April 2021

More efficiency, transparency and security: Harro Höfliger's digital solutions "Production Order Manager" and "Maintenance Manager" help. Two new videos use examples to show how this works in practice. 

The Production Order Manager   enables reproducible production orders to be created - including stored product parameters. Every once created production order can be called up again at any time. This not only saves time, but also creates security; especially when manufacturing many product variants on one system.  

Using globally patented technology, the Lavit system lets consumers make and pour their drink by dispensing a range of cold beverage options “on-demand” at the tap of a button and offering customisation of beverages based on carbonation and flavour.

CCEP said the partnership will help explore and test new dispensed delivery solutions as a key strategic route towards helping reduce packaging waste and its carbon footprint.

Contamination in the sealing area causes important issues for food companies as it may lead to leakage and consequently reduced shelf life, health issues and even expensive recalls with potential brand damage. As such automatic detection of contaminated seals is important for both food safety and packaging automation. For standard vision systems, detection of contamination in  the sealing area is difficult if the sealing film is non-transparent or if there is not enough contrast between the contamination and the film.

The goal of the European Dafia project is to provide the food packaging and automotive industries with sustainable options through the development of biopolymers, flame-retardant additives and barrier packaging.

Results have included flame retardants that provide an alternative to halogenated models, sustainable barrier packaging and edible coatings that extend the shelf-life of food, and chemical substances that can be used to produce new plastics from renewable resources.

DuoSmart® is a modern packaging solution that combines the advantages of paper with the functionality of plastic. It contains up to 50 % less plastic compared to standard injection molded packaging, and with a “zip”, the inner cup and paper banderole can be easily separated into different waste streams. The brand addresses concerns about the environment with a sustainable biopolymer option, and offers PP, PET and barrier PP or more demanding shelf-life requirements.

A lot of designers are coming up with cool packaging designs for various products, but this packaging concept by Nolan Nisbet for the Apple Watch is particularly intriguing! Inspired by the packaging design for the iPod, Nisbet adopted a clear and transparent package for the Apple Watch as well. The transparent packaging comes in two parts, one protects the screen of the watch, whereas the other part forms a protective layer around the strap. But here’s where it becomes interesting, the packaging of the strap has been designed in such a way, that you can slide it on and off!

WestRock (NYSE: WRK), a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, has announced it is partnering with Heinz UK to implement WestRock’s Cluster-Wing™ paperboard multipack design to continue to remove single-use plastic packaging from supermarket shelves. Heinz is first to market with WestRock’s new, patent-pending packaging innovation which offers a sustainable, robust and convenient alternative to single-use plastic shrink wrap packaging.

The first-to-market, food safe PCR film is now available nationwide across all major multiple Berry Gardens lines including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and other stone fruit.   

Marking a major step forward for the fresh produce packaging sector, the new recycled film reduces carbon impact by significantly offsetting the requirement for virgin polymer, removing around 53,000 kilos from the supply-chain annually. The film also supports the 30% recycled content requirement for the 2022 plastics packaging tax with the option of up to 50% recyclate available.