a shared, circular packaging model. Instead of owning and managing packaging assets, Tosca manages it all. After use, Tosca handles collection,
cleaning, and maintenance, ensuring assets are always available and ready for reuse.
The benefits are clear:
• No waste
• No hassle
• Always compliant with EPR and PPWR
Alongside regulatory compliance, there are many tangible business benefits to switching to Tosca’s reusable packaging solutions:
• Lower costs through reduced spend on single-use packaging, waste disposal, and product damage.
• Smarter logistics with foldable, stackable designs that optimise truck space and reduce transport costs and emissions.
• Increased sustainability impact by eliminating single-use packaging and cutting carbon emissions, supporting ESG goals.
• Operational efficiency with standardised, retail-ready and automation compatible assets that improve handling, visibility, and productivity.
• Future-proof compliance that keeps businesses ahead of evolving regulations such as EPR and PPWR.
With over 60 years of innovation in reusable packaging and pooling solutions, Tosca understands how products move through the supply chain. This experience allows the company to anticipate challenges, adapt to change, and deliver practical solutions that work.
Tosca manages the entire packaging lifecycle, from research and development to manufacturing, delivery, servicing, and returns. This integrated approach ensures consistent quality, reduces delays, and gives customers peace of mind.
Tosca’s dedicated in-house R&D teams drive continuous innovation in design and capabilities. This means Tosca can respond quickly to evolving customer needs, creating fast, custom solutions that fit seamlessly into any supply chain
Supported by a global network, Tosca guarantees on-time delivery and asset availability, even during peak demand. This means your supply chain keeps moving without disruption.
Tosca’s pooling model makes it easy to comply with PPWR and EPR. By reducing packaging waste at the source, businesses avoid the costs and complexities of single-use packaging.
Every business is unique. Tosca offers pooling, rental, and direct purchase models to suit different supply chain strategies and industries. As a Tosca customer, you can choose the option that delivers the most value and efficiency.
Tosca offers the widest range of reusable assets in the market, including crates, pallets, bulk containers, trays, dollies, and retailready displays. This varied portfolio allows Tosca to support every stage of the supply chain, from farm to fork.
Sustainability is central to Tosca’s model. Every asset is 100% reusable and recyclable, reducing packaging waste, lowering carbon emissions, and helping customers meet ESG targets.
Tosca is more than a supplier. With scale, financial strength, and a customer-first approach, Tosca works alongside businesses to solve problems, unlock value, and support long-term growth.
UK supply chains face increasing pressure to meet sustainability goals, reduce costs, and remain resilient amid regulatory change. Tosca’s pooling model addresses these challenges directly, combining compliance with commercial benefits.
Rather than viewing EPR and PPWR as burdens, businesses can use this moment to transform their packaging strategies. With Tosca, packaging becomes a tool for cost savings, logistics optimisation, and visible sustainability action.
For UK businesses navigating EPR and preparing for PPWR, Tosca offers a complete packaging solution: compliance, efficiency, reliability and sustainability.
To talk to a Tosca expert about your packaging strategy, contact uk_sales@toscaltd.com or +44 0845 2000 001
We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand-new website – designed from the ground up to make sourcing high-performance plastic valves, fittings, and components faster, easier, and smarter than ever before.
Visit us today at pvlplastics.co.uk
At PVL Plastics, we’ve always believed that industrial buyers, engineers, and procurement professionals deserve more than just a product catalogue. You deserve an online experience that supports you every step of the way – from fast, informed selection to confident decision-making and expert support. That’s why we’ve reimagined our digital presence with you in mind.
Whether you’re building a contamination-free processing line or retrofitting an existing system, your time is valuable. Our new
website puts the tools and insights you need right at your fingertips.
Here’s what you’ll find:
Explore our extensive line of corrosion-resistant plastic valves, pipes, fittings, gauges, flow meters, filters, and switches. Every product is engineered to deliver performance in harsh environments – and features zero metal wetted parts to prevent contamination.
With intuitive browsing and powerful search filters, finding the right component has never been easier. Dive deep into detailed technical specifications to ensure the best fit for your application, and download what you need for smooth project planning.
Our responsive technical team is here for you – providing fast, knowledgeable assistance via phone or email. Whether you need a quick quote or in-depth guidance, we’re on hand Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
PVL Plastics is trusted by companies in chemical processing, water treatment, agriculture, and manufacturing. Our site reflects the real-world challenges you face, helping you build systems that are reliable, safe, and maintenancefriendly.
“Industrial buyers deserve better: faster access to technical products, no-nonsense service, and complete confidence in quality,” said a PVL Plastics spokesperson. “Our new site delivers that – helping teams
stay focused on building robust, contamination-free systems.”
From simplifying product selection to speeding up support requests, our new website is here to keep your operations moving forward – free from corrosion concerns, metal leaching, and unnecessary downtime.
Headquartered in Crowborough, East Sussex, PVL Plastics is the UK’s trusted supplier of corrosion-proof plastic components for critical fluid handling. For years, we’ve helped industry professionals eliminate metal contamination risks while maintaining peak flow system performance.
With fast delivery, expert advice, and unwavering product quality, we’re proud to serve the needs of leading technical teams across the UK.
Labels for wines, spirits and beers must meet high performance stands, and now sustainability demands add a new layer of complexity. Stefano Pistoni, Senior Manager, Business Growth, Wine & Spirits, EMEIA at UPM Adhesive Materials explores how producers can marry technical and aesthetic needs with sustainability.
The European alcoholic beverages market is expected to grow by 4.61% between 2025 and 2030, driven by demand for premium, craft and functional alcoholic beverages. But producers must also navigate regulatory pressures, shifting
consumer expectations, supply chain disruptions and economic instability.
An area that is seeing a growing push from government agendas and pull from consumers across the board is sustainability. A recent survey found that ‘the most common environmental factors alienating customers from brands’ for over four out of five respondents were poor compliance, human rights and environmental track records, unsustainable packaging and the irresponsible sourcing of materials.
Therefore, unsurprisingly, 57% of global brand owners now rank “recyclable or recycled content” among their top three packaging priorities. As a result, the sustainability of alcoholic beverages is under the microscope like never before. With growing
environmental concerns, producers are having to adopt more sustainable practices, not just in ingredient sourcing and production, but in packaging and distribution as well.
Labels play an increasingly pivotal role in the beverages category. As companies are required to decrease the number of materials they use, secondary packaging is being removed, concentrating even more product messaging onto the label. Also, label choice can have a big impact on the overall recyclability of the beverage packaging, impacting the quality of recyclate and downcycling of valuable raw materials.
When it comes to beverage labelling, material performance is critical throughout the entire
lifecycle - from production to consumption. They must withstand printing, die-cutting, high-speed application, and real-world conditions like refrigeration, moisture, and ice bucket exposure, without comprising on quality. Therefore, features such as strong adhesion, moisture resistance, and wet opacity that ensure the label remains intact and attractive throughout the product’s lifecycle are essential. Sustainability is also a priority, with producers opting for more sustainable materials to align with consumer expectations and to reinforce their environmental commitments.
While sustainability is moving higher up the agenda, the power of getting the label’s shelf-appeal right is still of primary importance to beverage producers. A study conducted by UPM with other partners in the value chain, highlighted the importance of tactility. Tactile packaging properties are still one of the most underrated elements in marketing. That is why materials must combine great visual and tactile properties, together with the technical aspects described above.
So, how can producers prioritise the product packaging’s look and
feel, whilst embracing sustainability requirements? The answer lies in choosing the right label for each application. Careful thought needs to be given to the face material, its calliper thickness, wet strength, any filmic layers used to protect the label against wrinkling and dimensional changes when dampened in a cool box or fridge. Also, whether the label needs to be embossable, keep good opacity when wet and allow for digital printing.
This level of performance can be achieved with labels that contain recycled content. Such labels have a lower environmental impact, as they use resource optimised solutions. They are also compatible with beverage containers to support recyclability and reuse. Achieving the right appearance and sustainability credentials requires working with label suppliers who can offer the right solutions with recycled content and premium textures that can match the performance of virgin papers.
Strong performance and sustainability credentials
UPM Adhesive Materials understands the challenges producers face when it comes to creating stand out on shelf while
using durable, more sustainable labels. For example, its Ice Premium Range helps producers overcomes the issue of label discolouration and wrinkling. With exceptional wet opacity, it ensures the label, inks and embellishments remain vibrant and wrinkle free even when stored in an ice bucket for hours.
It also launched a collection of wine, spirits and beverage label materials – Rêverie 3 – that embraces circularity by using recycled fibres in aesthetically attractive labels. The collection demonstrates that sustainability and impactful design can work together to deliver stunning results. The Rêverie 3 collection offers packaging designers a toolkit of visually appealing labels that are all made with materials from well-managed, certified forests and other controlled sources with recycled content.
Making more sustainable label decisions, whilst also delivering brand impact has never been easier thanks to work of companies like UPM. Now, it is possible to improve the carbon footprint, whilst delivering impactful on-shelf appeal. Now that sounds like the perfect marriage!
www.adhesivematerials.upm.com
making it ideal for breweries, dairies, and food manufacturers.
The IC-HBT is available with TriClamp and RJT connections and is manufactured entirely from solid 316 stainless steel, with no castings and a highly competitive price point. This ensures long-term durability, even in challenging applications involving viscous or semiclean liquids such as vegetable oils, foodstuffs, and vinegars.
and comms options with push button easy user interface (Batch controller)
• Annual recalibration recommended to maintain peak performance
• Manufactured in Britan
Why It Matters for Food & Beverage Producers
The ability to measure flow accurately is crucial for batching, dosing, and quality control. In
page our call our engineers to discuss your application.
01722 439880
For further context on hygienic standards in flow measurement, see the EHEDG Guidelines (EHEDG) — the European authority on hygienic equipment design.
With durable design, precision accuracy, and a focus on hygienic performance, the Metri IC-HBT is an essential tool for food and drink producers seeking reliable flow measurement.
Offer consistent product quality at the point of use for a wide range of applications, guide rails position the IBC and the mixer is raise and lowered into the IBC with a push button operated electrical actuator.
Fixed or mobile mixing stations are supplied complete with a control panel and safety interlocks.
Standard IBC mixing stations can be adapted to integrate with systems on site including pumps, valves, weighing and measuring instrumentation and controls to meet specific site requirements.
There is no doubt that the potential upsides to operating electric material handling equipment are significant. Lower fuel costs, a cleaner working environment, lower maintenance costs, less downtime… the list goes on. There are also the broader environmental benefits of moving to electric machines which are well documented and can bring both reputational and financial rewards, particularly for larger organisations – Helping to achieve accreditations and meeting carbon targets.
Impact Handling, the leading material handling specialist and UK distributor for Cat® Lift Trucks, explores the key challenges facing food and drink processing operations as they transition to electric power—and shares the proactive steps it has taken to help customers overcome the unique infrastructure and cost-related hurdles associated with the change.
But, as is often the way, with the pleasure comes a degree of pain. And for many handling equipment users that pain comes in the form of the initial outlay. The largest of which is typically the availability of an adequate power supply to the operational site. Particularly if the site and its infrastructure were developed before the world had visibility of the age of electric.
Although rarely an issue for one or two trucks users, across larger fleets the power demands become increasingly challenging. Lithium-ion battery charging, in particular, draws a very high current that existing infrastructure can struggle to accommodate. If this is a ecting your operation it is important to seek specialist advice.
At Impact, our experienced electric equipment team can help customers through any necessary change with guidance and advice to support a successful and cost-e ective change.
Firstly though, it is important to accurately specify the desired capacity, layout and utilisation of the power system on site. To understand that the operation will need to have defined the size, nature and functionality of its fleet.
At Impact, we conduct a thorough analysis and survey of every customer site and operation. This enables us to recommend a handling solution that optimises material flow while integrating as seamlessly as possible with the rest of the operation. It also allows us to carefully analyse safety and environmental needs as well as factoring for future growth and seasonal fluctuations in demand.
Something we always strongly encourage is the involvement of a broad team of stakeholders in the project at the earliest possible stage. Finance or procurement teams may, for example, buy energy in advance to manage costs. It is important they are aware of the implications of an electric fleet and the nature of any potential increases in energy usage, well in advance.
As part of the Aprolis group, Impact is in the advantageous position of being self-funded, which gives us the ability to extend remarkable flexibility to our customer agreements. This can include o setting the initial infrastructure costs within any long-term rental contract, or through an initial payment holiday. Mitigating the upfront cost to the customer.
Aside from the power infrastructure, the other common negative of electric handling is that the equipment itself usually carries a price premium. However, this only manifests as a concern if it is looked at from a short-term perspective. In the mid to longer term, the total cost of ownership and fuel saving more than o sets the initial investment. In a well-managed fleet, the premium can be recovered surprisingly quickly.
As Impact operates a rental fleet of well over 10,000 units in the UK, many carrying advanced telemetrics, we can illustrate the rate of recovery for any given site based on live real-world data from comparable operations. The ongoing pipeline of innovations of Cat Lift Trucks also continues to lower the price di erence between electric and IC machines.
It is important to check that any competitive quotations received for electric machines are like for like. The batteries make up a significant part of the cost of the equipment. Some suppliers may fit smaller or lower rated batteries, which can have a notable impact on the usability of the machines. Make sure the battery is specified to the utilisation. Skimping on battery quality or capacity can be a false economy.
The final frequent negative of electric handling equipment is the perception that it will not perform to same level as equivalent IC machinery. The reality, however, is that the latest generation of electric machines now often OUTPERFORM their IC counterparts. The current o ering from Cat Lift Trucks for example o ers advantages in most parameters, including load capacity, lift height, and runtime on a full ‘fuel load’. There are of course applications where Diesel or LPG are still the optimum solution, and mixed fleets remain a popular solution.
Today’s electric machines do bring many benefits despite requiring a not insignificant upfront investment. Happily, though this is almost always o set by the savings throughout the life of the equipment. And with some useful flexibility from the right handling partner, even the upfront costs don’t need to come as a shock.
Organisers of the PPMA Total Show®, which returns to the NEC, Birmingham in September, have announced the first keynote speaker for the event: Founder CEO of AI and education technology firm CENTURY, Priya Lakhani OBE.
Visitors to the UK’s biggest processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision event, which takes place from 23-25 September, will have the opportunity to hear Priya’s keynote speech, AI Everything Everywhere All at Once, on the first day of the show.
Now in its 38th year, the PPMA Total Show® 2025 will showcase more than 350 exhibitors and 1,500 brands, giving attendees access to cutting-edge technology and solutions to optimise performance, reduce costs, and future-proof their businesses.
Organised by Automate UK, the PPMA Total Show®, offers live equipment demonstrations, valuable insight into innovative technologies and networking opportunities to industry professionals from across the entire manufacturing spectrum.
Scott McKenna, Chief Operating Officer for Automate UK, said: “When registrations for the PPMA Total Show® opened last month, we
promised visitors access to unique expert-led seminars, and we are thrilled to have secured Priya to deliver the first keynote address at the event.
“As the founder of an awardwinning AI and education technology company that develops learning tools for schools, colleges, universities and employers across the world, Priya’s work and knowledge is inspiring, and her presentation aims to demystify AI and leave attendees AI confident and ready to leverage the technology to its full potential.
“Her speech will include use cases and provide key strategic questions for visitors to apply within their own organisations, and we anticipate a great deal of interest from visitors keen to benefit from her expertise,” he added.
The co-host of BBC News’s flagship AI programme, AI Decoded, Priya’s experience is extensive. Further to having launched a successful FMCG business in 2008, Masala, which through its charitable foundation provided millions of meals and 35,000 vaccinations to the underprivileged in India and Africa, Priya went on to be appointed to the UK government’s AI Council in 2019.
Priya then co-founded the Institute for Ethical AI for the education sector, prior to being appointed as Non-Executive Board Member to the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), with specific focus on online safety and technology.
In 2023 she was an advisor to Patrick Vallance for his Proinnovation Regulation of Technologies Review and currently
advises the government as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council of Science and Technology.
Most recently, Priya was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Tech Pioneer for her pioneering AI work at CENTURY.
Last year’s event has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best UK Trade Show category at the AEO Excellence Awards 2025, and Automate UK have pledged to deliver a show that exceeds expectations this year, with an itinerary of expert speakers, a networking reception and a series of live demos to showcase the latest technology solutions.
One of the standout successes of The PPMA Show® 2024 was Innovations Eleven – a brand-new live demo theatre, in which 11 selected exhibitors launched new technology directly to attendees. The PPMA Total Show® 2025 will expand on the success of this initiative, with the live demo theatre being broadcast in realtime via PPMA Total Show TV.
In addition, expert-led daily innovation tours will be hosted for visitors to expand on the technology being showcased and show them how to harness it within their own businesses.
Attendance for The PPMA Total Show® 2025 is free. To register, visit: https://www.ppmashow.co.uk.
Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS) will be exhibiting at Stand E84 at the PPMA Total Show at the NEC during September.
“Last year we had some very productive discussions with food producers who were visiting the show to understand the latest in automated packaging,” stated YPS MD, Glyn Johnson.
“With almost 50 years in business, we have helped numerous manufacturers to find the right packaging system for them – from bakeries to dairies, ready meal makers to meat producers,” he concluded.
The YPS stand will feature some key essential types of shrink wrapping systems from YPS’ large range.
For display shrink-wrapping applications, YPS will demonstrate an automatic l-sealer. This servo-driven example delivers high-speed wrapping while creating a precise seal for a professional finish.
For those seeking a system for transit wrapping applications, YPS will also be showing a side feed sleeve sealer. This machine is packed with features that support flexibility, ideal for contract packing operations or for manufacturers with wide and varied product ranges.
“These two shrink wrapping machines give a great idea of what can be achieved with automated wrapping,” commented Glyn. “They’re an excellent initial talking point for people who are looking to move or upgrade to this type of system, as we can show exactly what they can do.”
As YPS stock and supply both automated packaging machinery and materials, their stand will also feature a display of the latest advanced consumables, including a selection of food-contact-approved options.
“While PPMA is primarily a machinery-focussed exhibition, all those visitors who have machinery also need materials. Our team are always happy to discuss which materials would work well with either new or existing equipment to ensure that our customers are getting the best out of their system,” explained Glyn.
Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS) Stand E84, PPMA Show, NEC 01484 715111 enquiries@yps.co.uk www.yps.co.uk
Tosca is the only pooler connecting the supply chain from the first to the last mile with reusable plastic assets.
• 100% reusable and recyclable crates, pallets, bulk containers and displays.
• Flexible service model: pool, rent or buy.
• Innovative solutions & traceability technology.
• In-house R&D and production.
• Tailored sustainable solutions for easy PPWR and EPR compliance.
• Covering multiple industries including: beverages, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, ecommerce, textiles, chemicals and much more.
• Guaranteed asset supply even in peak periods.
See how much you could save with our pooling solutions www.toscaltd.com
Samey Robotics and Rbot9 have chosen the FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot to power a game-changing cleaning system they have jointly developed for food factories.
Named VOTTA, inspired by the Icelandic word for ‘certify’ and echoing the sound of ‘Þvotta’ (‘washing’), the system offers overhead, automated cleaning of large-scale areas without bulky structures or layout changes.
At a time when labour shortages have reached critical levels, this represents a welcome breakthrough, eliminating the need for human intervention and delivering efficiency gains of up to 30 per cent.
Labour-intensive, repetitive and hard to staff, cleaning is a growing headache for food processors, and the options for automation are limited; CIP systems and gantry style units are expensive, disruptive and too rigid for agile operations, and floor-mounted robots occupy valuable floor space.
Recognising the need for a different type of system for its seafood industry customers, Icelandic automation provider Samey Robotics approached Rbot9 about engineering a solution based on the Canadian innovator’s trail-blazing ROCAP industrial cable robot platform. A total of 12 high-strength cables, steered by proprietary kinematic algorithms, suspend a mobile arial robot platform that can sweep through up to 900m2 of workspace in a matter of minutes, with no requirement for rails, gantries or structural overhaul.
“The original idea for the ROCAP
Samey Robotics and Rbot9 have chosen the FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot to power a game-changing cleaning system they have jointly developed for food factories.
cable robot came from a visit to an overcrowded welding workshop in which the ceiling was the only available space for automation. We knew that it had potential for many other industries too, and we were keen to work with Samey to explore its application in food factories for addressing one of the industry’s biggest pain points,” said Rbot9 founder, Frédéric Vachon.
Building on a strong partnership
The success of the project hinged on having a robust, dexterous and hygienically designed collaborative robot that could be configured with safety zones, speed limits and stop conditions to operate safely in a shared environment. Having partnered with FANUC for 25 years, Samey Robotics was keen to continue this collaboration and knew that the CRX-10iA/L model offered the ideal blend of attributes for this demanding application.
“Our customers already run on the FANUC ecosystem, and for
us, the CRX is indisputably the best collaborative robot series on the market. Who else offers eight years zero maintenance and up to five years warranty? And who else offers an IP67 rating on such a robust yet flexible machine?” said Kristján Karl Aðalsteinsson, Samey Robotics’ Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.
Rbot9 was equally convinced that FANUC was the right robotics partner for the project. “We needed a robotics partner who would share our vision of bringing safe, flexible and hygienic automation to the food industry. FANUC’s CRX series stood out, not only because of its reliability and ease-of-use, but also because of its lightweight design that fits into suspended systems like ours. It gave us the freedom and precision we needed to bring VOTTA to life,” said Frédéric.
He continued: “Beyond the hardware, FANUC’s global reputation aligned perfectly
with our ambition to scale VOTTA across international markets. Partnering with a name that food manufacturers already trust gave us an added layer of confidence.”
Rbot9 continues to lead engineering and deployment efforts for the robotic platform that powers VOTTA, ensuring its adaptability and scalability across food processing environments.
Flexible, accurate and hygienic Besides its IP67 grade robustness, the CRX-10iA/L was selected for its optimal balance of reach, payload and precision. The ROCAP provides mobility and reach across large zones, whilst the CRX delivers local dexterity, a 10kg payload and a 1.4m span.
This synergy means the VOTTA can be positioned dynamically at almost any angle and height, enabling it to navigate conveyors, machinery and obstacles to clean all areas of the plant. The robot’s lightweight design and ability to operate in reverse gravity mode also contribute to its suitability for integration in a suspended system.
The outcome is a flexible, rapidly deployed, automated cleaning system that quite literally rises above conventional constraints. Mounted on ceilings or columns, it operates entirely overhead, washing equipment without any disruption to production. Cleaning paths and routines can be adapted quickly to new production setups and layouts, and every cleaning
task is logged automatically for traceability purposes. By replacing manual cleaning operations with the VOTTA, food processors can shave 30 per cent off washdown times, resulting in a very favourable ROI for the system.
“We were honoured to be chosen as the robot provider for this project, which represents a food industry first. From the start, we were inspired by Samey’s vision of using a completely novel approach to factory cleaning, and now that the VOTTA is market-ready, we cannot wait to see how it will be adopted by the industry,” said Paul Richards, Partner Sales Manager for FANUC UK.
Whilst the VOTTA’s first customers are in the Icelandic seafood industry, the solution is available throughout Europe and is suitable for any food processing operation looking to upgrade to a fully automated cleaning system. Meat, poultry, bakery, salad and cheese producers all stand to benefit from its consistent and rigorous cleaning performance.
www.fanuc.eu/uk/en
one day all contacts will be daily-disposable and one day they will all be sold the daysoft-direct way making healthier eyes affordable for everyone, every day, everywhere
Daysoft® successfully replaces other soft spherical contact lens brands without refitting and ships direct to you at half the price
Every day, my company, Daysoft Limited, prevents contact lens wearers around the world suffering from excruciatingly painful visionloss. The causes of this distressing condition to which I am referring is directly related to the wearing of contacts prescribed for overnight wear (ON) or those prescribed for repeated use with daily cleaning (RU).
The way of avoiding this vision-loss is to wear daily-disposable (DD) soft contacts.
This is why Daysoft has only ever designed, made and sold dailydisposable soft spherical contacts. Our direct to consumer (D2C) supply business-model reduces the cost-per-contact to a few pence including delivery, direct through post boxes anywhere in the world. This provides a really affordable contact lens system with great consumer convenience. It is also the reason why Daysoft’s contacts are designed to be direct replacements for the soft
spherical contacts of all types including ON or RU brands made by the four major contact lens manufacturers; Bausch & Lomb (B+L), CooperVision (CV), Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Alcon.
Data-driven confidence from 1-billion lens sales
Of course, it’s easy to say; “Daysoft successfully replaces other brands for half the price” (which has been out tag-line for over 20 years) but in that time, we have meticulously amassed customer data relating to the sale and supply for over 1 billion daysoft contacts
Delivered direct for the ultimate convenience and safety
We ship direct to your home or office address straight from the end of our production lines based here in Scotland to wearers around the world. No resellers, no middlemen. This gives us the most comprehensive source of contact lens wearer experience available anywhere … we know for every Lot Number shipped who actually received these actual contacts. This direct-to-you model keeps our family business close to you, our customer, wherever you live with tupically 95% repeat purchase and 5% new wearers ordering every month.
Dr Ronald S Hamilton CBE, Founder and Owner of Daysoft Limited is the Inventor of the world’s first daily-disposable contact lens. These have transformed vision-care by eliminating the vision loss problems associated with cleaning and reusing contacts (RU) or wearing contacts continuously including overnight wear (ON).
Having sold his first contact lens business and related technology to Bausch & Lomb, Ron went on to form the world’s first Direct to Consumer (D2C) brand by integrating a new advanced manufacturing process with a unique e-commerce ordering capability.
In 2006 www.daysoft.com was launched at the British Contact Lens Association Conference (BCLA) and is now an increasingly accepted system of direct to consumer (D2C) sale and supply. The Daysoft Team is proud to be shipping over 1,000 orders every day now with over 1 Billion contacts already made and sold direct to contact lens wearers around the world, without refitting.
www.daysoft.com
Location of daysoft® orders despatched direct to wearers around the world in a typical 7-day period.
The next big leap in food safety isn’t on the plate. It’s in the code.
The food and beverage industry stands at a pivotal moment. Supply chains have become increasingly complex, stretching across continents and involving countless suppliers. Meanwhile, regulatory demands continue to intensify and consumer expectations for transparency have never been higher. The cost of getting it wrong can be catastrophic for companies.
Amid mounting pressures, artificial intelligence is emerging as a gamechanger, offering unprecedented visibility and control over food supply networks that were previously impossible to manage effectively.
The reality of modern food supply chains
Consider this: a single fruit pot from a fast-casual dining chain can involve over 11 supply chain tiers spanning across four continents.
That seemingly simple product represents a web of relationships, each carrying potential risks that can cascade through the entire network.
Recent global events have highlighted these vulnerabilities dramatically. In the first few months of the Red Sea shipping crisis, involving attacks on merchant and naval vessels, Suez Canal trade was cut by 50% from a year earlier. This forced companies to reroute shipments around Africa, adding weeks to delivery times and increasing operational costs.
These disruptions revealed a critical gap: most food businesses lack real-time visibility into their extended supply networks. They know their tier-one suppliers, but beyond that, the chain can become opaque.
How AI is changing the game
Modern AI-powered platforms can
analyze millions of data points to identify risks before they become crises.
Alex Walters, a food and beverage supply chain specialist, who joined global software solutions company, Ideagen, through its acquisition of Ideagen Authenticate, explained how the integration of AI is supporting the industry , “When we first introduced AI functionality live on the platform, there was true excitement in the room because no other platforms are doing what we’re doing. Customers can now understand their risks, within two or three clicks and get a fantastic AI-produced summary of assessments, showing trends that would otherwise require drilling down through multiple levels of reporting.”
Instead of discovering problems after they occur, AI enables advanced “horizon scanning”, identifying potential issues before they impact operations,
representing a fundamental accelerated shift from reactive to proactive risk management.
The power of this technology becomes clear in crisis situations.
“We had a customer who called us to say, thanks to the platform, they nipped a really bad news story in the bud,” recalls Walters. “Using our AI-enhanced supply chain visibility tools, the retailer’s procurement team was able to immediately verify that the supplier in question was not part of their network. They contacted the journalist with definitive proof, preventing potential reputational damage and demonstrating how technology can provide both protection and competitive advantage.”
Regulatory complexity continues to escalate. New frameworks like FSMA 204, EUDR and TNFD are demanding unprecedented levels of traceability and transparency. Organizations that previously managed compliance through spreadsheets and email chains are finding these methods inadequate for current requirements.
“People are getting to the point where they can’t manage it with
Excel and email anymore,” notes Mark Pettengell, a long-time food safety systems leader for Ideagen Food and Beverage solutions. “Even smaller organizations are starting to struggle with the increasing complexity of regulation and compliance. There are much greater demands now.”
AI addresses these challenges by automating compliance workflows, maintaining real-time audit trails and ensuring that businesses can respond immediately to regulatory inquiries or unannounced audits.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have moved from nice-to-have to business-critical. Consumers and regulators demand proof that products are ethically sourced, environmentally sustainable and produced under fair labor conditions.
AI-powered platforms are now capable of assessing ESG compliance across entire supply networks, scoring suppliers based on location risk, certifications and third-party validated data. This enables businesses to identify
potential issues before they become public relations disasters.
From competitive advantage to industry standard
For food and beverage businesses, AI-powered supply chain transparency is rapidly evolving from a unique differentiator to a baseline expectation. What was once a way to stand out is fast becoming table stakes for operating in a complex, global marketplace.
Those who invest in these technologies today will not only keep pace with shifting compliance demands, they’ll be better equipped to anticipate disruptions, respond faster and protect brand trust.
The future of food safety is being written now and it’s powered by artificial intelligence that turns data into insight, insight into action and action into competitive advantage.
Learn more about AI-powered food safety solutions at Ideagen food & beverage solutions.
www.ideagen.com/industries/foodand-beverage
The UK’s largest annual gathering of engineering and manufacturing professionals is back and bigger than ever, and it’s not long until the doors open. Advanced Engineering 2025 returns to the NEC, Birmingham on 29 & 30 October, offering a powerful platform for the entire industrial ecosystem to connect, collaborate and chart the future of high-value manufacturing.
With over 400 exhibitors, including 130 new and 200+ expert speakers, this year’s show is poised to reflect
the fast-changing needs of UK industry — from Net Zero targets and digital transformation to skills development and supply chain resilience.
This year’s event lands just months after the UK Government announced a 10-year industrial strategy that promises to reduce electricity costs by up to 25 per cent for more than 7,000
manufacturing firms, while unlocking billions in investment for R&D, AI and energy infrastructure.
The renewed long-term focus on industry is energising the sector — and Advanced Engineering is where that momentum will be felt most.
“Every year, we see the latest innovations on display and the energy from exhibitors and attendees proves just how important this event is,” said Simon Farnfield, Event Director at
2 days of networking
400+ suppliers
This is the second time I’ve been here; it’s the principle of keeping your finger on the pulse. You can keep up to date with novel innovations.
Josh Surga
Manufacturing Engineer
Rolls - Royce
Association partners
fourth year and fully booked well ahead of the event. Delivered in partnership with Composites UK, the pavilion offers easy-access pods for companies to exhibit with confidence. The surrounding Composites Networking Zone adds even more visibility, drawing in OEMs from aerospace, automotive, marine and renewable energy sectors.
5 free CPD accredited forums 1000s of innovative solutions
“Composites UK’s partnership with Advanced Engineering is essential as it highlights the transformative potential of composite materials, fosters innovation and creates
10,000+ engineering professionals Scan here to register
Smart factory transformation, front and centre
Advanced Engineering also sees the return of Atlas Copco as sponsor of the Automotive & Aerospace Networking Lounge. A standout feature from last year’s show, the lounge will again host demonstrations and discussions around Smart Factory transformation, covering automation, vision inspection, datadriven analysis and sustainable production.
“By harnessing digitalisation and advanced tooling, manufacturers are reshaping their production environments,” said Jessica Porter, Marketing & Comms Manager at Atlas Copco Tools & Industrial Assembly Solutions. “It’s all about making sustainability, productivity and profitability work together — not in isolation.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the UK’s industrial future, the show will also continue its #MINDTHEskillsGAP initiative. The campaign brings together industry, education and government to tackle the talent shortage in engineering and manufacturing. Visitors can expect a series of sessions, workshops and networking opportunities that explore how to attract, retain and upskill the next generation.
What’s more, Advanced Engineering is once again colocated with Lab Innovations, with all attendees receiving a single badge granting access to both shows. With over 9,000 professionals expected, the event continues to serve as a key meeting point for industry leaders, R&D teams and decision-makers across the supply chain..
The show is further supported by major industry bodies, including Make UK, Composites UK, UKRI, ADS, Engineering UK, Rail Industry Association and SMMT, helping keep the event aligned with the most current issues and sector needs.
Advanced Engineering UK 2025 is shaping up to be a milestone event. Whether you’re looking to discover new technologies, forge partnerships or futureproof your business, this is the place to do it.
Visitor registration is now open and early registrants will receive exclusive updates on exhibitors, speakers and feature areas.
Visit https://www. advancedengineeringuk.com and confirm your attendance today.
2 days of networking
400+ suppliers
Josh Surga Manufacturing Engineer Rolls - Royce
5 free CPD accredited forums 1000s of innovative solutions
10,000+ engineering professionals Scan here to register Association partners
Co-located with
protects people, products and premises through leading brands
The symptoms of Climate Change are now very apparent with increases in global temperatures and changes in weather patterns being two of the warning signs.
Can industry help to mitigate the situation? Clearly industry, from manufacturing to storage, can assess the efficiency of the premises they occupy. The ever-open door in busy production facilities is a classic example of energy inefficiency where not only does costly heated air escapes, but more energy is also required to replace the lost heated air. This seems to be generally acceptable by industry.
For temperature control and energy management, the automatic door such as Hart’s Speedor is the solution. This fast-action door is the perfect answer. With its quality engineering and durability, Speedor high-speed doors will help to maintain temperatures within a building while keeping energy costs at an acceptable level.
Hart can manufacture industrial door systems customised to meet specific needs. As an example, the Speedor Storm variant is ready for anything the weather can throw at it. Be it a factory, warehouse, storage facility or any kind of plant operation, where doors must be open frequently for people and traffic the Speedor Storm can withstand wind up to ‘wind class 5’ as defined by DIN EN 12424.
Whether it’s access for deliveries, forklifts or people, there are far too many businesses that leave major entrances open for an unnecessary amount of time. The knock-on effect is wasted heating, higher costs and a less-than-optimal working environment.
positive impact on Climate Change.
Speedor Storm is designed specifically to take care of this. It can help with productivity because entering and leaving can be done more rapidly than non-automatic doors. Further it enhances the working environment because the high-speed operation, even on large doors, means there are no unnecessary open stages.
In turn this lowers energy consumption, important at a time
In conclusion Hart Door Systems’ Speedor range can make a very significant contribution to energy conservation and a carbon footprint. The combination of automation and high-speed operation prevents the passage of heated or cooled air escaping from a building only to heat the car park for instance. www.hartdoors.com
Many steam trap sites are still working with steam trap surveys that are only undertaken annually, with survey results that can be many months out of date. Out of date data prevents timely maintenance of faults – raising the cost of steam leaks, reducing product quality with suboptimal steam delivery, and increasing the safety risks from failed traps.
Gloucestershire (UK) based DCO Systems is working to modernise steam trap monitoring with cost-effective smart monitoring systems that eliminate manual monitoring, enabling real-time analysis and information sharing.
Individual steam using sites vary significantly from a single boiler system to multiple boiler campus wide installations. Sites may require a full end to end solution or simply wish to integrate steam trap monitors into their own data warehousing and analytics platforms. DCO can supply monitoring
equipment from a standalone steam trap monitor for end-user integration, through to a fully installed end-to-end solution to meet site requirements.
The Easy STM range of wireless, energyharvesting steam trap monitors feature the broadest set of sensor data for an unmatched view of the performance and operation of your steam system. With minimal installation requirement and zero maintenance through use of energy harvesting technology that enables battery-free operation.
DCO’s range of Steam Trap Monitors (STM) introduces more capabilities in 2025 to the class leading sensing options already available. Designed and manufactured in the UK the Easy Steam Trap Monitor range is expanding with new options for enhanced sensing and easier installation and commissioning.
www.dcosystems.co.uk
Our warehouse and logistics structures are individually designed to meet the needs of your organisation.
All our installations meet building standards, require no additional, or minimal groundworks in many cases, and are quickly deployable. We offer a full turnkey service covering every aspect, including finance options.
T-Mark has secured a new customer in food manufacturing and is helping them improve productivity with Sojet’s new MoEco 4000 printer. The customer is a wholesaler that provides pre-prepared food products to a high-street restaurant chain.
The company had a 20-year-old thermal inkjet system, which they were looking to replace as it was becoming unreliable. The old-fashioned technology was too complex for their contract workers to use, and the printer consumed lots of ink, making it expensive to run. Frequent changes of ink cartridge also meant high downtime and, due to the complexity of the process, also involved a senior member of staff to supervise the contractors. Limits on the print height provided by their existing machine meant the company had to use preprinted boxes to include certain standard information. This was recognised as an unnecessary expense for a product that was only going to be seen by the restaurant outlets.
As well as consulting T-Mark, the company looked into a competitor’s product, but it was several times more expensive than the Chinese engineered Sojet printer.
T-Mark installed Sojet’s new MoEco 4000 thermal inkjet printer with four printheads and a bulk ink system. With four 12.5mm printheads, this printer provides a total print height of 50mm; double what was available with the old system. The printheads were arranged in pairs to print on the side of the box: two marking 25mm high at the top, and two printheads marking 25mm high at the bottom. Straight away, this configuration eliminated the need for a preprinted box, providing an immediate cost saving. Using the outline font in the message design allowed for lower ink consumption, providing a further saving. Sojet’s bulk ink system has almost 9 times the volume of ink of a regular 42ml cartridge, but is only 5 times the price. This was another way in which the new Sojet system helped to reduce running costs. The bulk system also meant less downtime changing cartridges.
And the customer is delighted with the result.
“We have seen improvements all round: improved productivity, a happier team and lower running costs. You can’t ask for more.”
T-Mark is a subsidiary of Timbermark ID Systems Ltd, an Oxfordshire based company, which has been providing inkjet printers to the timber and packaging industries since 2004.
www.t-mark.co.uk
• High resolution printing
• Prints up to 200m/min
• Outline font available for economy of ink use
• Prints up to 50mm high with 4 printheads
• Zero maintenance
• Prices start from £1,000 for single printhead model
Customer, AAK Foods, says:
“The Sojet has incurred zero line downtime in 18 months.
The only maintenance is a wipe of the head and replacement ink cartridges.”
A new range of food grade DecaFood DF centrifuges have been launched by the centrifuge supply company MSE Hiller.
MSE Hiller’s DecaFood machines are available in a range of designs and sizes to cover capacities from 1 to 100 m3/hr and include food grade, Gas tight and Atex Exe-rated designs and are available in both 2 phase (Solid/ Liquid) and three phase (Oil/ Water / Solid) configurations.
The machines are often able to recover various food grade materials and oils as reuseable saleable products at maximum separation efficiency.
Working in partnership with leading industry names, MSE Hiller is committed to both minimising production costs and maximising process efficiency for customers.
Test machines are available to trial and typical applications include - Juice production, Oil recovery, Protein extraction, Starch, Fibre, Peel, Pulp, Fish, Fats, Meats etc
The trial centrifuge systems are fitted with a fully automated stainless steel system control panel with auto wash facility, Cleaning In Place CIP system, Hygienic feed pump, stainless support stand, pipework, valves, flowmeters and a stainless steel screw conveyors.
To find out more about how the MSE Hiller team can help you, get in touch or call them on 01246 861166.
https://www.mandse.com/contact-us
In food and drink manufacturing, every component counts, especially when it comes to the chains that drive the production line. From conveying raw ingredients to packaging the finished product, reliable chain solutions play a silent, yet vital role in keeping facilities running safely, smoothly, and efficiently.
Donghua Limited, part of a global chain manufacturing firm, has long recognised the unique demands of the food processing sector. With stringent standards, exposure to extreme temperatures, and constant washdowns, the industry demands chains that deliver durability without compromising on cleanliness.
Donghua’s Food Industry Chain range is designed precisely with these challenges in mind. Engineered from high-grade stainless steel and featuring foodsafe lubrication options, these
chains are corrosion resistant and support consistent performance, even in environments that are subject to rigorous cleaning regimes.
Donghua delivers customengineered solutions at scale. The company’s in-house design and assembly capability in the UK means food processors aren’t forces to choose between off-theshelf limitations or long waits for custom orders. Whether its adapting Attachment Chains for unique conveyor layouts, or providing high-precision components for automated systems, Donghua’s agile approach helps minimise downtime and maximise productivity.
Key chain products for the Food Processing sector include:
Roller Chain: compatible with all the leading manufacturers of food production machinery.
Polymer Conveyor Chain: blue and white engineering plastic conveyor chain designed to prevent the ingress of foreign matter and reduce maintenance costs and downtime.
Universal Attachment Chain: a ‘one chain fits all’ solution replacing 99% of other manufacturers’ chain.
Drytec Chain: maintenancefree stainless steel chain with engineering plastic sleeves.
Bespoke Chain: built to specific customer requirements.
Hygiene, reliability and compliance
With Donghua’s chain solutions, food manufacturers can be confident in meeting food safety requirements while ensuring operational reliability. Specialist coatings and sealing technologies further enhance the chain’s lifespan, supporting reducing waste and optimising energy usage.
Backed by the global strength of the Donghua Chain Group which manufacturers over 40 million metres of chain per year, the UK arm offers local technical support, rapid delivery, and expertise. A combination that proves invaluable in the fast-moving food industry.
As the food and drink sector continues to innovate and automate, the role of chains will only grow. Donghua Limited is proving to be the powerhouse behind some of the UK’s most efficient food processing lines.
To discuss your Food Processing Chain requirements, call 01902 866200
In a competitive food and drink industry across the UK and Ireland, Production Managers and key decision-makers are tirelessly seeking ways to boost output, reduce waste, and ensure the consistent quality that today’s consumer demands. The answer isn’t always about working harder; it’s about working smarter. The integration of advanced bioprocessing technology, once confined to the pharmaceutical sphere, is now a game-changer for food and drink manufacturing too. This is where TECNIC bioreactors and Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) systems, exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Biopharma Group, come to the fore.
A core challenge for many producers lies in the ageold efficiency paradox: how to maximise yield without compromising quality or increasing waste. Conventional methods can be a drain on resources, leading to significant product loss and costly inconsistencies. TECNIC’s well established products and technology directly address these pain points. By implementing their bioreactors, you gain unparalleled control over fermentation and cell culture processes. This precision allows for the fine-
tuning of parameters, resulting in consistently high-quality products, batch after batch providing the confidence of knowing your final product will meet quality and compliance requirements every time.
The benefits don’t stop at quality control. The real financial and environmental gains come from the integration of TFF systems. These systems are a revelation for downstream processing. By effectively concentrating and purifying your valuable products, they can help you recover up to 80% more of your product than traditional methods. For any business, that translates directly into a healthier bottom line and a competitive edge. This enhanced efficiency also leads to a dramatic reduction in product waste and wastewater. In an era where sustainability is not just a buzzword but a business imperative, this reduction in environmental impact is a powerful asset, lowering operational costs and bolstering your brand’s credibility with consumers.
Scalability is another critical factor. As a business grows, its processes must grow with it. TECNIC’s solutions are designed with this in
mind, offering a scalable approach that supports your journey from small batch runs to full-scale production. This means a seamless transition as you expand, without the need for a complete overhaul of your systems. The user-friendly, automated control systems further simplify this transition, allowing skilled team members to focus on strategic tasks rather than manual process management.
In a market where every percentage point of yield and every ounce of product quality matters, the time to embrace smarter technology is now. By choosing to invest in TECNIC’s range of solutions, you are not just buying equipment; you are investing in higher yields, unmatched efficiency, and a sustainable future for your business. It’s time to boost your production, maximise your yield, and secure your place at the forefront of the food and drink industry.
Biopharma Group is your partner in this transformation, bringing the proven benefits of TECNIC’s advanced systems directly to the UK and Ireland, get in touch with the team to discuss your requirements.
www.biopharma.co.uk
The stainless steel torque limiters ECV and ECW from ENEMAC have been specially developed for use in indirect drive systems such as chain and belt drives. They reliably protect machines against mechanical overload and meet the highest standards for hygiene and corrosion resistance, making them ideal for sensitive production environments with frequent cleaning cycles.
Thanks to their compact design made entirely of stainless steel and the deliberate omission of coatings, these overload couplings meet the hygienic requirements of the food industry, pharmaceutical and medical technology, cleanrooms, beverage filling, and general process industries.
Technical Data (Both Models):
• Torque range: 5 Nm to 900 Nm
• Maximum speed: up to 4,000 rpm
• Lateral load capacity: up to 30,000 N
• Shaft connection: Keyway (ECV) or clamping hub (ECW)
Product Features:
• Stainless steel disc spring – uncoated to prevent particle formation and corrosion
• Compact and hygienic stainless steel construction for harsh cleaning conditions
• Maintenance-free and durable due to robust design
• High disengagement accuracy for reliable machine protection
The ECV and ECW types combine technical precision with hygienic design, offering powerful solutions for processcritical applications that demand the highest levels of safety, cleanliness, and durability.
IMA serves the international dairy and dairy alternative industries with the best platforms and machines, consistently providing tailored technologies for the packaging of cheese, butter, margarine, yoghurt, desserts, UHT milk and more.
From stand-alone machines to fully-integrated solutions, our advanced technologies and expert consultancy ensure tailored support for every need, from primary to end of line packaging solutions.
Make the most, with us.
We’ll be at PACK EXPO LAS VEGAS
September 29 – October 1, 2025 • West Hall – Booth W-2144
dairyfood@ima.it
ima.it/foodanddairy
The use of APM technology will be demonstrated live on the UCMCombiLine modular ultrasonic cleaning system for manual workstations.
Whether solvent or water-based cleaning, coarse, intermediate, and final cleaning or ultra-fine and high-purity cleaning, the tasks in parts cleaning have never been as varied as they are today. Ecoclean (Hall 10, Stand D36) will be presenting a complete product portfolio for these very different applications and requirements in the various industrial sectors. Information on the comprehensive range of contract cleaning, automation, and digitalization as well as on optimizing the energy and resource efficiency of cleaning processes will round off the trade fair presentation.
Today, component cleaning has to meet an enormous range of tasks and requirements. Not only do very different cleanliness specifications - from grease and/or particle-free to the removal of ultra-fine particulate contamination in the submicrometer range and nanolayers of residual film contaminationhave to be met in a stable manner. Cleaning must also be carried out very economically and in a way that saves energy and resources.
As a full-service provider of futureoriented, flexible, and resourceefficient solutions for industrial
component cleaning, Ecoclean and UCM will be presenting a perfectly tailored range of products and services at this year’s parts2clean (Hall 10, Stand D36) from October 7 to 9 in Stuttgart.
It includes modularly designed cleaning systems and customized special systems as well as application-specific process technologies, for example for spray, high-pressure, immersion, ultrasonic and plasma cleaning, steam degreasing, injection flood washing, pulsed pressure cleaning (PPC) and ultrasonic plus. This means that all tasks, from coarse to high-purity cleaning, can be performed not only stably, but also efficiently and in a resourcesaving manner. Four cleaning systems from the wide range will be on show live. These include the new EcoCvario aqueous chamber system. It is equipped with PPC as standard, among other things, and can therefore handle even very demanding cleaning tasks reliably and economically. The cost-efficient and highly flexible EcoCcompact for solvent cleaning will be on show in the L version. The product family is available in three working chamber sizes and batch weights of up to 150 kg and can be easily converted from hydrocarbon to modified alcohol. Adapted to the cleanliness requirements, the compact plug and play systems can be equipped with all process technologies available for solvent cleaning and for use in high purity cleaning. With the UCMIndexLine, the system manufacturer is presenting a very compact rotary indexing system. Equipped with six cleaning and rinsing stations
cleaning as a
intermediate and precision
- with and without ultrasound or PPC - almost all processes for aqueous-based precision cleaning can be mapped. The system was designed for cleaning small and compact components, for example in medical technology, precision optics, precision mechanics and the jewelry and watchmaking industries. Ecoclean will also be exhibiting the UCMCombiLine, a modular ultrasonic cleaning system for low throughputs and high cleanliness requirements. The machine, which is available in several sizes for manual workstations, will also be used to demonstrate how the APM technology for validatable and contact-free measurement of ultrasonic frequency and power works.
Needs-based cleanliness as a service
This year’s trade fair appearance will also focus on the significantly expanded range of contract cleaning services. This is carried out in the three Test and Service Centers equipped with the latest plant and process technology as well as connected laboratories for cleanliness tests. The range of services extends from classic parts cleaning through fine and precision cleaning to ultra-fine and high purity cleaning. Other topics at the stand include automation and digitalization solutions as well as the optimization of energy and resource efficiency.
Ecoclean at parts2clean, Hall 10, Stand D36 www.ecoclean-group.net
In the fast-paced, hygiene-critical world of food and beverage manufacturing, unplanned downtime is more than a nuisance, it’s a potential crisis. Plate heat exchangers (PHE) are vital to many processes, yet they remain a common source of operational disruption due to undetected cracks or surface failures.
Enter Gappscan, a rapid, nondestructive integrity testing solution developed by EIT International that is transforming how operations and facilities managers approach maintenance of their PHE units. With the ability to reduce inspection time, improve safety, provide reports for traceability and eliminate the need for disassembly before inspection, Gappscan is redefining best practice for heat exchanger reliability increasing plant uptime.
Here’s how it helps reduce your productive downtime. Traditional testing methods like dye penetrant inspections, can take up to 48 hours and require full disassembly of the unit for post-test cleaning to remove all traces of dye. In contrast, Gappscan tests can take as little as five minutes to conduct and does not require opening the heat exchanger. This shift means facilities can schedule more frequent inspections without impacting
production, increasing operational continuity.
Because Gappscan is a non-invasive integrity testing method, the need to strip down equipment, manage gaskets, or reassemble after testing is eliminated. This alone removes hours of manual labour and significantly lowers the risk of postmaintenance failures caused by incorrect reassembly.
Operations Managers often ask about sensitivity, such as: “Can it detect small cracks?” Yes. Gappscan detects defects as small as 5 microns, and its accuracy has been independently validated using known defect sizes. While some legacy methods rely on unqualified procedures and anecdotal efficacy, Gappscan brings quantifiable, repeatable results to your maintenance program. Additionally, it works across different types pf PHE from plate to tubular, meaning that EIT International’s Gappscan system is fully adaptable. For multi-line facilities with varied equipment, this versatility makes it a single-solution tool for plant-wide reliability assurance.
Unlike dye testing, which involves the use of chemicals and viscous liquids, Gappscan is a battery powered, chemical-free solution, and carries none of the electrical
or inhalation risks associated with older methods. In fact, no additional safety steps are needed, it’s inherently safe. This is critically important to food and drink processors who are under increasing pressure to meet CSR protocols, industry regulations and environmental standards which continue to tighten to control contamination outbreaks. Gappscan helps meet sustainability targets by eliminating the need for hazardous dyes and chemical disposal. Using just water and battery power, it aligns with modern environmental stewardship without compromising test quality; here’s how the methods compare:
Time and Safety AdvantagesGappscan vs. Dye Testing:
Backed by ISO 9001 accreditation, each Gappscan system is individually numbered, annually serviced and calibrated. You not only get cutting-edge performance, but peace of mind knowing your data is trustworthy.
As pressures increase to maximise productivity uptime, ensure product safety and meet environmental targets, Gappscan stands out as an essential tool for Operations and Facility Managers worldwide. It delivers speed, safety, accuracy, and sustainability, all without disrupting production.
In an industry where every minute matters, reducing downtime isn’t just good practice. With EIT International’s Gappscan, it’s best practice.
Contact the team at EIT International to discuss your requirements: www.eit-international.com
Leading independent integrator of packaging lines Autopack has marked a tenfold growth in turnover over the last five years – and is targeting ambitious plans for even further growth.
Turnover at the Hereford-based business is forecast to hit £12m this year. In 2020, the company’s size was £1.2m with a workforce of five. The team has now grown to 25 and sees Autopack as the leading independent supplier of packaging and processing machinery to the food, drink, chemical, cleaning and personal care sectors.
The business’ footprint in Hereford has also grown significantly over the last five years and continues with the addition of an additional unit coming on stream this month, taking the space available to over 1680m2. The 25-strong workforce is also set to grow further and is being bolstered by Autopack’s commitment to training and apprenticeships. “Investing
in apprentices and career development creates opportunities for personal and professional growth,” said Managing Director, Wayne Kedward. The business is helping to share knowledge across generations of experts and build a diverse, inclusive and supportive culture.
Managing Director Wayne Kedward added; “Our team is clear in its aims: to deliver exceptional processing and packaging line solutions though our independence, best in class manufacturing partners and technical expertise. We are delighted with how the last five years has progressed and will move forwards together with our growing customer base.”
For Autopack enquiries please contact: Johnathon Stewart, UK sales director T: 01432 677000 E: jonathon.stewart@auto-pack.co.uk
www.auto-pack.co.uk
OKI Europe will present its latest digital tonerbased label and packaging printers at The PPMA Total Show, including the new PLAVI ES9542R label press bundle (OKI printer + DPR winder), the Pro1050 label printer, and the Pro9542dn for direct pouch printing.
PLAVI ES9542R is a 5-colour roll-to-roll label press that prints in CMYK+White and supports media up to 330 mm wide. Designed for short-run jobs, it prints on transparent, coloured, coated, and synthetic substrates. The printed labels are durable and resistant to water, oil, and alcohol. An integrated DPR unwinder and rewinder enable continuous printing, and optional finishing equipment is available.
The Pro1050 narrow-format label printer and the Pro9542dn packaging & graphic arts printer both provide CMYK+White printing along with outstanding media flexibility, which is ideal for overprinting and on-demand tasks in industries ranging from drinks to cosmetics.
“These commercial printers give manufacturers, bottlers, and converters in-house control, rapid turnaround, and outstanding results,” says Hiroki Shibuya, Director of Field Marketing & Professional Services, EMEA.
Visit OKI at Stand H18.
https://www.oki.com/uk/printing/
A complete packaging line designed specifically for frozen pastry products, capable of forming, filling, and sealing transport cases, and concluding the process with a complete palletizing system for seamless end-to-end operations.
This tailor-made line ensures the precise and delicate handling of glazed frozen pastries in continuous-cycle production. Designed for high-speed performance (up to 500 products/min at infeed and 50 cases/min as an output), it features food-grade materials, quality checks (also used to perform qualitative control on pastry products), and advanced automation. Its flexible system adapts to various product sizes and packaging types, enabling quick and just-in-time responses to market demands. High-speed pick-and-place robots protect the products appearance and coating, ensuring they reach consumers in perfect condition while enhancing both product quality and brand perception.
• Handles up to 500 products per minute at infeed
• Delivers up to 50 cases per minute at outfeed
• Integrates corrugated cardboard case (from flat blank) forming with protective bag insertion
• Fully food-grade contact materials
• High-speed pick-and-place robotics for delicate handling
www.gampackgroup.com
PACKAGING INNOVATION AT THE HEART OF THE NORTH
3 - 4 SEPTEMBER 2025
3 - 4 SEPTEMBER 2025
MANCHESTER CENTRAL, HALL 1
MANCHESTER CENTRAL, HALL 1
UKPACKAGINGEXPO.CO.UK UKPACKAGINGEXPO.CO.UK
20+ Expert Speakers
70+ Exhibitors
Discussing packaging trends, sustainability, and policies. Showcasing the latest packaging technologies and solutions. Meet Toly, Unilever and Dapy Paris.
2,500+ Attendees
Home to some of the country’s most influential manufacturers
Buyers and decision-makers from top companies, including Unilever, PZ Cussons, McVities, and Reckitt.
CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS & MEET KEY DECISION MAKERS
Autopack will showcase a range of cutting-edge automated equipment at PPMA Total 2025 on its largest individual stand to date.
With 15 machines on stand B20, Autopack will be giving pride of place to four primary machines in filling, capping, horizontal Form Fill Seal (HFFS) and Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS). The VFFS machine will demonstrate a new brick pack format for coffee beans as one of Autopack’s latest packaging innovations. The block bottom bag has a roll top finish secured using a resealable label and delivers a new packaging format for the hugely popular coffee bean sector.
As well as VFFS and HFFS machines, Autopack provides sachet, stick and pouch equipment either pre-made or from film on the reel. These can be tailored with zippers, spouts and custom shapes, with visitors able to discuss their requirements with a 20-strong team, who will be on the stand throughout the show.
For those looking at rigid packaging solutions, Autopack supplies depalletising, un-scrambling rinsing systems for bottles, jars, tins and containers. In addition, it can provide the associated conveyors onto a wide range of filling machines with capping solutions such as screw-on, pilfer proof and vacuum twist capping machines.
“PPMA Total 2025 is the perfect platform to highlight our innovations in the sector,” said Jonathon Stewart, UK Sales Director. “From big name retailers and brand owners through to entrepreneurs and start-ups we look forward to giving visitors to stand B20 advice on what technology best suits their products.”
For Autopack enquiries please contact: Jonathon Stewart, UK sales director T: 01432 677000
E: jonathon.stewart@auto-pack.co.uk
www.auto-pack.co.uk
FREE registration is now open for the Engineering Design Show (EDS), taking place on 8–9 October 2025 at the Coventry Building Society Arena, in Coventry.
Following the success of last year’s show, which brought together thousands of design engineers from across the UK, EDS 2025 is gearing up to welcome more than 4,800 mechanical, electronic and embedded design professionals, making it the biggest edition to date.
Building on its reputation as the UK’s leading event for the engineering design community, the show continues to expand. Attracting innovators, decisionmakers and technical specialists looking to explore the latest technology and trends shaping the future of product development.
Across two days, visitors can meet with 200+ industry-leading exhibitors spanning product design, 3D printing, embedded systems, PCB manufacturing, motors, sensors, robotics and much more.
Attendees will also have access to over 50 conference sessions delivered across three dedicated conference streams, curated in partnership with The Engineer, Eureka! and New Electronics. From tackling real-world design challenges to showcasing breakthrough technologies, the programme delivers both practical insight and future-focused inspiration.
Back by popular demand, the Games Zone will return with expanded F1 racing simulators and interactive challenges, giving attendees the chance to test their
skills, compete with peers and take a playful break between sessions. Alongside this, the Innovation Zone will once again shine a spotlight on pioneering technologies, including Creative Hubb Ltd’s EOD bomb disposal suit and Dennistries’ latest NextGen robotic range.
Hands-on learning remains a core feature of EDS, with practical workshops running across two dedicated theatres. These sessions are designed to equip engineers with new tools, techniques and fresh thinking to apply back at the design bench. Networking and downtime are equally catered for in the Chill & Charge Zone, a relaxed environment to recharge, catch up with colleagues or simply reset before diving back into the action.
Nottingham Trent University’s student showcase will return, providing a platform for the next generation of product design talent to exhibit their cutting-edge prototypes and bold ideas.
Additionally, new for this year, KUKA will also be on site showcasing their next-generation Autonomous Mobile Robots –offering a firsthand look at how intelligent mobility is transforming intralogistics and smart manufacturing.
Packed with innovation, insight, and hands-on action, the Engineering Design Show is the must-attend event for design engineers. Registration is now open, secure your free place today!
www.engineeringdesignshow.co.uk
Spark detection systems are designed to identify and neutralize sparks or embers before they can ignite combustible materials within industrial processes. They are especially critical in environments where flammable dust, fibers, or particles are frequently handled or transported.
These systems operate by detecting abnormal heat signatures or light emissions from sparks, then automatically triggering a response to extinguish or isolate the ignition source, preventing it from developing into a fire or explosion.
Why Spark Detection Systems Are Essential in Fire Prevention
The role of spark detection technology in preventing industrial fires cannot be overstated. These systems offer several significant benefits:
Instant Response: Detecting sparks in real time allows for immediate suppression, drastically reducing the risk of fire and explosion.
Protection of Equipment and Lives: By preventing fires, these systems help safeguard valuable industrial assets and, most importantly, employee safety.
Regulatory Compliance: Many industries are required to meet strict fire safety regulations. Implementing a spark detection system ensures compliance, helping businesses avoid fines and legal repercussions.
Reduced Downtime: Industrial fires can lead to costly production halts. Spark detection systems help maintain uninterrupted operations, preventing unplanned shutdowns.
Implementing a Spark Detection System in Your Facility
To maximize fire safety, the installation of a spark detection system should be an integral part of an industrial fire prevention strategy. This process includes:
• Assessing fire-prone areas in the facility to identify high-risk zones.
• Strategically placing sensors and suppression units to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• Conducting regular maintenance and testing to maintain optimal system performance and reliability.
Conclusion
Spark detection systems are an indispensable tool in preventing industrial fires. Their ability to detect and neutralize ignition sources in real time makes them an essential investment for any facility handling combustible materials.
As technology advances, these systems continue to improve, offering greater precision and enhanced protection for industrial operations. By understanding the importance of spark detection and implementing a reliable system, businesses can significantly mitigate fire risks and create a safer working environment for all.
Boss Products UK info@bossproducts.co.uk www.bossproducts.co.uk
• Explosion Isolation
• Flameless Venting
• Spark Detection & Extinguishing
• NFPA Compliant & ATEX Certified Rotary Valves
Up to 30:1 turndown
Up to 205 kW per foot
Reduced NO₂/CO Emissions
Air replacement or “Make-Up”
APL technology - modulating gas and air
Ideal for variable plant conditions
Heat input range up to 1,550 kW
Choice of operating fuels
High efficiency
Customised design to suit each install
Proven in a wide range of applications
Choice of burner heat inputs up to 1150 kW
Our gas burner systems offer users reliable, high efficiency, process heating solutions.
From design, manufacturing and supply to installation, commissioning and ongoing support, we fulfill process liquid, oven and air heating needs for both new-build and conversion projects.
Choice of operating fuels
Ideal for variable plant conditions
Larger heat input available on request
APL technology -modulating gas and air
Heat input range up to 1,550 kW
Choice of operating fuels
Packaged burner design
Up to 40:1 turndown
Combustion Engineering Limited Lanemark House, Whitacre Road, Nuneaton Warwickshire CV11 6BW United Kingdom
info@lanemark.com
+44 (0) 24 7635 2000
A new approach to sealing of liquified food piping systems using FDA Compliant Seals.
A reusable lifetime replacement to Spiral Wound Gaskets.
Characteristics
• Re-usable - seal for life
• Can be used in contact with any type of aqueous food
• Fully compliant to the USA food standard CFR21 FDA 177-2600 for Fatty Food
• Fully compliant with FDA regulation and meets the requirements of EU directive 1935:2004 which covers rubber compounds in contact with food under article 3
• Our FDA Compliant compound has been formulated using a citrate plasticiser and
can therefore be classified as Phthalate Free
• Elastomers are available for all areas of food production
• TOOL COMPATIBILITY: compatible with all pumps, flow meters, valves and drives used in the food industry
For more information, please visit our website or contact us directly on 01226 273 700.
www.ashtonseals.co.uk/ pamargan-flange-seals
Europe has seen strong growth in food processing enterprises over the past 15 years. With advancements in cold chain infrastructure, storage, automation, and foreign investment, the industry has made impressive strides. Yet, amid this progress, one critical factor has often been overlooked - Hygienic Design.
This global shift is driven by growing consumer concerns, internal demands from Quality Control teams, and external pressure from certified auditors. However, these pressures mostly target existing machinery and processes. What about new machinery? And what about the high economic and hygienic cost of maintaining old equipment? Even recently purchased equipment can be a false economy when it comes to hygiene risks.
Food safety incidents are on the rise globally. In countries heavily reliant on processed food, millions fall ill every year, and companies face legal consequences.
Food safety organizations have proliferated mainly since the 1980s with the fear of class actions against mega supermarket chains being a key driver.
Regulatory ordinances have followed and today there is a move to unify the systems to prevent conflicting standards under the Codex Alimentarius and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), aim to harmonize food safety frameworks and auditing systems.
Recognizing the need for hygienic factory and equipment design, the European Hygienic Engineering Design Group (EHEDG) was founded. Supported by food producers, OEMs, and component manufacturers like Volta Belting Technology Ltd. (e.g. conveyor belting), EHEDG creates design guidelines that reduce contamination risks. Volta has actively contributed to EHEDG for over 12 years, assists in drafting hygienic standards in belting and conveyor designs.
As pathogens evolve and develop resistance to cleaning agents, hygienic design becomes even more essential. EHEDG Guideline 42 highlights thermoplastic belting— particularly monolithic designs—as superior to modular and PU fabric belts in terms of hygiene. These belts reduce bacteria counts and minimize water, chemical use, and cleaning time, resulting in significantly lower costs of ownership.
Volta’s SuperDrive™ belts support true hygienic design, enabling not just easier cleaning but also transforming older conveyor systems into streamlined, easily cleanable, low-maintenance models. Independent studies show cost savings of up to 55% with monolithic belts and up to 75% when used on hygienic design conveyors.
Visit Volta Belting Technology Ltd at PPMA Hall 5 Stand E16 to discover how you can future-proof your operations and benefit today from cutting-edge hygienic solutions.
Volta Belting Technology is a global leader in hygienic, durable, and high-performance belting solutions for the snack processing, frozen vegetables & fruits, and food inspection industries. Our homogeneous belts are engineered to eliminate the risks of fraying, delamination, and to restrict bacterial development, ensuring the highest levels of food safety and efficiency.
In snack food manufacturing, maintaining product quality and minimizing waste is essential. Volta’s belts offer excellent release properties, preventing product buildup and ensuring smooth conveying of chips, nuts, extruded snacks, and baked goods. Their non-stick surface reduces downtime caused by frequent cleaning and enhances production efficiency.
For frozen food applications, belts must withstand extreme temperatures without losing flexibility or
durability. Volta’s homogeneous PU belts ensure smooth and gentle handling of delicate products, preventing damage to frozen fruits and vegetables. Their non-porous structure resists moisture absorption, reducing the risk of bacterial growth and ensuring long-term hygiene.
In food inspection systems, belt performance directly impacts accuracy. Volta belts are specifically designed for metal detectors and checkweighers, ensuring high detection sensitivity and minimal false rejects. Their smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces prevent residue buildup, supporting stringent food safety protocols.
Volta belts comply with FDA and EU food safety standards, making them suitable for clean-in-place (CIP) and high-pressure washdowns. Their extended lifespan and low maintenance reduce operational costs while improving production output.
Used by leading manufacturers worldwide, Volta Belting Technology helps processors enhance efficiency, ensure food safety, and reduce downtime. Whether for snack production, frozen foods, or food inspection, Volta provides innovative and reliable solutions for modern food processing challenges.
In food processing, temperature control is more than complianceit’s essential to quality, safety, and brand integrity. This is particularly true in ice cream production, where even minor fluctuations can compromise texture, taste, or shelf life.
T&D Corporation’s RTR500B Series offers a robust, wireless data logging solution designed to monitor every stage of the cold chain - from production to storage and retail. With cloud integration, real-time alerts, and long-range wireless transmission, these devices ensure complete visibility across temperature-sensitive environments.
A standout example is MDI, a Japanese manufacturer supplying convenience stores with frozen desserts. At every stage – from pasteurisation to hardening – MDI uses RTR500B loggers to track critical temperatures. Data is automatically sent to a central system via RTR500BW base station (Wired LAN or WLAN, max 50 remote units per RTR500BW can be connected), where staff are alerted instantly if readings move outside safe limits. This allows swift intervention, helping avoid spoilage or compliance breaches.
The same applies to cold storage and transport. The RTR500B Series supports wide temperature ranges and offers reliable performance even in remote locations without fixed power – ideal for mobile or transitional environments.
Retail freezers are often the weakest link in the cold chain. Fluctuations due to faulty equipment or user error can ruin entire batches.
RTR500B loggers discreetly monitor salesroom units and upload data automatically to T&D’s free WebStorage Service. This provides central oversight and easy access for audits or inspections – streamlining HACCP compliance.
Whether for ice cream, dairy or ready meals, the RTR500B Series gives producers and distributors a reliable, real-time solution for maintaining cold chain integrity from start to sale.
More information: https:// ondotorism.blog/en/mdi-ice-cream/
RTR500B Series – Key Features
• Wireless communication up to 150 metres (Extendable with repeaters)
• Combined temperature & humidity measurement, Voltage, 4-20mA, Pulse models available
• Cloud-based data access via WebStorage Service (free of charge)
• Real-time warning alert via email with RTR500BW and SMS plus email via RTR500BM
• Long battery life for remote operation
• Suitable for HACCP-compliant environments
• Wide measurement range for cold chain applications
Blog about MDI’s interview: https:// ondotorism.blog/en/mdi-ice-cream/
For requests contact our local distributors: https://tandd.com/ purchasing/#europe or visit our website: https://tandd.com
Discover more at www.tandd.com Or contact: T&D Corporation European Sales Office Minoru Ito Tel.: +49 6034 93 09 70 europe.office@tandd.de
Compass Wire Cloth, a North American leading manufacturer of separation, sifting, and screening solutions, supports food and beverage processors with specialized dry screening solutions designed to improve quality control and operational performance. Compass’s screening technologies help manufacturers maintain product consistency, eliminate contamination, and meet stringent industry standards.
In the food industry, screening dry ingredients is critical not only for ensuring consistent particle size but also for protecting end consumers and preserving brand reputation. Used in the processing of spices, powdered dairy, coffee and coffee beans, powdered chocolate and more, effective screening prevents oversized or broken material, foreign contaminants, and offspec particles from reaching the final product. This is especially important for sensitive applications such as infant formula, baking ingredients, beverage powders, and
seasoning blends, where even minor inconsistencies can affect taste, texture, or safety.
Central to Compass Wire Cloth’s offering are its Round Pretensioned Sandwich Screens, engineered for improved material throughput and extended screen life and tailored for dry material separation. These screens feature a precisiontensioned mesh system, fabricated in-house to ensure tight tolerances and dependable fit with all major OEM vibratory screeners. Compass’s ability to manufacture screens to exact specifications ensures that food processors benefit from consistent screen tension, minimal downtime, and extended operational life.
The unique sandwich-style construction holds deblinding devices such as sliders or balls. These devices move freely during operation to keep the working mesh clear of blinding caused by sticky or fine powders, reducing cleaning intervals and maintaining
throughput. The screens are available in multiple aperture sizes ranging from 20 microns to 11,000 microns, and the flexibility of multiple deck configurations allows manufacturers to separate materials by size or remove broken pieces from final product runs, supporting both quality control and regulatory compliance.
Compass Wire Cloth also provides a full range of complementary screening components, including connectors, protective dust control lids, and precision-fit accessories, all designed to enhance the performance and reliability of dry processing operations.
With decades of industry experience and a commitment to quality, Compass Wire Cloth remains a trusted partner for food and beverage producers seeking efficient, dependable screening solutions tailored to their application needs.
Designed to Improve Quality Control and Operational Performance
For more information, visit https://www.compasswire.com
Compass Wire Cloth is a North American leading manufacturer of separation, sifting, and screening solutions. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, the company serves a diverse range of industries, including food and beverage processing, agriculture, metal powders, and more. Compass Wire Cloth’s experienced team delivers customized solutions to meet the unique needs of each customer.
walk-behind scrubber dryers innovative walkdryer that is simple learn, use, and makes it easy to quickly, with
SC5000
Stand-on/ride-on scrubber dryers
A compact, highly manoeuvrable scrubber dryer that combines intuitive operation, exemplary performance, and leading resource-efficient technologies into a single package. industrial use in
SC550
Medium walk-behind scrubber dryers
Walk-behind sweepers
This battery powered, truly versatile sweeper can go anywhere and be used for cleaning everything from retail areas to gas stations. Quiet and easy cleaning helps you achieve maximum productivity.
SC5000
Stand-on/ride-on scrubber dryers
VHS120
The SC550 is an innovative walkbehind scrubber dryer that is simple and intuitive to learn, use, and maintain, which makes it easy to get up and running quickly, with very little training.
Single-phase wet & dry
The VHS120 is the ideal vacuum cleaner when there is need of high performances in compact dimensions for collecting any type of waste material.
A compact, highly manoeuvrable scrubber dryer that combines intuitive operation, exemplary performance, and leading resource-efficient technologies into a single package.
SW750
Walk-behind sweepers
This battery powered, truly versatile sweeper can go anywhere and be used for cleaning everything from retail areas to gas stations. Quiet and easy cleaning helps you achieve maximum productivity.
Working in food production is mor e dangerous than most people think. Spills cause slips, trips, and falls, and combustible dust can lead to life-threatening fires and explosions. Our ergonomic cleaning systems help you maintain a safe environment by eliminating hazards and simplifying clean-up.
pressure medium
mid range pressure most versatile demanding customers in industry, construction and
MH 4M
VHS110
Single-phase
SC550
Mobile hot water pressure medium
The single phase industrial vacuum cleaner for use in Atex Z22 locations.
VHS120
SC5000
SW750
The MH 4M series takes mid-range hot water high pressure washers to a new level, meeting the latest productivity demands in the market.
Medium walk-behind scrubber dryers
Single-phase wet & dry
The SC550 is an innovative walkbehind scrubber dryer that is simple and intuitive to learn, use, and maintain, which makes it easy to get up and running quickly, with very little training.
Stand-on/ride-on scrubber dryers
The VHS120 is the ideal vacuum cleaner when there is need of high performances in compact dimensions for collecting any type of waste material.
A compact, highly manoeuvrable scrubber dryer that combines intuitive operation, exemplary performance, and leading resource-efficient technologies into a single package.
Walk-behind
This battery sweeper can used for cleaning retail areas and easy cleaning maximum
They say that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” but when it comes to industrial bread baking that’s a little too late. To get the best out of your bread or bakery product significant understanding and control of the baking process / oven is essential to get form, shape, texture and colour you desire. As part of any Food processors HACCP program validation of the bake processes is a critical and significant task taking time, effort, and resources. PhoenixTM have developed a thruprocess temperature monitoring technology specifically for this task. The multi-channel data logger with up to 10 thermocouples (Type K or T) travels through the oven protected by a thermal barrier to suit the bake regime (Temperature and Time) and challenges of the product transfer. The data logger is designed for food processing and has a IP67 case protecting from moisture and will operate accurately between -40 °C to 80 °C, inside the barrier, with high performance cold junction compensation.
For bread loaves the thermal barrier is designed to fit inside a modified bread tin strap (image shown right). Monitoring
conveyorised mesh belt ovens either product core temperature can be measured alternatively a fixed arm assembly can be fitted to the thermal barrier to locate thermocouple across the belt width. Ambient temperatures can be measured accurately and reproducibly allowing efficient oven mapping and identification of ‘Hot’ and ‘Cold’ spots within the oven.
The temperature profile stored in the data logger can be reviewed, analysed and reported in custom designed PhoenixTM Thermal View Food Software.
A comprehensive suite of analysis tools converts the raw profile temperature data into useful process information. Analysis of key process criteria such as yeast kill time to guarantee height of bake, starch gelatinisation time to control bread crumb structure and arrival time to control final bake and colour formation can be performed using the data analysis tools. Analysis tools also include the ability to calculate Fo/ Pu values for the process against target micro-organisms.
The information gathered, further to process validation, can be used to allow informed process problem solving and optimisation to maximise product quality, yield, process productivity and efficiency.
Contact PhoenixTM to help Find, Fix and Forget your Bread Cook Problems!
www.phoenixtm.com
Product Safety
Process Efficiency
Improved Product Yields
Rapid Fault Finding
Full HACCP Certification
Thru-process temperature monitoring solutions for all your cook applications
• Accurate IP67 data logger (Type K or T)
• 10 Measurement Points for full oven mapping
• Thermal barrier options to suit cook regime
• Comprehensive thermocouple range
• Standard miniature thermocouple plugs
• Calibrated thermocouple options
• Food trays and thermocouple jig options
• Full lethality (Fo/Pu) and reporting
• Real Time RF Telemetry options
• Local efficient calibration and service support
London Packaging Week 2025 reveals the finalists for its Innovation Awards, which celebrate pioneering, sustainable packaging breakthroughs from luxury to everyday brands shaping the future of design.
London Packaging Week 2025 has unveiled the finalists for the second annual Innovation Awards, spotlighting the most inventive, sustainable, and design-led packaging innovations that are shaping the future of global brands.
This year’s shortlist celebrates bold thinking across every sector, from luxury spirits to everyday food, beauty, wellness, and home fragrance. The awards honour entries that elevate packaging beyond function into a medium for storytelling, sensory experience and positive environmental impact.
A total of 81 finalists have been whittled down from hundreds of entries across 12 categories, reflecting the global momentum behind sustainable, consumercentric packaging innovation. Among the finalists are industry icons and rising disruptors alike, including Charlotte Tilbury, Harrods, Macallan, Glenmorangie, Hendrick’s Gin, Hennessy, Clive Christian, Hotel Chocolat, Innocent, LUSH, Starbucks, Belvedere, The Glenlivet, and Mondelez International.
From prestige advent calendars and illuminated bottle caps to refillable skincare and paperbased chilled food packs, each of these breakthrough projects will be showcased at London Packaging Week, held at Excel London on 15 & 16 October 2025. A dedicated Innovation Awards
display will give visitors an exclusive opportunity to explore these solutions in person. The winners will be revealed during the Innovation Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 16 October.
“The breadth and depth of innovation in this year’s entries reflect an exciting future for packaging,” said Co-Chair of the awards, Christelle Anya. “It’s clear that brands are responding to consumer demand for sustainability by pushing boundaries in design and functionality like never before. What stands out most is the collaboration and bold thinking across sectors, from luxury spirits to everyday essentials. These awards celebrate that spirit of innovation, which is crucial for driving positive change in how we package products.”
The 2025 judging panel brought together a diverse group of senior experts from global brands, industry bodies, and sustainability leaders. With expertise spanning luxury, FMCG, retail, sustainability, and regulatory affairs, the 18-member panel ran the rule over hundreds of entries in a lively day of discussion and debate that reflected the evolving priorities of the packaging industry.
Simon Elmer, Global Head of Innovation Practice at William Grant & Sons, said: “The standard of entries was very good, but what really stood out was the tone of the judging – it felt less analytical and more engaging, more conversational. That’s the strength
of bringing people together from different sectors and backgrounds: it gives you a fresh perspective on your own work, and reminds you why packaging matters.”
Nikki Grainge, Packaging Technician at Marks & Spencer, added: “There were some fantastic entries across the board, especially at the high end, showcasing impressive craftsmanship and creativity. What stood out was the strong focus on sustainability, with many brands reevaluating their materials and packaging formats to reduce plastic use and minimise environmental impact. It’s encouraging to see innovation and responsibility advancing hand in hand.”
Michelle Atkinson, Global Head –Sustainable Solutions, Marketing & Innovation at Diageo, said: “The Innovation Awards play a vital role in fostering progress across the packaging industry. By bringing together experts from drinks, beauty, grocery, and retail, the awards create a rich, diverse conversation that challenges and inspires. Celebrating these achievements not only highlights outstanding creativity and sustainability but also drives the entire sector forward.”
ww.londonpackagingweek.com
United Air Power Ltd (UAP) were established 26 years ago, specialising in Compressed Air, Nitrogen Generation and Process Cooling. Working within a wide range of industries UAP offers bespoke, reliable solutions.
Nitrogen gas plays an important role in the food industry from process to packaging. By replacing the oxygen with nitrogen, food will have a longer shelf life and the ‘just-made’ flavour and appearance can be maintained.
When tasked to provide a reliable source of Food Grade Nitrogen Gas for food production, reliability of supply can create logistical difficulties along with procedures that must be established to monitor and manage the utility. Additionally, safety and handling concerns need to be considered. The cost of addressing these issues can be high and difficult to budget for, while the market price of Nitrogen gas and supplier rates change continually. The environmental impact of truckbased deliveries is another important consideration for carbon footprint reduction.
The ideal solution lies in a range of UAP on-site gas generation systems which UAP can design, supply and install, to meet the customer’s specific needs. This enables users to produce their Food Grade Nitrogen gas on demand on the premises, under their complete control. As a result, companies can generate as much or as little nitrogen as needed, at a fraction of the cost, thereby profitably and sustainably supporting all of the production requirements.
On-site nitrogen generation separates nitrogen from compressed air for use directly at the user’s location. Our on-site nitrogen generation system being modular in design, offers a range of output flows from a few litres per minute to in excess of 130 m3/h from a single module!
The UAP integrated nitrogen generation system pre-treats the air from a standard industrial compressor which is then essentially “sieved” so that oxygen and other trace gases are removed, while nitrogen is allowed to pass through to the application as the product gas. Air separation is not a new idea, but the radical Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) design and control systems employed on the Parker NITROSource Plus nitrogen
Nitrogen gas plays an important role in the food industry from process to packaging.
generator range has maximised Nitrogen output and reduced compressed air consumption to achieve even higher levels of efficiency than before.
The sector leading Parker NITROSource nitrogen generation system can reduce costs by up to 90% when compared to traditional methods of supply with a payback period on capital investment typically being achieved within 12- 24 months. Any safety concerns associated with bulk liquid storage or manual handling and changing of heavy high-pressure cylinders are also eliminated.
Using the latest Parker nitrogen generation technology, UAP can design, install and maintain tailor-made solutions to meet the customers nitrogen gas demands. The NITROSource Plus equipment at the heart of our on-site generation systems carry full third-party validation ensuring the generated nitrogen gas not only meets the food grade standards, but in fact exceeds the quality required. These fully scalable systems provide a low cost, safe and efficient continuous source of N2 food grade gas on demand.
For further information and a free no obligation gas survey contact UAP for details.
Existing customers of TSC’s MB241 printers will easily be able to add RFID functionality to their machines with an RFID upgrade kit
Hard on the heels of winning a much-coveted Red Dot Design Award this spring, the appeal of TSC Auto ID’s MB241 industrial label printer has increased further with the addition of RFID scalable functionality. Existing customers of TSC’s MB241 printers will easily be able to add RFID functionality to their machines with an RFID upgrade kit, which will quickly extend their capabilities without significant investment. For those procuring new deployments, the MB241 will come with RFID functionality pre-installed.
“Winning Red Dot’s highly contested ‘Industrial equipment, machinery and automation’ category affirmed what we’ve long claimed about the MB241; that it sets new standards in form, function and sustainable industrial printing. Adding RFID functionality to the mix only heightens its appeal,” says Bob Vines, TSC Auto ID’s Country Manager for the UK, Ireland and the Nordics.
The MB241 can process standard RFID labels, on-metal labels up to 1.65mm thick, and numerous speciality tags, making it eminently suitable for diverse needs across multiple sectors. TSC Auto ID’s free UniPRT SDK will also enable smooth and rapid integration into legacy systems, streamlining implementation.
Operational efficiency has also been improved with MB241’s RFID functionality:
· Encode During Print capability simultaneously encodes while printing thereby boosting throughput
· Any faulty tags are automatically identified and reprinted thus preventing them entering circulation.
· Auto-calibration and an intuitive user interface make daily operations effortless and reduce both downtime and training needs.
“We actively collaborate with industry-leading bodies like GS1, AIM, ISO, and the RAIN Alliance to ensure our RFID solutions align with global standards and evolving industry needs. We also continue to validate RFID chips, inlays, and tags from major manufacturers at our printer and label validation lab. This ensures that not only will our MB241 Series handle the growing variety of labels on the market but so too will all our other RFID printers,“ says
Learn more about the MB241 and how it could benefit those who specify and procure process automation, chemical and engineering products, equipment, systems & services.
TSC Auto ID is a global leader in automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) and thermal label printing technologies, serving customers in over 100 countries. With a strong foundation in innovation, TSC Auto ID has expanded through strategic acquisitions. The 2024 addition of Bluebird Inc., a global leader in enterprise mobility, enhances its Auto ID ecosystem by integrating enterprise mobile computing, data capture, and label printing technologies and supplies. This strengthens its ability to deliver end-to-end automation in retail, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. With a widespread global deployment, TSC Auto ID remains committed to engineering excellence and scalable innovation.
Learn more at www.tscprinters.com
New Depositor Provides Precise and Fast Operation with Automatic Adjustments for Multiple Products.
Deposit Weight: up to 250g maximum
Deposit particles up to 20mm (.87”)
Rates: up to 100 per minute per head
Electrical: 200-575 VAC, 50/60 Hz, phase
Hopper Capacity
Today, Grote Company, a manufacturer of reliable, topquality food slicing and assembly equipment, announced its Servo Depositor machine, designed to accurately and consistently deposit all types of condiments, liquids and particulates on prepared food lines.
– 10.5 gallons (21 - 39.7 L)
The Servo Depositor deposits virtually all types of liquid, semi-liquid, and particulate condiments and wet salads on your prepared food lines. Deposit weight and length are automatically adjusted for product differences and changeouts. It’s available in different models, configurations, and with a range of depositing heads/ accessories to customize for your exact applications. The Servo Depositor ensures you get accurate, consistent deposits at a higher rate.
• Servo actuator provides precise volume and placement control
View the Servo Depositor in action and learn more here.
• Deposit rates up to 100 per minute per head with minimal gaps between products
• HMI weight and length adjustments for utmost flexibility and ease of use
• Configured to meet your specific application – with a variety of hoppers, nozzles and heads available
• Sanitary design with airless operation and tool-free disassembly allows for easy, quick and thorough washdown and maintenance
Grote Company manufactures reliable, top-quality food slicing and assembly equipment. Grote’s trusted equipment is expertly designed and built strong for pizza, sandwich, and food-slicing processors. With a personal touch and an enduring commitment to its customers and employees, for more than 50 years, Grote Company has proudly served the equipment it builds, as well as the people who operate and depend on it. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, with locations in the UK and the Netherlands.
Visit Grote Company online at www.grotecompany.com
“Fast and flexible with sanitary RTE design, the depositor was developed to fit seamlessly into your line, based on our deep knowledge of the sandwich, baked goods and prepared foods markets.”
• RTE design with stainless steel construction
• Cantilevered, adjustable height design
• Servo-driven
Easy to maintain and operate, the depositor provides precise volume and placement control, with deposit rates of up to 100 per minute per nozzle and minimal gaps between products. Multiple products can be dispensed for greater throughput.
“Grote Company’s new Servo Depositor machine is just what prepared food processors need to increase their productivity,” said John Truscott, Director of Technology, of Grote Company.
The Servo Depositor features automatic deposit weight and length adjustments. Made with stainless steel components, it’s easier to maintain and operate, allowing for toolless changeouts and disassembly for thorough washdowns and maintenance, all with food-safe operation in mind. Airless operation is also available, depending on the application.
• Airless operation (application dependent)
• Heads available: Basic Nozzle, Sheeting, Rise & Fall, Shut Off Gate (customized per application)
• Conveyor speed signal for automatic adjustments
• Multiple heads
The machine’s cantilevered base with adjustable height means it can be added seamlessly to any production line. Configurable to meet specific needs, it offers a choice of hopper capacities, as well as a variety of nozzles and heads, for flexibility.
Nutriswiss AG has received organic certification for its oil mill in Wohlen, Switzerland, paving the way for the flexible expansion of its operations in the production of organic edible oils. The Bio Suisse certification confirms the company’s ability to process locally grown organic Swiss oilseeds directly at source and refine high-quality organic seeds from within the EU in adherence with strict regulatory and traceability standards.
Around 85% of the oils and fats refined and supplied by Nutriswiss are plant-based, with the share of organic products continuing to rise. These raw materials are largely purchased on local and international markets or provided by Nutriswiss customers for contract refining. The organic certification of Nutriswiss’s own oil mill in Wohlen, canton of Aargau,
closes a key gap in the company’s organic portfolio.
Pierre Nording, Head of Procurement at Nutriswiss AG, is responsible for implementing the company’s organic strategy on site. “The oil mill has been pressing edible oil for Nutriswiss since 2008. In 2022, we took over the facility entirely and decided to extend our organic offering across the full value chain. The first organic audit for oilseeds took place as early as autumn 2023,” he explains.
The Wohlen site primarily processes rapeseed and sunflower seeds grown in Switzerland, including high oleic (HO) varieties. These are rich in heat-resistant oleic acid and particularly well suited for frying and deep-frying applications. The site also processes soybeans and linseed, as well as imported organic raw materials.
Two production lines are in place: the larger one – consisting of a pre-press and main press –primarily processes rapeseed with a capacity of approximately 3.5 tonnes per hour. In addition, a smaller single-stage press handles flexible production of smaller oil batches at around 500 kg per hour. Full traceability of all batches and process steps is ensured. Organic seeds and oils are stored in dedicated silos and tanks at the site. During product transitions, any intermediate phases are processed separately in compliance with regulations and marketed without the organic label. A total of nine tanks provide interim storage for up to 1,900 tonnes of crude oil, which is then transported by Centravo Group tankers for refining in Lyss. The adjacent organic-certified Freiamt Grain Centre provides total storage capacity for 24,000 tonnes of grain and oilseeds.
While the share of organically grown oilseeds within Switzerland remains low, a significant portion of the organic seeds processed comes from imports - an area in which Nutriswiss expects to see sustainable future growth. Thanks to full organic certification across all internal production stages, Pierre Nording believes the company is well positioned to leverage this opportunity: “In addition to the Bio Suisse label, we are certified under the EU Organic Regulation and the China National Organic Standard. Batches are kept just as strictly separate as conventional and organic oils, in line with respective regulatory requirements.”
www.nutriswiss.uk/en/
MPS Europe Ltd is a family-owned manufacturer of plastics packaging, based in Blyth, Northumberland.
Established in 2006 by industry experts Alan Charlton and Iain McLeod, the company began production in 2007 from a modest 6,000 sq ft facility in South Northumberland. With over 60 years of combined experience in polymer manufacturing, plastics moulding, and packaging, our founders created a lean and responsive operation tailored to meet customer needs. Specializing in PET/rPET containers, MPS provides both a range of standard items and fully customized designs. Our focus covers various sectors, from food service to industrial applications, with a strong emphasis on reusable, recyclable, and sustainable products.
Quality assurance is fundamental to MPS. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified, and in 2018, we achieved an AA grade under the BRCGS Packaging Global Standard on our first attempt—a distinction we consistently uphold. Additionally, our investments in ecoefficient machinery, green energy sourcing, and environmental
waste management support our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint.
Under the joint leadership of Charlton (Managing Director) and McLeod (Manufacturing Director), MPS positions itself as a responsive, independent UK manufacturer— merging community roots with international reach. Our mission is to provide customers with adaptable, premium-grade packaging solutions while promoting regional employment and sustainable practices.
MPS is here to assist, creating packaging solutions tailored to our customers’ needs, guiding them through the development process from the initial concept to the finished product. Our highly skilled design and mould manufacturing team has access to a variety of global resources. Our customers can trust that our mould quality and manufacturing lead times are among the best in the industry, as we maintain highly competitive mould prices and aim to transition from the finalization of approved designs to production-scale manufacturing in as little as 8 weeks.
Some other key information:
• Manufacturing our own preforms as part of two-stage injection blow moulding
• Bottles and Jars stock ranging from 100ml-6000ml
• Various shapes including round, square, rectangular, and square round
• Recent investment includes 38mm neck, to go alongside our popular 63mm, 70mm and 110mm
• Capacity to expand and undertake new projects
At MPS, we’re proud to be one of the few remaining independent UK based manufacturers where our flexibility offers key benefits to our customers.
www.mps-europe.com
The Dairy Industries Expo 2025, the UK’s leading event dedicated to dairy processing, packaging, and food safety solutions, is set to return to NAEC Stoneleigh on 29-30 October 2025. This essential twoday trade exhibition brings together key players from across the dairy supply chain, offering unparalleled access to cutting-edge technologies, expert insights, and networking opportunities.
As the only event of its kind in the UK focused exclusively on the dairy sector, Dairy Industries Expo 2025 will welcome exhibitors showcasing the latest advancements in processing equipment, automation, packaging innovation, quality control, hygiene, and food safety technologies all under one roof.
The show is proudly organised by Dairy Industries International, the industry’s longest-running and most trusted media brand, providing deep sector knowledge and unmatched
industry connections. With editorial and digital coverage before, during, and after the event, this year’s expo is set to deliver even greater value to both exhibitors and visitors.
“Participating in the Dairy Industries Expo was a rewarding experience for CEM Corporation. As innovators in moisture, fat, and protein analysis, the event provided the perfect platform to engage with decision-makers across the dairy industry. The Expo was wellorganised, with strong footfall and high-quality attendees who were genuinely interested in technology that improves product quality and processing efficiency. We’ve already seen new business opportunities emerge from the connections made.
We’re proud to have been part of such an innovative event and look forward to returning in 2025.” –CEM Corporation, Innovators in Dairy Analysis.
The 2025 edition will feature:
• Live equipment demonstrations across the show floor
• A free seminar programme covering topics like sustainability, smart processing, hygiene innovations, and regulatory changes
• Opportunities to connect with industry peers, suppliers, and decision-makers
Whether you’re a processor, supplier, or brand looking to stay ahead, Dairy Industries Expo is where the conversations and the connections begin. Start now!
Visitor registration is free and now open to secure your place, visit: https://forms.reg.buzz/dairyindustries-2025
www.dairyindustriesexpo.com
Elcomponent Ltd delivers intelligent, scalable water monitoring solutions designed specifically for demanding industrial environments such as food manufacturing. With a strong foundation in system design, integration, and commissioning, Elcomponent applies decades of expertise to help manufacturers gain real-time visibility into water usage, compliance, and sustainability performance.
At the core of the solution is a robust wireless architecture powered by LoRaWAN technology. This low-power, long-range network enables seamless communication between distributed sensors and a centralised data platform. LoRaWAN’s ability to penetrate complex industrial layouts— including chilled storage areas, processing lines, and plant rooms— makes it ideally suited to food production environments.
The system supports a wide range of digital and pulse-output water meters, leak detectors, and flow sensors. These devices continuously monitor water usage and potential anomalies across the facility.
Data is collected by LoRaWAN gateways and transmitted securely to a cloud-based dashboard for analysis and reporting.
Water is a critical utility in food manufacturing, impacting everything from sanitation to process control. Elcomponent’s wireless solution offers:
• Usage Monitoring: Real-time and historical tracking of water consumption by area or process, enabling precise allocation and benchmarking.
• Leak Detection: Early warning alerts reduce water loss and minimise disruption, particularly important in hygiene-critical zones.
• Compliance Reporting: Automated data logging supports regulatory reporting and internal audits, ensuring consistent adherence to environmental standards.
Wireless deployment eliminates the need for disruptive cabling
and minimises installation time— vital in continuous production environments. The system is easily expandable, allowing additional monitoring point to be added without major infrastructure changes. Additional measurements such as energy, gas, temperature, air quality etc, are all available with the Elcomponent solution
Elcomponent Ltd has a proven record of delivering tailored monitoring solutions for industrial clients. Our end-to-end service includes site assessment, equipment specification, installation, and ongoing support— ensuring systems that deliver actionable insight, improved efficiency, and reduced waste.
Combining leading-edge wireless technology with sector-specific knowledge, Elcomponent’s water monitoring solutions offer a reliable, future-ready approach to water management in the food manufacturing sector.
www.elcomponent.co.uk
BASA, the adhesives and sealants association for the UK & Ireland, will host the second edition of BASA Awards on Thursday 6 November 2025 at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.
The highly anticipated event will bring the industry’s professionals together for an unmissable celebration of excellence, innovation and leadership. The ceremony includes a three-course meal, hosted by stand-up comedian Jimmy McGhie, plus a live band, magician and disco. Tickets are now available.
Congratulations to this year’s finalists, listed online! BASA Awards 2025 will recognise accomplishment across eight prestigious categories: Community Engagement; Best Sustainability Initiative – sponsored by PALEUS Acrylics; Innovation – sponsored by Azelis UK Ltd; Future Leader; Apprentice of the Year; Excellence in Training & Development; Excellence in Supply & Services – sponsored by F. Ball & Co. Ltd; and Manufacturer of the Year.
For £1,850+VAT, category sponsorship offers a premium opportunity to promote your brand. For £500+VAT each, additional sponsorship opportunities include the Awards Guide & table plan, Chair’s drinks reception, photobooth and table favours.
To book your tickets, sponsor, or find more information, please visit: www.basa.uk.com/basa-awards/
Ultrafast, Non-Destructive Testing with the TeraFlash smart from TOPTICA Photonics
TOPTICA’s TeraFlash smart achieves a groundbreaking speed in time-domain terahertz imaging – ideal for quality control in fast-paced manufacturing environments like food processing, plastic extrusion, and paper production lines. At 1600 pulse traces per second, this system enables real-time inspection of multilayer materials and coatings.
The patented ECOPS technology eliminates mechanical delay lines by synchronizing two femtosecond lasers electronically. This robust design ensures maximum uptime, even under harsh industrial conditions. With a dynamic range of 50 dB in <1 ms and spectral bandwidth up to 4 THz, the TeraFlash smart enables non-contact measurement of thickness, homogeneity, and the identification of hidden defects within complex materials.
Whether monitoring hydration in packaging films or inspecting layered plastics and coatings: the TeraFlash smart provides a powerful tool for highthroughput industrial metrology.
Learn more: www.toptica.com/ teraflash-smart
RAKU® PUR 31-3199 from RAMPF Advanced Polymers is a liquid, two-component polyurethane system designed for sealing steel and plastic lidded drums. The formulation is free from solvents and plasticizers, making it the go-to sealing system for sensitive applications, including food packaging.
The key technical features:
• Outstanding sealing performance for secure transport and storage
• Excellent physical properties including chemical and moisture resistance
• High mechanical strength for long-term durability
• Low density for efficient material usage and reduced consumption
• Meets stringent hygiene standards and EU food packaging regulations (EC) No. 1935/2004 and Plastics Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011
RAKU® PUR 31-3199 combines efficient sealing with highest quality and exceptionally easy handling. Applied using FIPFG (Formed-In-Place Foam Gasket) technology, the reactive resin system is dispensed directly onto the drum lid, expands in place, and bonds rapidly. This guarantees significantly shorter cycle times and streamlined processing compared to conventional sealing methods.
www.rampf-group.com
Ruland’s rigid couplings are engineered to meet the demanding needs of food processing, packaging and handling systems, offering enhanced efficiency and reduced downtime.
The rigid couplings are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles to suit the needs of food packaging applications such as case erectors, cartoners, and form, fill, seal equipment. They are ideal for shaft-to-shaft connections and precise servo driven applications as they do not introduce misalignment, vibration, or bearing noise into the system.
The couplings have precision honed bores, antivibration hardware, and opposing hardware on two-piece styles, ensuring superior fit, alignment and holding power. Ruland offers 303 stainless steel couplings with hardware of like material as standard stock items. Proprietary Nypatch anti-vibration hardware is used to prevent galling, provide even seating of the screw, and allow for repeated screw installations. Rigid couplings are offered in one- and two-piece clamp styles with or without keyways in bore sizes ranging from 3 to 50 mm. Custom dimensions, inch to metric step bore combinations, and 316 stainless steel are available. All couplings are RoHS3, REACH, and Conflict Minerals compliant. https://www.ruland.com/rigid-couplings.html
Liverpool
But travel a few miles north of the city to Aintree, not far from the home of the Grand National, which attracts more attention globally than any other horse race, and you’ll find Food Test Lab, a truly world-class Liverpool business.
“Food Test Lab is an independent, UKASaccredited microbiological testing and chemical analysis laboratory,” explains Laboratory Manager, Des McMillan. “Working for a wide range of customers, we provide ISO 17025-accredited microbiological, chemistry and nutritional testing and food analysis of a diverse list of foodstuffs and feeds.”
World-class laboratory
Food Test Lab’s accredited food testing and food analysis services enable its customers to meet safety regulations, achieve best practice and satisfy consumer needs. Microbiological Manager Jennifer Smith says: “Our highly qualified and experienced team of microbiologists uses the latest technologies and methods to provide accredited microbiological testing of foods, beverages, animal feeds and environmental samples.”
Food Test Lab’s purpose-built testing laboratory in Aintree, which opened in 2016, was designed to process a large volume of microbiological samples every day and results are delivered on time according to customer needs, no matter how demanding. “We’ll always try to tailor our services to meet specific customer needs” Des smiles.
Chemical and nutritional analysis
“In addition to UKAS-accredited microbiological analysis, our food testing laboratories can provide detailed chemical analysis and nutritional analysis for food labelling,” Des adds. “Our nutritional analysis and chemical analysis services include moisture, fats and oils, proteins, sugars, sodium, fibre, ash, salt, carbohydrates, fatty acid profile, dietary fibre, energy value and Group I and II nutritional analysis.”
Des and his colleagues can provide fast turnaround times for groceries, cooked and raw meats, dairy products, processed foods and exports such as meat, fish, honey, milk, coffee, cocoa and beverages. “Our other food lab testing services include heavy metals – mercury, lead, cadmium and
arsenic – as well as hydroxyproline, peroxide value, pH, Omega 3, 6, 9, trans fatty acids.”
International customer base
Food Test Lab is the trading name of the UKAS-accredited company Huson and Hardwick, which became part of the Alex Stewart Agriculture Group in 2004. Huson and Hardwick has an enviable reputation as a leading provider of ultra-reliable GAFTA and FOSFA-certified laboratory analysis. Almost 180 years since its formation in Liverpool, Huson and Hardwick continues to innovate and provide exceptional analytical and certification services via Food Test Lab.
Expert pet food testing services
Food Test Lab also offers fully accredited test services to makers of pet food. As Jennifer explains: “Makers of dog and cat food are under pressure to ensure increasingly higher quality, so that they meet stringent safety and pet-owner requirements. We’re fully equipped to analyse a wide range of manufactured pet foods and our great technical expertise enables us to choose the right sample preparation method to ensure reliable results.”
For food manufacturers, the demand for verifiable sustainability has never been stronger. With consumers and clients increasingly scrutinising supply chains, a robust environmental strategy is no longer a choice—it’s a prerequisite to stay competitive. In fact, client demands for environmental compliance are the top motivator for companies seeking ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for an effective environmental management system (EMS).
The efficient management of complex waste streams is therefore a vital task for any manufacturer on this journey, as demonstrated in the following case study - celebrating how Drurys Engineering secured their ISO 14001 accreditation with the support of Waste Mission.
How Waste Mission Supported Drurys Engineering, an Amcomri PLC Group Company, In Achieving ISO 14001 Certification
Hertfordshire-based Drurys Engineering was preparing for ISO14001 accreditation and significant production growth, but the team recognised that their waste management system would not keep pace.
After dealing with their scrap metal efficiently for years, Drurys asked the Waste Mission team if they could support them with other waste streams, helping the company to work towards their ISO 14001 status.
Mike Danson, Operations Manager of Drurys, says ‘Over the past year, Waste Mission has played a critical and integral role in our ISO 14001 implementation journey. Their
expertise and support ensured our waste streams are not only managed efficiently and in line with legislative requirements but also optimised through the implementation of new waste management technology on-site. This collaboration has even allowed us to increase the value of some of our recyclable waste streams.’
Through a thorough waste review process on site, it was revealed that waste management would be enhanced through further segregation on site. The efficiency of space use on site was also identified as an area for improvement. After a backlog of aluminium swarf and oil containers was recycled, additional containers were introduced to maintain an ongoing and efficient waste segregation and collection schedule.
Waste Mission’s solutions
1 - Processing swarf: Acting on Waste Mission’s advice, Drurys installed a pucking machine which not only compacts aluminium swarf into ‘pucks’ (briquettes) but also separates fluids and oils associated with the cutting process, such as coolants.
2 - Waste segregation: Another key step forward was segregating different types of waste to make them easier to dispose of and recycle.
3 - Streamlining collections: In keeping with its strong focus on sustainability, Waste Mission now collects some of Drurys’ other waste streams alongside its scrap metal to reduce vehicle movements and collections’ carbon footprint.
4 - Increasing transparency and visibility: Drurys is now utilising the Waste Mission customer portal, which provides the team with full visibility across all their recycling metrics, helping them pass waste management audits and demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations.
A shared commitment through collaboration
Mike Danson, Operations Manager of Drurys, says: ‘Drurys Engineering Ltd is delighted to announce its successful implementation of ISO 14001 certification, achieved on the first attempt with no nonconformances. This significant accomplishment was made possible through our longstanding and exceptional partnership with Waste Mission.
For many years, Waste Mission has been an invaluable partner, consistently providing friendly, helpful, and supportive waste management services. Their commitment to excellence has been instrumental in enabling Drurys’ continuous business improvement.’
Robert Pepperell, Commercial Manager of Waste Mission, says: ‘The importance of recycling metal is stronger today than at any other point in our 40-year history in the sector. It has been hugely rewarding to collaborate with another local company with similar values in ways that have streamlined its waste management processes, improved its sustainability and boosted its bottom line. Our proactive account management style means we can also prompt for collections when in the area, or give cheaper alternatives when a request is made.”
If you’d like to find out how Waste Mission can help your business, book a no-obligation waste review today.
Linx Printing Technologies, a global leader in industrial coding and marking solutions, has developed an ink that addresses the challenges of delivering long-term high-quality code adherence for rigid plastics and plastic films.
The new Linx Black Ultra Strong Plastic-Adherent Ink 1061 ensures excellent and consistent adhesion particularly on PET and low surface energy substrates, including OPP, BOPP, HDPE, and LDPE. This innovative ink often eliminates the need for plasma treatment on the packaging, a process sometimes used to modify the surface of the material and enhance adhesion.
Such flexibility makes the ink particularly suitable for businesses handling a variety of plastic packaging for different products on their lines. The ink also performs highly on other challenging substrates, such as those which may have a thin layer of grease or oil coating on them, and on frozen food packs prior to freezing.
Equally important, the codes can withstand rigorous handling or rubbing during production, packing, and onward transit, maintaining their quality and ensuring full readability and traceability throughout the distribution process.
Linx Black Ultra Strong PlasticAdherent Ink 1061 is compatible with Linx 8000 Series CIJ printers, and its formulation allows for longer service intervals than many other specialist inks, maximising uptime, and reducing service costs.
In addition, unlike many inks designed for good adhesion, the new Linx ink is free from PFAS (perand polyfluoroalkyl substances), CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic), and contains no mineral oils. It fully complies with industry standards such as the EuPIA (European Printing Ink Association) Exclusion Policy. This helps to ensure enhanced health and safety compliance.
“The low surface energy of plastics has always made printing onto them a challenge and while there are specialist inks for individual materials, until now there has not been one that has the flexibility to work effectively across many substrates,” said Simon Millett, Product Manager for Inks at Linx Printing Technologies.
“Our new Linx Black Ultra Strong Plastic-Adherent Ink 1061 fills this gap by excelling in rigorous QA adhesion tests, ensuring long-lasting and consistently high-quality codes on the latest generation of mono flexible films and rigid plastics. It combines excellent performance with health and safety benefits, as well as cost of ownership advantages.”
The new ink has performed to the highest standards in several QA tests for adhesion, including tape tests, where a special tape is used to test ink resistance to exposure throughout the production and distribution process.
Linx is offering sample marking and trial support to enable customers to test the ink on specific substrates. For further details, phone +44 1480 302100, email sales@linxglobal.com or visit www.linxglobal.com.
Not every industrial vacuum cleaner is suitable for every cleaning task. It is essential when evaluating a vacuum cleaner for particular cleaning tasks that consideration is given to the relevant hazards, and the equipment is specified appropriately.
Within food processing plants, hazards from dusts and spilled product fall into two distinct categories; the first is dusts that are hazardous to health. In other industries, this category includes obvious products such as silica dusts, but any dust that can be breathed in by the operator or other personnel in the workplace is likely to be hazardous to health to a degree, and hence good housekeeping and dust control is essential.
The second category is dusts that are hazardous in the environment. The obvious category is dusts that can potentially cause an explosive atmosphere, particularly organic
products like sugar, cereals and flour. Some products fall in to both categories and are both hazardous to health and potentially explosive.
Selecting an appropriate Industrial Vacuum Cleaner requires consideration of the potential hazards which then informs the specification of the machine.
BVC – British Vacuum Cleaners is the leading brand of British manufactured industrial vacuum cleaners. Manufactured by Quirepace in Fareham, Hampshire the range includes both M-Class and H-Class machines for dusts hazardous to health and ATEX rated equipment suitable to operate in potentially explosive atmospheres. Some machines can be provided with certification for both categories.
BVC equipment is manufactured to order to match the specific requirements of individual customers. One of the principal considerations is the filter material
used for the primary filter. This can be constructed from several different materials including PTFE coated, and anti-static materials in addition to standard filter materials. Within machines designed to recover hazardous materials there is always a second stage filter, usually a 3rd stage filter, and sometimes a 4th stage filter, with each stage designed for a specific purpose to ensure the hazardous product is collected safely and that the exhaust air is as clean as possible.
The Food and Drink industries present particular challenges regarding good housekeeping and cleanliness. Quirepace have engineered several special solutions for different customers to solve specific problems. Examples include converting standard machines to provide not just vacuum but also low pressure blown air to assist in dislodging inaccessible dust; high level cleaning equipment can be configured to match the surfaces
and structures of the environment, and where BVC vacuum cleaning equipment is dedicated to a particular machine process, a PLC interface can start and stop the vacuum depending on other demands.
Of course, BVC Industrial Vacuum Cleaners are available with an extremely wide range of hoses and tools designed to suit the relevant application. For example, the same machine can be fitted with smaller bore hoses for heavier materials or large bore hoses for lighter materials. Aeration collection tools
are available for bulk material removal. The aeration keeps the material flowing in the airstream. BVC floor tools are all heavy duty, predominantly metal construction, with adjustable height and with either brush or rubber strip fittings depending on the application.
Quirepace’s extensive knowledge combined with our experienced sales team, UK manufacture, and local service and spares support, means that BVC UK manufactured Industrial Vacuum Cleaners, with their 5-year parts warranty, deliver excellent durability and
value for money in the industrial environment.
In addition to portable equipment, Quirepace also design and install fixed installations for Central Vacuum Cleaning, where multiple outlets are served by central plant through a network of fixed pipework.
Contact us today to arrange an initial consultation meeting.
www.quirepace.co.uk www.bvc.co.uk
sales@quirepace.co.uk 023 9260 3700
Nexus Packaging, a leading manufacturer of industrial plastic containers in the UK, has announced the second phase of expansion at its advanced blow moulding facility in Glasgow, reinforcing its mission to bring innovation, energy efficiency and a new generation of talent into UK blow moulding.
The company’s 57,000 sq. ft. facility, completed in 2024, is now home to nine all-electric Magic blow moulding machines. These machines are supported by the very latest compressors, chillers, blending systems and solar panels, forming one of Europe’s most efficient and technologically advanced blow moulding operations.
Director Chris Wagner explains:
“We’re now moving into the next phase of development, with plans to build an additional 20,000 sq. ft. of storage and install four new machines. These will be largely dedicated to custom tool designs, giving us greater flexibility and speed in servicing our clients.”
But Nexus’s investment goes beyond machines, it’s also about people.
“The West of Scotland has a proud legacy of skilled engineering,” Wagner added. “We’ve been able to recruit a strong team of young technicians and machine operators, many of whom are working alongside experienced moulders from our original 1990s plant who’ve returned to support this new chapter.”
The company believes this combination of youth and
experience gives them a significant edge in an industry where many competitors remain rooted in outdated operations and ageing infrastructure.
“Modern blow moulding machinery now runs via touch screen interfaces. To get the best out of this technology, you need fresh minds and modern thinking.”
Wagner is outspoken about the UK’s need to reclaim its manufacturing base:
“Over the last 25 years, a lack of investment in people and machinery has shifted much industrial blow moulding production overseas. We’re working hard to reverse that trend to bring jobs, innovation and pride back to British manufacturing.”
www.nexuspackaging.co.uk
If you work with commercial refrigeration here in the UK, you’ve probably clocked the rise of the ECR2 motor. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of kit come and go, but the ECR2 was a genuine shift for our industry. Here’s why. It’s not just about slapping a new, high-tech fan motor into the cabinet. Real value kicks in when you pair it with expert support and technical knowhow, think Axair-level support, not just any wholesaler.
So, what’s the fuss about the ECR2 motor? For starters, it’s a stepchange in efficiency. This little beast uses up to 74% less power than the old shaded pole motors we’ve all battled with, meaning fatter savings on your energy bills and a nice bonus for your sustainability tick boxes. Quiet as a mouse, runs cool, and has a field-tested lifespan of well over a decade. That’s not just marketing fluff, either, a design life of at least 10 years and up to 99.97% field reliability is a big deal for anyone who hates unscheduled downtime.
Now, the ECR2 isn’t just tough, it’s versatile too. We’re talking IP67 ingress protection (that’s proper waterproofing for all those drippy
cold stores), quiet operation and it’s got food-grade options for those of us working in food service or medical storage. Got a system that needs ATEX compliance? That’s baked in too, so it’s safe for volatile refrigerants. And with multi-voltage capability, you won’t get caught out on a retrofit or a new install.
Here’s where people trip up, thinking the component is the whole story. It’s not. The real differentiator comes from who you buy it from. That’s where a supplier like Axair comes in, suppliers that aren’t just box shifters. With a team steeped in refrigeration system design and practical integration, we dig into your application, help you nail the right variant, mounting, and control setup. This saves you from bodged installations, mismatched controls, or those “why’s it not working?” headaches that cost time and money.
Because, let’s face it, every hour of downtime has a measurable cost. Axair puts a lot of stock in pre and after-sales support. We’re not just there to take your order and move on. If things go sideways or you want to upgrade later, you’ve got someone on the other end who understands the details and troubleshoots fast. You get help with technical queries, spare parts, and even proactive advice, things
you only get from dealing with a real partner.
It also pays off in compliance. With new regs popping up on energy, safety, refrigerant types, having a technically competent supplier can save you from nasty surprises down the line. Axair’s team make sure everything’s up to scratch from day one, and if you’re ever audited or upgrading to greener tech, you’re not scrambling.
And, if you’re ever in a pinch for spares, or planning ahead like the smart operators do, you can find ECR2 motors and complete fan packs in stock for quick delivery. You’re not passed to customer service, Axair is geared up for fast turnaround and real, live technical assistance if you need it.
Long story short? The ECR2 motor alone gives you top-tier efficiency, reliability, and compliance. But the true edge, the bit your future self will thank you for, is buying from a team that has your back with deep know-how and hands-on support.
If you’re in the UK and need advice, spares, or support, get the partnership and expertise that keep businesses running smooth with Axair.
We’re transforming how our customers achieve energy savings, reliability, and compliance in every application. At Axair Refrigeration, our technical expertise means more than just supplying products: we work side-by-side with you to solve heating, cooling, and system integration challenges, ensuring every component solution is tailored for your unique needs. From food retail and cold storage to pharma and process cooling, we’re redefining what’s possible, making refrigeration smarter, more sustainable, and always customerfocused.
Food manufacturers all know this problem: heavy processing equipment that wears out workers and kills productivity. When your team’s struggling with 15kg meat slicers or wrestling with spray wands all day, something’s got to give. Usually it’s productivity, worker wellbeing, or both. Tool balancing technology is changing this for manufacturers who’ve had enough of the old way.
Food-grade tool balancers use precision springs to counteract gravity. Heavy tools feel weightless in workers’ hands. A 10kg slicer becomes as easy to position as a kitchen knife. Workers move equipment precisely without the strain, even during those brutal long shifts. The idea is straightforward: make heavy tools feel light.
These aren’t your standard workshop balancers. Food industry models use stainless steel construction and NSF H1-rated
lubricants - they have to meet proper food safety requirements. They handle constant washdowns and harsh sanitising chemicals without corroding. The smooth surfaces don’t trap contamination, and you can clean them thoroughly as part of standard hygiene protocols.
In meat processing facilities, tool balancers suspend heavy saws and slicers at optimal ergonomic heights, enabling precise cuts without hand fatigue. Bakery operations benefit from balanced mixers and icing tools that allow delicate positioning during decorating tasks. Packaging lines utilise spring retractors to manage film rolls cleanly off the floor, while sanitation teams manoeuvre spray wands and cleaning equipment effortlessly throughout their shifts.
The numbers back this up: up to 80% fewer tool-related injuries,
25% faster processing speeds, and less product waste from improved precision. One meat processor worked out they’d recovered their investment in 8 months just from lower insurance claims and higher throughput. Plus, keeping tools suspended means easier compliance with health regulations - no more stress during audits.
While other manufacturers are still dealing with tired workers and injury claims, you could be setting new standards for efficiency and safety. Tool balancers aren’t just about making work easierthey’re about becoming the kind of employer people actually want to work for, while hitting production targets that seemed impossible before.
For more information contact Tecna Balancers: www. tecnabalancers.co.uk
Email: info@totalairtool.co.uk Tel: 01926 857 193
Articulated Pipework Torsion In Hoses
Rotating Cylinders
Swivel joints allow pipework to pressure 1/4” to 40” and beyond.
Vacuum to over 20,000psi
Stock and bespoke production.
Unique bearing/seal design for longer life.
ISO 9001 CE marked where applicable.
Tel: +44(0)1663 735003
E-mail:
In the food industry, every minute counts.
Unexpected downtimes – often triggered by a defective seal – not only jeopardize delivery dates, but also product quality and hygiene standards.
Special characteristics of VR seal:
• Various elastomers for Food approval and cleaning fluid chemical resistant
• No cavities – easily cleaned and prevents deposits that lead to contamination
• Metal detectable compounds
• Increases service life
• Energy efficient
• Friction optimized due to minimized radial pressure
• Can reduce the heat impact on the processed food
• Pressure resistant because of support body
VR seals are used in these machine types:
• Bakery machines
• Agitators and mixes
• Machines for grain processing
• Poultry equipment
• Packaging
• Machines for meat processing
• Dairy equipment
• Coffee machines
• Mixing machines
And many more
For more information, please visit our website or contact us directly on 01226 273 700
www.ashtonseals.co.uk/ foodindustryhygienicdesign
In the fast-paced world of food and beverage packaging, hygiene, efficiency, and reliability are non-negotiable. That’s where the Noblelight® BlueLight Flash systems from Excelitas® come in—delivering cutting-edge, chemical-free disinfection that’s transforming how manufacturers disinfect products and packaging in food and beverage production facilities.
Powered by pulsed xenon technology, BlueLight Flash systems emit intense ultraviolet light, inactivating pathogens by disrupting their cell structure. This results in significant log reduction rates across a wide range of surfaces and packaging types—from pots, tubs and caps to lid foils, sealing films, and direct irradiation of organic products like poultry.
The BlueLight Flash product family includes two specialized systems:
BlueLight Flash small area is designed for high-throughput disinfection of compact packaging and organic products, such as beverage bottle caps, pots, tubs, cups and poultry portions. This system achieves >4 log microbial reduction at speeds of up to 500
m² per hour. Its robust design supports operation in challenging environments, including cold and humid conditions typical of poultry and food production facilities, while remaining easy to integrate into new and existing packaging lines.
The BlueLight Flash large area system is engineered for applications requiring consistent, high-intensity irradiation across expanded surfaces—ideal for environments such as dairy production facilities. It delivers a flexible, low-maintenance solution that supports both cell plate and sealing film carrier applications. The cartridge-style lamp allows for quick replacements, minimizing downtime and simplifying maintenance. Its modular design improves adaptability and helps reduce spare parts inventory. With a compact footprint, the system integrates easily into spaceconstrained operations and is wellsuited for retrofitting.
Both systems prioritize safety, featuring intuitive human machine interfaces and quartz glass breakage sensors, while the flashlamp enclosures are IP69 rated supporting washdown protocols.
BlueLight Flash excels in addressing emerging packaging trends, especially the shift toward thinner, lighter materials that are challenging for traditional disinfection methods such as wet chemical processes. As a non-contact photonic solution, BlueLight Flash delivers increased log reduction rates without damaging delicate packaging substrates.
To ensure optimal implementation, Excelitas offers packaging disinfection modeling and simulation support, helping customers design the most effective configuration for their specific application.
For manufacturers seeking a high-performance, sustainable disinfection solutions, BlueLight Flash systems deliver unmatched safety, power, and peace of mind— backed by the Noblelight® brands legacy of innovation and expertise. Please contact us to find out more about these advanced, high performance systems.
https://www.excelitas.com/productcategory/uvc-flash-disinfectionsystems
Email: julian.priddle@excelitas.com Office Phone: +44 1223 429822 Mobile: +44 7912 379865
Address: 161 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0GQ
In the world of manufacture, the importance of monitoring for microbiological content of foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals is well known; however, the packaging in which these items are contained is often overlooked
The product itself had passed the ISO 11930 preservative efficacy testing, also known as challenge testing The preservative system made sufficient log reductions against the standard five organisms, and it was shown to also be effective against this in-house mould: i e , although the product was visibly spoiled the mould in contact with the product was no longer viable The preservative system was only effective on the mould that was in direct surface contact leaving colonies on the lid uninhibited This was confirmed by microscopic examination of the mould on the product s surface showing matching conidiophores (the microscopic structures of mould as seen in image 1) to the viable mould growth on the lid along with traditional plate counts
Preservative systems
Accrediting bodies such as BRCGS are increasing their requirements regarding environmental monitoring, sixth issue, clause 4.8.5, released 2019. This can be seen as both a blessing for the consumer due to higher quality demands on products, and a curse for manufacturers as demands on quality control grow.
organisms found on packaging and in the production line may not be typical pathogens, but that doesn t mean the product is safe from spoilage as depicted in image 2 of a cosmetic cream and lid After testing a large number of lids it was found that approximately 10% had low levels of a Penicillium mould species (sp ) as little as 1 to 5 colony forming units (cfu) per lid We established this was connected to the plastic wads in the lids Given enough time these low levels of spores were able to grow forming a colony on the wad, which would then shed spores and grow down the side of the jar and onto the surface of the product
Despite the preservative system s efficacy in the face of this contamination the main purpose of a preservative system is to maintain product integrity during storage and when used by the consumer It is not intended to compensate for contamination in manufacture or packaging, although this is not always avoidable This is where good environmental monitoring comes into play to reinforce and support production standards especially as sterile manufacture is not a requirement in the food and cosmetic industries
in card packaging occurs when it is exposed to environmental change after storage at low temperatures or manufacture in humid climates, causing moisture to form. We have seen several cases of this, notably more than once with seasonal boxsets. In these instances, packaging can be made months in advance. It is then grouped and shrink wrapped, creating an ideal
by Martin Isom, Director at DLL
environment for mould to grow. Image 1 shows mould that we isolated from a Christmas box-set.
Testing options
One of the easiest ways to monitor packaging is to swab it Swabs will be reasonably effective at collecting organisms from a non-porous surface, such as plastic, but will have limited recovery from a porous surface like card, where direct sampling of the card is recommended Alternatively a rinse off method is another option using a sterile broth to wash the packaging; this is especially useful for packaging that is not practicable to swab such as tight necked bottles Visit us at https://www donlab co uk for more information on what we do
Areas of risk should always be considered for monitoring. An example of high-risk packaging is something that is in direct contact with a final product, such as the card box containing a ready-to-eat wrap. The main concern in this instance is the transfer of pathogens from the packaging to the product inside. A lower risk item would be secondary or tertiary packaging.
Low risk does not mean ‘No Risk’
While a full environmental monitoring program may be unnecessary for low-risk packaging, thought must still be given to such items. Even if the product remains uncontaminated, visual spoilage of secondary packaging can lead to reputational damage and negative brand image — no one wants to be eating or using a product from a box that is visibly spoiled. One common cause of visible spoilage
The products within were unaffected and free from any contamination; however, all sets had to be recalled from stores as the supplier felt that complimentary mould made a poor Christmas gift!
Contaminant organisms found on packaging and in the production line may not be typical pathogens, but that doesn’t mean the product is safe from spoilage, as depicted in image 2 of a cosmetic cream and lid.
AAfter testing a large number of lids, it was found that approximately 10% had low levels of a Penicillium mould species (sp.). — as little as 1 to 5 colony forming units (cfu) per lid. We established this was connected to the plastic wads in the lids. Given enough time, these low levels of spores were able to grow, forming a colony on the wad, which would then shed spores and grow down the side of the jar and onto the surface of the product.
The product itself had passed the ISO 11930 preservative efficacy testing, also known as challenge testing. The preservative system made sufficient log reductions against the standard five organisms, and it was shown to also be effective against this in-house mould: i.e., although the product was visibly spoiled, the mould in contact with the product was no longer viable. The preservative system was only effective on the mould that was in direct surface contact, leaving colonies on the lid uninhibited. This was confirmed by microscopic examination of the mould on the product’s surface showing matching conidiophores (the microscopic structures of mould as seen in image 1) to the viable mould growth on the lid, along with traditional plate counts.
by Martin Isom, Director at DLL
Visit us at www.donlab.co.uk for more information on what we do.
Preservative
Other factors to consider
One of the easiest ways to monitor packaging is to swab it. Swabs will be reasonably effective at collecting organisms from a non-porous surface, such as plastic.
Image 2: Left, Penicillium sp. growing on the wad of a cosmetic product lid. Right, non-viable mould transferred to the surface of the product from the lid.
Providing Certified Microbiological & Environmental Testing for 25 years
In today’s global market, clean, safe, and compliant manufacturing is not optional—it’s essential.
At Donnington Laboratories Ltd. we specialise in microbiological environmental testing under the CLAS Scheme, helping ensure your manufacturing processes and products meet the highest hygiene standards.
Ensure consumer safety and confidence. Reduce risk of contamination and product recall.
Enhance product shelf-life and consistency. Meet legal and regulatory compliance. Demonstrate commitment to quality and ethics.
We offer a range of ISO compliant environmental tests, as well batch release, challenge testing, ready-to-eat food testing, consultations, and more to support your business’ needs
We are able to provide vegetarian and vegan microbiological testing accredited by the Vegetarian Society for cosmetics and foods . For more information on the testing we can provide, come by our website, send us an email, or give us a call!
Website: https://www.donlab.co.uk Donnington Laboratories Ltd, registered in England &
Email: testing@donlab.co.uk Telephone: 01243 783487
Choose DLL to be your partner in hygienic, compliant manufacturing. Protect your Process, Prove your Standards, Promote your Brand.
There are some obvious ways in which materials selection helps companies to reduce their environmental impact and therefore their pEPR obligations. However, there are also some lesser known gains to be made.
Below Josh Gibson, Sales Director at YPS (Yorkshire Packaging Systems) and expert in flexible packaging materials, takes us through the considerations you can explore for your own operation.
Although companies have now been reporting their level of packaging use for their consumer goods and its disposal route for a little while, the introduction of the fee requirement later this year is further focussing the industry on this significant subject.
Materials choice can affect the pEPR requirement within all three elements of this legislation: the volume of packaging waste, the base material and the material’s recyclability. It’s the first of these
where gains can be made but where producers often have less knowledge about their options.
One key way to reduce overall packaging material use, and therefore packaging waste, is to specify ultra-thin materials. These technically advanced materials are designed to deliver the same strength at a lower micron than standard materials, ensuring that there is no compromise on product protection.
YPS supplies a range of materials that fall into this category, manufactured by leading specialist flexible film producers Bolloré, all of which are the thinnest film of their type in the market. Examples include:
o 15 mμ lidding films
o 9 mμ shrink films
o 6 mμ stretch films
We have worked with customers who have been able to reduce material use by as much as 74%, by
replacing their previous material specification with these ultrathin alternatives. With the new charge of £423 per tonne of plastic packaging, for an operation using 10T each year, with this level of saving their obligation would be reduced from £4,230 to just £1,099. Another route to reduced materials use is to ensure that your machinery is functioning at its best. Our team of inhouse packaging engineers always thoroughly check and test machine set up when they install new machinery supplied by YPS. It’s also an element that they check when they service existing equipment or conduct Site Sustainability Surveys, which is a service we provide that is focussed on achieving further gains in this area.
For much of the automated packaging systems that we supply – certainly shrink and stretch wrapping systems – the basic material will be plastic, without
the option to specify material in a different category or fee level. The exception for us is the automated bagging systems we supply, where paper can be used attracting a fee of £196 per tonne, less than half that for plastics. This is the case for both horizontal and vertical bagging systems.
The detailed material specification can affect the final element of the legislation – the recyclability. Monomers, plastics with a simple single molecular structure, are much simpler to recycle than polymers, plastics with
complex structures. In this way, understanding the technical composition of alternative plastic materials can lead producers to make a more informed decision and provide a more recyclable pack.
As recycling labels are now mandatory under this legislation, it will become clear to consumers which products have easily recyclable packaging and which don’t, potentially leading consumers to prefer the more recyclable option.
YPS is a member of the OPRL organisation who we recommend as experts in all aspects of product recyclability labelling. They advise on pack recyclability and methods of improving this aspect, as well as being a resource to create the correct finished labels.
For producers looking to explore the most advanced flexible materials, our team are always happy to discuss what’s available and how it fits with producers’ products and environmental targets.
www.yps.co.uk
Since its foundation in 2003, Gampack Group has become a global benchmark in secondary packaging and end-of-line automation. With over 20 years of experience and the strategic acquisition of a leading Italian robotics company in 2020, Gampack designs and delivers high-performance, turnkey systems tailored to sectors such as food and beverages, confectionery, pet food, pharmaceuticals, and dairy.
The company’s success is built on five core pillars: technological innovation and high flexibility, complete line integration, customization and quality-driven solutions.
In the industries for food and beverages, Gampack Group focuses on technological innovation, which is at the heart of the company’s mission. Gampack Group develops modular robotic systems with dedicated software that allow for the highest level of management of work process information and make it available to the customer, e.g. through the application of vision systems and the interconnection of the various machines in a line to optimize packaging processes.
The company boasts in-depth knowledge gained through years
of experience with products such as doypacks, bags and flowpacks. Its successes in developing and supplying packaging solutions for these products have been recognized by major international customers seeking reliable solutions that guarantee high efficiency without compromising flexibility.
Another feature of Gampack casepacking machines is the ability to integrate a static scale into the machine or line, to reject incorrect cases or displays, and thus deliver only checked packages to the outfeed.
In the confectionery sector, Gampack demonstrates its complete line expertise with a highspeed solution for frozen pastries: 500 products per minute and 50 cases per minute. The system erects corrugated cases from flat blanks, inserts food-grade bags, and performs real-time quality checks. Pick-and-place robots ensure precision and hygiene, confirming Gampack’s ability to deliver efficient, fully integrated lines.
Moving to pet food, the company’s strength in customization is clear in a complete line for moist doypacks, operating at 200 units per minute across 4 lanes. The system
integrates top-loading cartoning with a wrap-around case packer and allows for the combination of four different flavours in one case. A palletizing cell with stretch-wrapping completes the line. Moreover, Gampack has developed case-packers adaptable to both bags and display boxes, demonstrating its ability to meet the evolving packaging needs of pet food producers with tailor-made solutions.
In the pharmaceutical field, Gampack applies its quality-driven philosophy in a line that packs cartons into American cases. A 6-axis robot fills cartons at speeds up to 12 American cases per minute, with subsequent automatic case labelling and Cobot-assisted palletizing. This solution ensures precise handling, traceability, and full compliance with industry regulations.
For palletization, Gampack’s innovation is showcased through a dual-line palletising cell for the German market handling two different beverage carton formats (500ml and 1000ml) simultaneously, using a single 4-axis robot with a 450kg payload. The first line manages 500ml beverage cartons in 12-piece transport case at a rate of 13 cases per minute, whereas the second processes 1000ml beverage cartons in 6-unit cases with a nominal speed of 26 cases per minute. Pallets are configured with 6 layers for the 500ml line and 5 for the 1000ml line, and the customer can adjust the number of layers daily. This solution confirms Gampack’s capability to integrate advanced automation and precise handling into complex operations, ensuring consistent output quality and minimal manual intervention.
With over 1,700 global installations and fast after-sales support, Gampack remains a trusted partner for future-ready industrial packaging.
Gampack at PPMA 2025: NEC, Birmingham, 23 – 25 Sept. 2025, Hall 5 Booth E100 (in partnership with Pharmamachinery and Palpack)
Welcome to Gampack, your trusted partner for secondary packaging machines and complete, fully integrated end-of-line solutions.
GAMPACK invests 5% of its turnover in R&D in order to find the best and most suitable solutions with its team of experienced engineers, continually looking for new and stimulating milestones and with a constant eye towards the future.
An oven-ready solution for your new IoT, protocol conversion, data acquisition or telemetry project
Free and license-free C development kit (STM Cube IDE)
Ethernet TCP/IP with TLS HTTPS security & USB
Four Serial Ports 232/4xx
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KK Systems Ltd 01273 857185
Nordson has launched the Series 9 Food Color Gauge, the only allin-one sensor that simultaneously measures moisture, fat/oil, protein, and color.
The Series 9 has been a top choice in the food industry for years: it can measure moisture, fat/oil, protein, and the degree of bake, assessing the browning of baked or fried products.
The new Series 9 Color Gauge expands on this platform by enabling the measurement of the full-color spectrum alongside key food parameters. It supports various standard scales, including CIE (L*, a*, b*), RGB, and Degree of Roast (DOR).
Reliable color readings, combined with critical measurements like moisture, fat/oil and protein, enhance process control and ensure consistent product quality. The Series 9 Color Gauge has already proven successful in several food applications, such as nuts, snacks, dehydrated fruits, and coffee.
For more information, please visit: https://info.ndc. com/series-9-non-contact-food-gauge
For more than a century, Invicta has been designing and manufacturing equipment that helps food and drink producers boost efficiency and enhance performance. From highoutput factories to independent artisans, the North Yorkshire-based company is trusted across sectors including bakery, confectionery, meat processing, dairy and beyond.
What sets Invicta apart is its ability to create equipment built precisely for the task in hand. Every product is manufactured in the UK at Invicta’s own facility, where skilled engineers collaborate closely with customers to understand their processes and challenges. This enables the creation of tailor-made solutions that integrate seamlessly into production lines, improve efficiency and meet the demands of everyday use.
Whether supplying a single product, reconfiguring a workstation, or delivering a complete suite of custom-built equipment, Invicta approaches every commission with the same focus on precision, durability and performance.
The company’s broad product portfolio spans both metal and plastic ranges, with hundreds of
proven designs. These include trolleys, racks, worktables, dollies, trays, bins and containers – covering preparation, storage and handling. Standard products are available for rapid supply, while Invicta’s design capability allows items to be adapted or created from scratch as one-off commissions. Its professional inhouse coatings service also offers high-performance, food-safe finishes that extend product life, improve release properties and enhance functionality.
Innovation is at the heart of Invicta’s approach. By involving customers at the design stage, the team can address complex handling and storage requirements, often delivering improvements in workflow, space utilisation and product longevity.
“Our equipment has to work in realworld conditions and competently deliver day after day,” says Martin Brown, Managing Director at Invicta. “We focus on practical solutions that make a genuine difference to how our customers operate.”
As an employee-owned business, Invicta combines competitive lead times and value for money with
a personal, responsive service. Many customers have relied on the company for decades, a loyalty reinforced by recent feedback showing 100% satisfaction with product value.
From one-off items to large production runs, Invicta’s bespoke manufacturing capability continues to provide the food and drink industry with equipment that’s made to last — and made to perform.
To find out more, visit www.invictabakeware.co.uk or call 01751 473483. Quotes are free and without obligation.
Manual boot wash stations, like the ones we supply at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment, are great for small to mediumsized processing areas and plants.
handheld boot brush that enables you to clean the top and sides of your boots and shoes. How to use the Manual Boot Washer:
How to use the Manual Boot Washer:
To activate the manual boot washer, you simply place your foot on the base brushes within the trough, which actuates a valve mounted on the underside of the boot washer.
Our manual boot washer can be used for all types of footwear worn in production areas and is often used on entry and exit to prevent employees from walking debris into changing rooms and corridors.
Manual boot wash stations, like the ones we supply at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment, are great for small to mediumsized processing areas and plants.
Manual boot wash stations, like the ones we supply at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment, are great for small to mediumsized processing areas and plants.
To activate the manual boot washer, you simply place your foot on the base brushes within the trough, which actuates a valve mounted on the underside of the boot washer. Water the flows through the hose brush and enables you to effectively clean the boot from all angles– ensuring all dirt is removed.
304/316 stainless steel, providing you with the reassurance that it’s up to standard. What’s more, we aim to accommodate the requirements of all our customers, ensuring that you find a suitable boot cleaning station for your hygienic setting.
Manual boot wash stations, like the ones we supply at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment, are great for small to mediumsized processing areas and plants.
Water the flows through the hose brush and enables you to effectively clean the boot from all angles–ensuring all dirt is removed.
Available in 1-4 stations, the manual boot washer comes with a high-density nylon base brush for scrubbing the soles of shoes and includes a convenient, water-fed, handheld boot brush that enables you to clean the top and sides of your boots and shoes.
Our manual boot washer can be used for all types of footwear worn in production areas and is often used on entry and exit to prevent employees from walking debris into changing rooms and corridors.
Our manual boot washer can be used for all types of footwear worn in production areas and is often used on entry and exit to prevent employees from walking debris into changing rooms and corridors.
• Automatic & Semi-Automatic Boot washer.
How to use the Manual Boot Washer:
• Automatic Sensor Operated or Semi-Automatic button operated.
Investing in a manual boot wash station will ensure your employees perform the necessary washing and disinfecting steps required for hygiene regulations.
Investing in a manual boot wash station will ensure your employees perform the necessary washing and disinfecting steps required for hygiene regulations.
Manual boot wash stations, like the ones we supply at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment, are great for small to mediumsized processing areas and plants.
Our manual boot washer can be used for all types of footwear worn in production areas and is often used on entry and exit to prevent employees from walking debris into changing rooms and corridors.
How to use the Manual Boot Washer: To activate the manual boot washer, you simply place your foot on the base brushes within the trough, which actuates a valve mounted on the underside of the boot washer. Water the flows through the hose brush and enables you to effectively clean the boot from all angles– ensuring all dirt is removed.
To activate the manual boot washer, you simply place your foot on the base brushes within the trough, which actuates a valve mounted on the underside of the boot washer. Water the flows through the hose brush and enables you to effectively clean the boot from all angles– ensuring all dirt is removed.
Our manual boot washer can be used for all types of footwear worn in production areas and is often used on entry and exit to prevent employees from walking debris into changing
• Cleaning boots by the action of rotating brushes.
• Automatic dosing of water and detergent.
How to use the Manual Boot Washer:
Investing in a manual boot wash station will ensure your employees perform the necessary washing and disinfecting steps required for hygiene regulations. MANUAL BOOT WASHER
• Removal of the brush is done without the need for tools and makes cleaning the brush and the brush housing simple.
Available in 1-4 stations, the manual boot washer comes with a high-density nylon base brush for scrubbing the soles of shoes and includes a convenient, water-fed,
Our automatic stations provide continual performance but are easy to dismantle, requiring no extra tools. In turn, the automatic boot washer is easy to clean, and the rotating tray and brushes can be cleaned individually, allowing you to clean your equipment thoroughly.
Available in 1-4 stations, the manual boot washer comes with a high-density nylon base brush for scrubbing the soles of shoes and includes a convenient, water-fed, handheld boot brush that enables you to clean the top and sides of your boots and shoes.
To activate the manual boot washer, you simply place your foot on the base brushes within the trough, which actuates a valve mounted on the underside of the boot washer. Water the flows through the hose brush and enables you to effectively clean the boot from all angles– ensuring all dirt is removed.
Available in 1-4 stations, the manual boot washer comes with a high-density nylon base brush for scrubbing the soles of shoes and includes a convenient, water-fed, handheld boot brush that enables you to clean the top and sides of your boots and shoes.
Available in 1-4 stations, the manual boot washer comes with a high-density nylon base brush for scrubbing the soles of shoes and includes a convenient, water-fed, handheld boot brush that enables you to clean the top and sides of your boots and shoes.
Investing in a manual boot wash station will ensure your employees perform the necessary washing and disinfecting steps required for hygiene regulations.
Investing in a manual boot wash station will ensure your employees perform the necessary washing and disinfecting steps required for hygiene regulations.
Here at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment Ltd, we can supply a boot washer that is made from Grade
We supply the Lazy Susan Turntable, which is a Stainless Steel Turntable, to meet and exceed the requirements of all industries. We aim to satisfy even the most diverse demands, including those based in the food, drink, pharmaceuticals, packaging and production industry, ensuring that all equipment is manufactured to the highest quality and made to last.
• Supplied with a venture metering system for accurate dosing of the detergent
A turntable that’s made from stainless steel is a cost-efficient investment to make, especially if you’re looking to maximise the efficiency of production.
The Stainless Steel Turntable is just one of the products that we are proud to supply at SSME and is available in various sizes.
products through inclined as well as horizontal and helical paths.
We supply the Lazy Susan Turntable, which is a Stainless Steel Turntable, to meet and exceed the requirements of all industries. We aim to satisfy even the most diverse demands, including those based in the food, drink, pharmaceuticals, packaging and production industry, ensuring that all equipment is manufactured to the highest quality and made to last.
We supply the Lazy Susan Turntable, which is a Stainless Steel Turntable, to meet and exceed the requirements of all industries. We aim to satisfy even the most diverse demands, including those based in the food, drink, pharmaceuticals, packaging and production industry, ensuring that all equipment is manufactured to the highest quality and made to last.
We supply the Lazy Susan Turntable, which is a Stainless Steel Turntable, to meet and exceed the requirements of all industries. We aim to satisfy even the most diverse demands, including those based in the food, drink, pharmaceuticals, packaging and production industry, ensuring that all equipment is manufactured to the highest quality and made to last.
We supply the Stainless Steel Turntable in a range of sizes to make it easier for you to find products that will fit perfectly within your industrial setting. When it comes to accumulating products evenly, you cannot go wrong with the Stainless Steel Turntable- it’s specifically designed to bring work closer to the user.
We supply the Lazy Susan Turntable, which is a Stainless Steel Turntable, to meet and exceed the requirements of all industries. We aim to satisfy even the most diverse demands, including those based in the food, drink, pharmaceuticals, packaging and production industry, ensuring that all equipment is manufactured to the highest quality and made to last.
A turntable that’s made from stainless steel is a cost-efficient investment make, especially if you’re looking to maximise the efficiency of production.
A turntable that’s made from stainless steel is a cost-efficient investment to make, especially if you’re looking to maximise the efficiency of production.
A turntable that’s made from stainless steel is a cost-efficient investment to make, especially if you’re looking to maximise the efficiency of production.
A turntable that’s made from stainless steel is a cost-efficient investment to make, especially if you’re looking to maximise the efficiency of production.
We supply the Stainless Steel Turntable in a range of sizes to make it easier for you to find products that will fit perfectly within your industrial setting. When it
The Stainless Steel Turntable is just one of the products that we are proud to supply at SSME and is available in various sizes.
Space and loads permitting, 90 and 180 degree turns enable products to be conveyed on winding routes through production areas.
The Stainless Steel Turntable is just one of the products that we are proud to supply at SSME and is available in various sizes.
The Stainless Steel Turntable is just one of the products that we are proud to supply at SSME and is available in various sizes.
The Stainless Steel Turntable is just one of the products that we are proud to supply at SSME and is available in various sizes.
We supply the Stainless Steel Turntable in a range of sizes to make it easier for you to find products that will fit perfectly within your industrial setting. When it comes to accumulating products evenly, you cannot go wrong with the Stainless Steel Turntable- it’s specifically designed to bring work closer to the user.
We supply the Stainless Steel Turntable in a range of sizes to make it easier for you to find products that will fit perfectly within your industrial setting. When it comes to accumulating products evenly, you cannot go wrong with the Stainless Steel Turntable- it’s specifically designed to bring work closer to the user.
We supply the Stainless Steel Turntable in a range of sizes to make it easier for you to find products that will fit perfectly within your industrial setting. When it comes to accumulating products evenly, you cannot go wrong with the Stainless Steel Turntable- it’s specifically designed to bring work closer to the user.
Steel Turntable- it’s specifically designed
The modular belt conveyor offers a reliable versatile solution to many conveying applications.
The modular belt conveyor offers a reliable versatile solution to many conveying applications.
The modular belt conveyor introduces a flexible conveying solution that can, due to the nature of the belt itself, convey
The modular belt conveyor introduces a flexible conveying solution that can, due to the nature of the belt itself, convey
2 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
sizes.
products through inclined as well as horizontal and helical paths.
products through inclined as well as horizontal and helical paths.
Space and loads permitting, 90 and 180 degree turns enable products to be conveyed on winding routes through production areas.
Space and loads permitting, 90 and 180 degree turns enable products to be conveyed on winding routes through production areas.
Stainless steel mixer tumblers are available in three sizes, including 300 Litre, 450 Litre and 600 Litre. They are perfect for mixing dry and wet ingredients.
A mixer tumbler for food can effectively save on labour costs and increase production efficiency. Instead of mixing ingredients in smaller batches by hand, the mixer tumbler will automatically rotate a larger quantity of products at a faster rate.
Features
• 304 stainless steel construction
• Open frame to aid cleaning & maintenance
• Direct shaft drive operation
• Available with stainless steel lid if required
• Variable speed controls
• Mobile or free standing
Description:
• Tip height to customer specification
Our Atomiser Sanitising Conveyors have been designed for the sanitization of the outer surfaces of various products being transferred between low and high care areas.
Operation:
Though stainless steel mixers are designed to boost productivity in the food processing industry, they come with variable speeds – allowing you to choose how quickly the drum rotates. With the addition of a timer control panel you can also program the tumbler to shut off after a specific number of revolutions, saving time and effort.
As well as conveniently marinading ingredients, a stainless steel mixer tumbler enhances the safety of your food processing plant by ensuring no food ends up on the floor.
A huge variety of products can be transported through the Sanitising Conveyor, such as boxed or bagged food ingredients like vegetables, sauces, coatings, blocks of cheese, the list is endless
The drum can also be tilted to make it easier to unload food goods. This not only helps to keep
The solution tank is automatically filled with a pre-dosed mixture of water and sanitiser using a Dosatron water powered dosing pump. When a product is placed on the in-feed roller conveyor a sensor gives a signal to the control panel and the conveyor belt will start. Then using compressed air the mixture is then supplied to five atomiser nozzles which are positioned above and below the conveyor belt. These produce a mist within the tunnel giving total coverage of all surfaces of the products that are
product wastage to an absolute minimum but it makes it easier to clean too.
To prevent cross-contamination, you must give the drum a quick wipe-down inside between uses. Then, at the end of the day, it will need to be thoroughly cleaned, ready for the next day. As a result of being made from grade 304 stainless steel (a material that’s resistant to both corrosion and oxidation), all you need is warm water, a mild soap or detergent, and a soft cloth or sponge to gently wipe the surface clean.
conveyed through the tunnel. The control panel has a built in inverter which allows you to control the speed of the belt and ensures that a wide range of products can be safely passed through the system ensuring that hygiene routines can be carried out quickly and reliably. Atomising sanitization is very efficient as each nozzle only uses .8 litres of solution per hour and with the integral gravity recirculation system the use of solution is kept to a minimum and your products will not come out of the tunnel dripping with water.
At stainless steel Manufacturing & Equipment ltd, design and manufacture a wide range of stainless steel equipment for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Our design team have over 25 years of experience and have worked on projects for many of the major food and pharmaceutical manufacturers. We are based in the West Midlands, just 3 minutes form Junction 10 of the M6. All our products are manufactured in house and we are the UK agent for the SCM boot washer and hygiene station range. We pride ourselves in manufacturing good quality products at competitive prices and as well as our standard range
At stainless steel Manufacturing & Equipment ltd, design and manufacture a wide range of stainless steel equipment for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Our design team have over 25 years of experience and have worked on projects for many of the major food and pharmaceutical manufacturers. We are based in the West Midlands, just 3 minutes form Junction 10 of the M6. All our products are manufactured in house and we are the UK agent for the SCM boot washer and hygiene station range. We pride ourselves in manufacturing good quality products at competitive prices and as well as our standard range
We will manufacture items to meet customer specific requirements.
We will manufacture items to meet customer specific requirements.
For more information or the place an order
Please Call: 0121-661-6346 or Email: sales@ssmeltd.co.uk
For more information or the place an order
Please Call: 0121-661-6346 or Email: sales@ssmeltd.co.uk
From bottling halls to bakehouses, food and beverage production environments can be busy, noisy and tough on equipment. VEGA’s digital ecosystem – myVEGA, the VEGA Tools App, and PACTware –helps users stay connected to their instrumentation across the entire site, ensuring smooth operation, quick maintenance and reliable data flow.
Three platforms, one connected experience
VEGA’s trio of digital tools –myVEGA, the VEGA Tools App, and PACTware – work seamlessly together to simplify every stage of instrument operation and support. These platforms are designed to help users overcome everyday challenges on-site, such as inaccessible instruments, harsh working conditions, or a lack of clear data visibility.
Here’s how the system works:
• myVEGA is the central cloud platform that houses everything related to VEGA devices. From ordering and re-ordering to storing test certificates, PINs, inspection records and sensor back-ups, it offers a single place to access, share and manage instrument data across the business. It connects directly with VEGA Tools and PACTware to allow data to flow effortlessly between field and office.
• VEGA Tools App, available for iOS and Android, is tailored for on-site users. With encrypted Bluetooth communication, users can adjust, back up or restore sensor settings in dusty or high-noise environments where cables and laptops are impractical. This app enables engineers to get fast, secure access to their devices from a phone or tablet – even if the sensor is in a hard-to-reach or hazardous spot.
• PACTware is the PC-based solution for those who prefer a laptop interface or need to work within control cabinets via HART. From October 2023, VEGA made the full version of the DTM Collection – which includes PACTware, VEGA DataViewer and more, previously a paid upgrade – completely free for all users. This move gives everyone access to powerful features like diagnostic tools, advanced vessel geometry setup, and integration with VEGA’s DataViewer software for analysing echo curves, event data and parameter trends.
These tools are transforming the way customers interact with their instrumentation. With VEGA Tools App’s cloud-based Backup & Restore function, users can confidently save and restore sensor settings to the cloud in seconds – reducing downtime and simplifying maintenance. The DataViewer tool, part of the DTM Collection, lets users archive and review field data in detail, and even share it directly with VEGA’s technical support team for quicker troubleshooting.
It’s not just about device configuration either. Sales teams can check live delivery times and prices directly through myVEGA. Spares and repeat orders can be placed instantly, and certain payments can be processed and paid online. Teams in different departments can collaborate with shared access to sensor settings, reports and documentation –regardless of where they’re based.
Security is built in from the start. Bluetooth communication uses 64-bit encryption, and all data stored in myVEGA is protected in the cloud. With over 200,000 registered users worldwide and Bluetooth compatibility on virtually every level device since 2002, VEGA’s digital suite is trusted across industries and applications.
Most importantly, everything is free – no licences, no subscriptions. Whether you’re just getting started with VEGA or managing a fleet of hundreds of instruments, these tools are ready to support you.
By combining mobile flexibility, PC-level diagnostics and secure cloud infrastructure, VEGA’s digital ecosystem helps users get more from their sensors –faster. From commissioning and troubleshooting to procurement and long-term support, VEGA keeps your operations connected, streamlined and simple –wherever you are.
To learn more about VEGA’s tools for the digital future, visit our website or email info.uk@vega.com
Too many cooks spoil the broth. That’s why our level and pressure measurement technology focusses on the essentials: reliability, efficiency and knife-edge precision. With the latest technology, you always get the values you need, wherever you are. So that you can concentrate fully on your personal recipe for success.
Everything is possible. With VEGA
Menzel Elektromotoren has fitted a stock motor for operation at an altitude of 4200 meters AMSL and shipped it to a gold mine in the Andes. This was an urgent order due to the failure of the existing mill motor. The new motor had to be modified so it could smoothly replace the old one. Menzel adapted the performance characteristics and cooling type to the high altitude, changing the cooling to IC 06 with external fans. The motor features a weatherproof design (IP24W / NEMA WPII).
Further works included the changeover to double-delta, 4160 V, 60 Hz, shortening the NDE shaft, re-milling the drive shaft and building base plates to adapt the foot holes and shaft height to the existing connections on site. The squirrel cage motor also had to be equipped for ramp-up on a frequency converter.
The motor features 2980 kW rated output, 894 rpm rated speed and a rated torque of 31833 Nm. Menzel won the contract due to its fast delivery capability.
The internationally active Berlinbased manufacturer also supplies the mining industry with custom configurations of fan and conveyor motors etc.
The current project came in through Menzel’s Peruvian sales partner, who also travelled to Berlin with the user for final testing and acceptance and who supervised the commissioning.
More reference projects: www.menzel-motors.com/miningmotors/
HPC Compressed Air Systems has developed a plug and play nitrogen gas generating solution for small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage (F&B) industry.
F&B manufacturers rely on nitrogen gas (N2) to keep their products fresh and free from contamination.
For SME businesses operating in the F&B industry, it is vital they find a reliable, consistent supply of N2, which doesn’t break the bank.
Generating their own N2 on-site gives SME F&B manufacturers full control over their N2 supply and expenses.
How? By taking control over their N2 generation, they can reduce their dependency on costly cylinder or liquid nitrogen deliveries and save significantly on costs, in the process.
And this is where HPC has stepped in.
Saving SME F&B manufacturers time and money
HPC has designed a new plug and play nitrogen generation solution
specifically targeted at SMEs in the F&B industry.HPC’s N2 Skid is designed to enable SME F&B manufacturers to generate their own N2 on-site, eliminating the need for costly and logically challenging cylinder deliveries.
Providing a reliable and consistent supply of N2, HPC’s N2 Skid enables customers to save up to 90% in costs, compared to the costs of cylinders / dewars.
HPC’s N2 Skid delivers a continuous, reliable supply of N2 tailored to the customer’s needs, preventing production time.
It delivers N2 with ultra-low 0.5% Oxygen (O2) content, ensuring F&B products maintain their freshness and quality.
Featuring an advanced filtration system, it ensures gas purity by removing impurities and delivering N2 at the desired O2 content.
A user-friendly interface allows real-time monitoring of gas output and purity.
N2 quality is third party validated and certified to European EIGA statute 231/2012 for gas used as a food additive, E941, as well as being FDA and Pharmacopoeia compliant.
N2 Skid
An integrated nitrogen generation solution, HPC’s N2 Skid incorporates:
• Pre-Filtration Package
• Compressed Air Dryer
• Oil Vapour Reduction Filter
Oil/Water Separator
N2 Generator
• Process Vessel
• Sterile Process Filter
• Skid Mounting*
• Interconnected Piping
*Skid packages are configured based on the needs of the customer (e.g. flow rates & purity).
A scalable solution, the modular system means customers’ N2 generation capabilities can grow as their production needs do.
N2 is an inert gas that preserves product freshness, impedes microbial growth, prevents oxidation, and enhances product quality.
It is widely used in F&B applications, from product blanketing, purging, displacement, MAP, or bottling.
Typical sectors in which N2 is used are dairy, snack foods, salads, breweries, wineries, and many others.
Speak to an HPC specialist about the needs of your operation on 0845 4300 472.
Generate your own N₂ on-site
Save up to 90% in costs
Ultra-low O₂ content
N₂ on demand
Reliable & guaranteed N₂ supply
Rental options available
Integrates with existing systems
Advanced filtration system
Scaled to meet your needs
Energy efficient
Third party validated & certified
Typical ROI: 12 - 36 months
The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium (Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano) is continuing into the third and final year of its integrated campaign in the UK. The £3.6m campaign is co-funded by the European Union and activity is set to continue the promotion of the cheese and its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status.
At consumption, in 2024 the euro turnover of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO was 3.2 billion, with more than 4 million wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO being produced annually in a small region in northern Italy. Of this, 72,440 tonnes are exported each year, with the UK being the fourth biggest importer of the cheese.
Year three of the campaign will continue to educate consumers, retailers and restaurateurs about the value of Parmigiano
Reggiano PDO as a protected food name product, with the aim of driving loyalty and repeat purchase. Activity will span TV advertising, social media, influencer collaborations, sponsorships, key event participation, a partnership with brand ambassador Gennaro Contaldo, and press office activities.
The president of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, Nicola Bertinelli, commented: “We’re entering the third and final year of our campaign having seen great success in the second year where we increased the reach of our year one EU co-funded campaign. Year three will be about continuing to further educate UK audiences about the exceptional qualities of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, building on their understanding of the cheese and inspiring new ways to use Parmigiano Reggiano in a variety of dishes.”
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO is produced in the exact same way it was almost 1,000 years ago, using the same three ingredients – milk, salt and rennet – and the same extraordinary craftmanship. The cheese is a product of its region with the production of milk, its processing into cheese, maturation until a minimum age of 12 months, packaging and grating all taking place exclusively in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna to the left of the river Reno and Mantova to the right of the river Po.
As of December 2024, there are 291 licensed dairies producing Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, with 50,000 people involved in the production supply chain.
For more information on the Parmigiano Reggiano EU co-funded campaign, visit https://www.tasteurope.eu/
Low-power solenoids play a crucial role in VERSA’s commitment to Real World Reliability. With a diverse range of energy-efficient options available for our valve series, we are well-positioned to provide tailored solutions for every application. These solenoids are especially well-suited for demanding industries like chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas, where both reliability and energy conservation are of utmost importance.
VERSA’s low-power solenoid valves are the ideal choice for customers seeking to reduce their power consumption without compromising performance. Our field-proven offerings range from 7.2 watt down to 0.5 watt. With VERSA, low watt doesn’t mean low flow. The solenoids are compatible with VERSA’s entire line of spool valves. Flow rates up to 13.9 Cv can be achieved with a 0.5-watt solenoid.
Benefits Include:
• Efficient power availability in remote locations
• Carbon footprint
• Expensive power consumption
• High Power/Flow Ratio
Tel: 01452 731447
Email: sales@versatilecontrols.co.uk
Website: www.versatilecontrols.co.uk
Versatile Controls Ltd supply high quality stainless steel valves and service to the oil and gas, petrochemical, and process industries. For these industries reliability is essential - only trusted components can be considered. The names of Versa Valves, Ruelco, and ITT are synonymous with dependability. This is how the business started in 1987. These products are on specification with some of the prestigious names in the industry - Shell / BP / ExxonMobil. Visit our website or contact our expert technical sales team for more information. sales@versatilecontrols.co.uk www.versatilecontrols.co.uk
Titan Enterprises, a leading manufacturer of innovative flow measurement solutions, is spotlighting the customer testing phase as a vital milestone in the research and development of its latest breakthrough product: a lowcost ultrasonic beverage flowmeter designed specifically for Original Equipment Manufacturers’ (OEM) drinks dispensing systems.
Developed in response to a drinks dispenser OEM’s request, the new ultrasonic beverage flowmeter needed to meet a series of complex and specific design requirements: no internal moving parts (a priority for hygienic cleaning), compact size, food-grade materials, low cost and seamless integration into existing systems.
“This development project hasn’t been just about making a flowmeter - we’re solving an industry problem,” says Neil Hannay, Senior Development Engineer at Titan Enterprises. Extrapolating the proven success with their turbine flow devices in drinks dispensing, Titan investigated the use of ultrasonics for the same processes which lead to the creation of the ultrasonic beverage meter.
At the heart of Titan’s R&D approach is customer collaboration, and the development of the new ultrasonic beverage meter, part of the Atrato® family of flow measurement devices, illustrates how real-world testing with OEM partners directly influences the final product design.
“In laboratory testing, we have to make assumptions working on first principles with our expertise in flowmeter technology leading the way,” Neil adds. “We are not able to replicate a customer’s process, so customer testing is crucial in the development of a reliable, user-
focused product that encompasses features that are important to the customer.”
Customer testing is the phase where ideas are truly put to the test, and it’s where the most critical learning happens. As well as allowing the customer to develop confidence in the product, this phase is an opportunity to highlight operational preferences while keeping an eye on the cost window of the end product.
Following in-house prototype validation, the units are deployed for in-situ testing by the customer - a phase that frequently reveals performance nuances not captured in laboratory conditions. Customer feedback during field trials helps to identify areas for refinement, such as fluid compatibility, mechanical resilience under operational stresses, and whether there is a need to incorporate various protections to minimise the effect of faults and failures on installation.
“The iterative loop of feedback between our R&D team and
the customer’s application environment is essential,” Neil explains. “The goal is to refine both physical performance and system integration, ensuring our flowmeter not only works, but works exactly how and where it’s needed and within an acceptable price point.”
Titan’s collaborative testing model ensures customer-driven innovation is grounded in realworld results. This methodology not only streamlines the path to market but also supports the development of highly tailored, application-specific flowmeter solutions.
With R&D investment over three times the industry average, Titan Enterprises continues to push the boundaries of liquid flow technology, offering bespoke solutions that serve the needs of dynamic and evolving OEM markets.
For more information on Titan Enterprises and its OEM solutions, contact Titan Enterprises via email sales@flowmeters.co.uk.
Titan Enterprises is a leading design and manufacturer of innovative end user and OEM high-performance flowmeters and flow measurement instrumentation, used within a wide range of processes, environments and applications.
• Compact, robust, reliable
• Excellent accuracy and repeatability
• Measure low to high flow ranges and viscosity
• High chemical resistance
• NSF-Approved mini turbine flowmeters
• ATEX-compliant and high pressure Oval Gear models
• OEM bespoke design capability
Titan’s liquid flowmeters are designed and manufactured to ISO 9001 with traceable calibrations.
+44 (0)1935 812790 sales@flowmeters.co.uk www.flowmeters.co.uk
Soken Engineering, a market leader in heat sealing technology for over 30 years, will showcase its range of versatile and multi-material heatsealing machines at The Processing and Packaging Machinery Exhibition, which returns to the NEC, Birmingham on the 23rd to 25th September.
Joining the food packaging section of the show, Soken will present its HS35EC multi-material sealer for products including sandwiches, baguettes, pasta, and salad boxes. Featuring a patented electric drive system which eliminates the need for compressed air, it can seal up to four packs simultaneously and offers an adjustable seal time, temperature, and pressure for optimal results.
The HS34ACF will also be on show. Ideal for small and mid-range foodto-go producers, this machine offers automatic sealing to reduce manual
effort and increase efficiency, sealing up to 400 packs per hour.
The system has a wide range of non-food applications too. It seals a variety of materials, including foil, plastic, and cardboard, making it ideal for products such as blister packs. Soken Engineering has been trialling a range of more eco-friendly packaging and will showcase its cardboard blister pack capability at the PPMA – a sustainable innovation for the pharmaceutical, automotive, stationery and consumer products industries.
“We’ve made some real advances in our equipment and use of sustainable materials for small and medium producers, so we’re excited to share them at the PPMA,” says Gareth Davies, Director at Soken Engineering. “Our eco-friendly innovations boost output and offer tailored solutions for diverse needs,
from high-speed sealing for growing businesses through to versatile seal options for those operating several product lines. We look forward to demonstrating how our technology can help businesses improve their operational efficiency – and bottom line.”
See Soken’s range of heat-sealing machines on stands A50 and A42 in the ‘food packaging’ and ‘food processing’ sections of the PPMA.
www.sokenengineering.com
SQUIRREL CAGE MOTORS | SLIP RING MOTORS | DC MOTORS
Motors up to 25 MW and 13.8 kV
• Low voltage slip-ring and squirrel cage motors up to 3,000 kW
• Medium voltage slip-ring and squirrel cage motors up to 15,000 kW
• Direct current motors up to 2,000 kW
• Frequency converter-proof drives
• In-house load test facility up to 13.800 V, 2.300 kVA, 120 Hz
Customized special designs
• Custom designs for special applications and operating conditions
• Optimized motor design for higher efficiency
• Mechanically and electrically interchangeable motors
• Commissioning worldwide
MENZEL Great Britain Ltd. | UK Branch Office
Martin Rooney | Tel.: +44 1664 500 844
martin.rooney@menzelgb.co.uk
menzel-motors.com
