Princeton-based company serves global pharmaceutical industry with beyond-compliance serialization initiatives and efficiency-minded digitization solutions.

Princeton, NJ – Supply Chain Wizard – a leading full-service global consulting firm specializing in serialization and traceability, as well as supply chain strategy and operational transformation programs – has been named among New Jersey’s Fastest Growing Companies by NJBIZ Magazine. For Supply Chain Wizard, whose customers include pharmaceutical brand owners, contract manufacturers & packagers, wholesalers and third- party logistics providers, the recognition comes as the company shifts focus from compliance-driven serialization and track & trace initiatives to longer-term, comprehensive digital solutions in a post-serialization pharma landscape.

NJBIZ Magazine’s annual “NJ Fast 50” list of Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies honors New Jersey’s most dynamic businesses who progressively contribute to the success of the state’s economic growth and stability. For Supply Chain Wizard, the recognition is particularly significant given the states’ deep roots in the pharmaceuticals sector, with several major drug manufacturers and packagers operating facilities in NJ. Headquartered in Princeton, Supply Chain Wizard has a global reach with satellite hubs in Germany, India, Turkey and The Netherlands, and consultants stationed around the world.

Though not yet five years old, Supply Chain Wizard has positioned itself at the forefront of two distinct waves in the pharmaceuticals industry. The first major push involved the industry’s efforts to implement sector-wide serialization initiatives for improved product tracking and security from counterfeiting. As major markets like the United States and European Union underwent mandatory transformations leading up to regulatory enactments (November 2018 in the US; February 2019 in the EU), Supply Chain Wizard made its name providing supplementary solutions that utilized the troves of data generated by track & 10:36 AM 11/21/2018trace systems. Exemplified by groundbreaking solutions like its Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) Tracker, the result was real-time, data-driven decisions that helped pharma industry players improve production efficiency and business practices.

With serialization mandates approaching, and therefore most solutions in place, Supply Chain Wizard has largely shifted focus to offering beyond-compliance strategies that, while continuing to utilize the valuable metrics provided by serialization solutions, expand further to include other aspects of manufacturing and supply chain management. In addition to OEE Tracker, the company’s suite of Digital Factory initiatives now include solutions to improve labor tracking, production scheduling and recordkeeping & reporting, as well as consultative services spanning Industry 4.0 initiatives like Internet of Things (IoT) incorporation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and blockchain-based systems.

“Supply Chain Wizard helps our customers gain exposure to the solutions and techniques involved in transforming traditional production plants into digital factories,” said Evren Ozkaya, CEO of Supply Chain Wizard. “It’s a means of harnessing technology to strengthen operations, improve efficiency and productivity, and ultimately benefit pharmaceutical patients by ensuring a safer and more expedient supply of pharmaceutical products.”

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About Supply Chain Wizard
Supply Chain Wizard is a management consulting, digital innovation and solutions firm, and a global leader specializing in serialization and traceability, supply chain strategy and operational transformation programs with presence in North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Supply Chain Wizard partners with organizations in designing, developing and implementing digital solutions using state-of-the-art technologies such as Internet-of-Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Blockchain through its Cloud Platform to enable end-to-end Digital Supply Chain Transformations in the Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals industry.

Serving some of the world's largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, contract manufacturers and packagers, Supply Chain Wizard is dedicated to adding sustainable value through data- driven decision making from shop floor to executive boardrooms. Supply Chain Wizard is headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices in Germany, Netherlands, Turkey and India.

A single device to acquire data, evaluate it and send it to the cloud – that's now possible with B&R's Edge Controller. The powerful industrial PC can even be used for big data analysis and machine learning, while at the same time serving as a full-fledged industrial controller.

B&R's Edge Controller is based on the robust Automation PC 910, whose high-performance variant is equipped with an Intel XEON processor able to handle resource-intensive tasks like machine learning. The Edge Controller runs a hardened operating system – a commercial Linux variant with guaranteed long-term support. Cloud transmission occurs via MQTT.

Full-fledged industry controller
B&R Hypervisor makes it possible to simultaneously run a real-time operating system on the Edge Control-ler. That turns the edge device into a full-fledged industrial controller with cycle times in the sub-millisecond range. An unlimited number of I/O modules or controllers can be connected via the POWERLINK Industrial Ethernet protocol, OPC UA or other fieldbus systems. With the Edge Controller, this will soon also be possible with OPC UA TSN.

About B&R
B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations.

B&R's entry into the machine vision market is led by two camera variants: Smart Sensor and Smart Camera. Since the hardware is fully integrated in the automation system, the cameras can be synchronized to machine functions with microsecond precision.

The Smart Sensor is designed to implement a single machine vision functionality, such as QR code reading or position detection. Unlike many other devices in its class, there is no need to install dedicated hardware for each function. Instead, the user simply configures the desired Smart Sensor function in the Automation Studio development environment. OEMs only have to stock a single camera type and are nevertheless able to support a wide range of applications.  

Scalable hardware
In cases where more than one functionality is required, it is easy to switch to the more powerful Smart Cam-era. The existing application software, parameters and models can continue to be used. Whichever camera type is selected, installation could hardly be easier: Simply hook the camera up to the machine network, and it automatically obtains all the settings it needs from the controller. 

Optimum image quality
Smart Sensor and Smart Camera can each be equipped with one of three image sensors, ranging from 1.3 to 5 megapixels. All three sensors are characterized by their large pixel size, high light sensitivity and low noise. This guarantees optimum image quality – even in high-speed applications. Lighting can be imple-mented in the form of integrated LEDs or external barlights and backlights.  

Housing variants are available with either an integrated lens or a standard C mount. The integrated lenses have electronic focus adjustment and are available in focal lengths from 4.6 to 25 mm. All B&R lenses are specially optimized for the image sensors used to achieve maximum sharpness and optimal imaging perfor-mance.  

One cable is all you need
The camera only needs a single cable. The camera is integrated into the machine network via an M12 hybrid connector which also supplies the necessary 24 VDC power. A second hybrid connection enables easy daisy-chain cabling with additional cameras or B&R lighting elements

About B&R
B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations.

Asset Performance Monitor is B&R's first cloud application based on ABB AbilityTM, ABB's unified, cross-industry offering of digital solutions. By giving OEMs a reliable overview of all their machines in the field, it allows them to identify potential improvements, take service operations to the next level and unlock new business models and revenue streams. 

Around the clock, Asset Performance Monitor delivers data about production rate, energy consumption and temperature. Users can define which information is required, and the application automatically calculates key performance indicators (KPIs) such as overall equipment effectiveness and provides opportunities for im-provement.  Asset Performance Monitor prepares the data and displays it in a clearly organized dashboard. OEMs can then use this data to implement well-targeted machine upgrades and offer their customers next-level service.

Open architecture
An edge device is installed on site to collect data from a machine or production line. It receives data from the machine controller via OPC UA and passes it on to the cloud using the MQTT protocol. The edge device automatically establishes a connection to the ABB Ability cloud and installs the necessary software. Simply logging in with a username and password gives the OEM access to Asset Performance Monitor and all the features it has to offer.

ABB Ability platform
B&R's cloud applications run on ABB Ability. Security and data integrity are guaranteed by state-of-the-art security standards and transfer protocols. The Microsoft Azure infrastructure ensures reliable access to ABB Ability services all around the world, which includes all the prerequisites for future cloud applications featur-ing artificial intelligence and machine learning.

About B&R
B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations.

Brussels, 16 November 2018 – EUROPEN and 72 other associations representing a wide range of packaging materials and sectors across the packaging value chain call on the European Institutions to ensure that the free movement of packaging and packaged goods across the EU’s Single Market is not undermined by the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUP), currently being negotiated in trilogues.

In a joint statement published today, the 73 organisations make a set of recommendations to EU negotiators aimed at ensuring that the proposed Directive provides legal certainty and does not lead to a patchwork of national measures that would fragment the Internal Market, thereby undermining the free movement of goods and the transition to a Circular Economy.

The signatories to the statement acknowledge the problem of plastic pollution and are committed to finding and contributing to solutions, but emphasise that an EU legal framework that undermines the Single Market will fail to achieve the intended objectives. An EU Directive that enables individual Member States to impose a wide range of disparate restrictions on packaging risks a chilling effect on the very investment at scale in innovation, including eco-innovation for circularity, that the transition to a Circular Economy demands.

Unlike national restrictions on carrier bags, allowed through a derogation from the EU Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWD), derogations for a range of packaging applications will impact not only the free movement of packaging, but the free movement of packaged goods. In order to avoid this damaging scenario, the 73 signatories to the joint statement call on the EU institutions to:

• - Secure the primacy of the PPWD for all packaging and packaged items in case of conflict between different EU legal instruments;
• - Ensure that any national measures that may be adopted as a result of the SUP directive are duly prenotified to the European Commission and without prejudice to the Singla Market clause of the PPWD;
• - Measures to achieve consumption reduction targets envisaged in the SUP directive cannot include unilateral national restrictions on the placing on the market of specific packaging applications.

“We fully acknowledge the need to address the plastic pollution issue and more broadly we support the objective of the EU’s Circular Economy strategy,” said Hans van Bochove of Coca-Cola European Partners and EUROPEN Chairman. “But we will only succeed with a clear, evidence-based, harmonised and predictable legal framework that is able to guide and secure sustainable investments. Fragmentation of the Single Market would seriously impede investments in innovation and the transition to a Circular Economy”, underlined Van Bochove.

“We should be mindful that in the rush to reach an agreement on the SUP directive we don’t let policy coherence go by the wayside,” said Virginia Janssens, EUROPEN Managing Director. “We want the measures to be effective, so we must avoid an overlapping, contradictory legislative patchwork. Any further measures relating to the regulation of packaging materials should be addressed in a harmonised way in the context of the forthcoming review of the PPWD, which sets EU-wide standards, including the Essential Requirements that packaging placed on the EU market must meet,” she concluded.

ACE - The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment, AGVU - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Verpackung und Umwelt e.V., Germany, AIM - European Brands Association, A.I.S.E. - The International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, Alliance Carton Nature, France, Aluminium Denmark, Denmark, AmCham EU - American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union, ANIA - Association Nationale des Industries Alimentaires, France, APEAL - The Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging, ARAM- Association for Packaging and the Environment, Romania, Bryggeriforeningen- The Danish Brewers’ Association, Denmark, BSDABulgarian Soft Drink Association, Bulgaria, BVE - Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Ernährungsindustrie e.V, Germany, CEPI - Confederation of European Paper Industries, Cicloplast-Spanish association of plastic transformers and raw materials producer for promoting plastics packaging recycling, Spain, CICPEN - Industrial Coalition on Packaging and the Environment, Czech Republic, CitpaThe International Confederation of Paper and Board Converters in Europe, CNE - Conseil National de l’Emballage, France, COFEPACComité Français de l’Emballage Papier Carton, France, COPACEL, France, Cosmetics Europe - The Personal Care Association, CPME aisbl (Committee PET Manufacturers Europe), EKO-PAK- Packaging Industry Union of Employers, Poland, ELIPSO - Les entreprises de l'emballage plastique et souple, France, EFBW - European Federation of Bottled Waters, Emballasjeforeningen- The Norwegian Packaging Association, Norway, EPRO - European Association of Plastics Recycling & Recovery Organisations, European Retail Round Table, EuPC - European Plastics Converters, EuPIA- European Printing Ink Association, EUROCOMMERCE - The voice of retail and wholesale in Europe, European Aluminium, European Aluminium Foil Association e.V, European Bioplastics, European Dairy Association, European Vending & Coffee Service Association, EUROPEN - The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment, EXPRA - Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance, FCD- Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution, France, FDF - Food and Drink Federation, UK, FCIO- Association of the Austrian Chemical Industry, Austria, FEA - European Aerosol Federation, FEBEA - Fédération des Entreprises de la Beauté, France, Federalimentare – Federazione Italiana dell’Industria Alimentare, Italy, FEFCO - European Corrugated Packaging Association, FEVIA - The Belgian Food and Drink Industry, Belgium, Flexible Packaging Europe, FNILFédération Nationale des Industries Laitières, France, FNLI - Federatie Nederlandse Levenmiddelen Industrie, The Netherlands, FoodDrinkEurope - The organisation of Europe's food & drink industry, Foodservice Packaging Association, UK, IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V, Germany, ILEC - Institut de liaisons et d’études des industries de consommation, France, INCPEN - The Industry Council For Research On Packaging And The Environment, UK, Independent Retail Europe, INTERGRAF
- European Federation for Print and Digital Communication, Miljöpack – The Trade & Industry Group, Sweden, Metal Packaging Europe, Pack2Go Europe - Europe’s Convenience Food Packaging Association, The Packaging Federation, UK, Pakkaus - Packaging Association, Finland, PCEP-Polyolefin Circular Economy Platform, Petcore Europe, PlasticsEurope - Association of Plastics Manufacturers, PFPŻ ZP - Polish Federation of Food Industry, Poland, Potravinářská komora České republiky- Federation of the Food and Drink Industries of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic, SEPEN- Association for Packaging and Environmental Protection, Serbia, Serving Europe - Branded Food and Beverage Service Chains Association, SLICPEN - Industrial Coalition on Packaging and the Environment, Slovakia, Sociedade Ponto Verde, S.A. - Packaging Recovery Organisation, Portugal, Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS), UNESDA - Union of European Soft Drinks Associations

About EUROPEN
EUROPEN - The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment - is a cross-industry organization presenting the opinion of the packaging supply chain in Europe on topics related to packaging, packaging waste and the environment, independent of any specific packaging materials or systems. EUROPEN members are comprised of multinational corporate companies spanning the packaging value chain (raw material producers, converters and brand owners) plus national packaging organizations all committed to continuously improving the environmental performances of packaged products, in collaboration with their suppliers and customers.

Xaar, a world-leader in industrial inkjet printing, will highlight at InPrint Milan 2018 (stand 820; 20-22 November) how OEMs can use its printheads to get to market faster, develop inkjet solutions cost-effectively, and better meet their customers’ needs – enabling them to get ahead of the competition and achieve more.

At the show, the company will celebrate the commercial launch of its Xaar 5601 printhead. Eight years in development, the Xaar 5601 is generating significant interest with its exceptionally high-resolution print at high speed, and more than 5600 nozzles, capable of jetting up to eight litres of fluid per hour. A growing number of OEMs are developing their print solutions based on the Xaar 5601, such as Windmöller & Hölscher,which was announced earlier this year. Xaar is set to make a further announcement at InPrint 2018.

Visitors to Xaar’s stand will be able toinspect a range of stunning samples printed by the Xaar 5601, demonstrating why it is the ideal printhead for a range of applications including packaging, textiles, décor and commercialprint. They will also be able to view a wide range of Xaar printheads, highlighting keysectors:Industrial Print, Packaging, Advanced Manufacturing and 3D Printing. 

The results of another recent innovation – Xaar’s unique High Laydown (HL) Technology – will be on display. HL Technology enables the printing of a range of textured effects on labels, folding cartons and other products. Such high-build, textured embellishments (also called tactile or dimensional effects) can be used to significantly enhance the shelf appeal of products and ensure they stand out on display.

Throughout the show, Xaar’s expertise will be underlined with a number of talks. As InPrint 2018’s official Conference Partner, the company will take part in a range of industry discussions over the three days. Werner Zapka of Xaar will host the Technical Conference on day one and day two and introduce talks from industry leaders, including two by XaarengineersRenzo Trip and Tomas Cerny.

Day two will see Jason Remnant, Senior Product Manager, discuss ‘Keeping up with and getting ahead of the demands of packaging printing with the Xaar 5601’ at 11am, while on day three, Angus Condie, Director of Integration and Applications, will give a talk on ‘Latest Developments in using High Laydown Technology for 3D photopolymer printing’ at 1pm. This will detail how HL Technology enablesa more diverse fluid portfolio since jetting higher viscosity fluids allows for greater part functionality. Also on day three, at 11.30am, Mike Utley will cover the conversion to inkjet in direct to object printing.

Finally, several Xaar partners will be showcasing their products and technology. One of these, Meteor Inkjet Ltd (stand 1034), is launching its new DropWatcher family of products, designed to evaluate and optimise printhead and ink combinations. Visitors to Meteor’s stand will be able to see a DropWatcher in action, running the Xaar 1201 printhead.

Mike Utley, Director of Marketing and Product Strategy at Xaar,says:“We would like to welcome visitors to our stand at InPrint 2018, where they can see and learn more about our printhead portfolio and technologyas well hear our latestintegration announcement for the Xaar 5601. This, combined with the insights presented during the conference sessions, will highlight how visitors can get ahead with Xaar’s industrial inkjet technology and achieve more.”

About Xaar

Xaar is a world leader in the development of digital inkjet technology. Our technology drives the conversion of analogue printing and manufacturing methods to digital inkjet which is more efficient, more economical and more productive than the traditional methods which have been in use for years. We design and manufacture printheads as well as systems for product decoration and industrial 3D Printing which use our inkjet technology. We are the only truly independent inkjet technology company with over 25 years of know how. We offer unrivalled inkjet expertise including technology and printhead design and development and manufacture highly customised product decoration systems and industrial 3D Printing for volume manufacturing. Our unique technologies and products are the leading enabler for innovation and for driving supply chain efficiencies for many industries. Additional information about Xaar is available at www.xaar.com

13 Nov 2018 --- Targeting increasingly adventurous consumers, set on new discoveries and experiences, will be key to developments in the food and beverage industry in 2019. The connected world has led consumers of all ages to become more knowledgeable of other cultures, contributing to 35 percent growth of “discovery” claims, when comparing 2017 and 2016 new product launch numbers.

“Discovery: the Adventurous Consumer” leads the list of Innova Market Insights’ Top Ten Trends for 2019. The company continuously analyzes global developments in food and beverage launch activity and consumer research to highlight the trends most likely to impact the industry over the coming year and
beyond.

Innova Market Insights’ top five trends for 2019 are:

• 1. Discovery: the Adventurous Consumer

The food and beverage industry is increasingly focusing on satisfying the adventurous consumer. Consumers are moving out of their comfort zones to
explore bolder flavors and multisensory food experiences. There is a focus on heightened sensory delivery, often combined with an element of the unexpected.

• 2. The Plant Kingdom

The plant-based market shows no signs of slowing down. Companies and brands are greening up their portfolios to attract mainstream consumers who want to add more plant-based options into their diets. For many, going plantbased is about achieving a healthy and sustainable balance between meat and vegetables, rather than adopting an all-or-nothing way of eating.

• 3. Alternatives to All

As more consumers pay attention to health & sustainability, replacement foods and ingredients are on the rise. Health remains the number one reason to buy food alternatives, with one in two US consumers reporting that health is a reason for buying alternatives to bread, meat or dairy. The search for alternative proteins has resulted in a rising use of black beans, lentils, peas, rice, nuts & seeds, chickpea, and even insects, as protein ingredients for foods. 

• 4. Green Appeal

The industry is increasingly committing to answering customer expectations around sustainability. This is driving corporate goals, as manufacturers commit to sustainable product and packaging development with a range of initiatives. This includes waste reduction through upcycled ingredients and postconsumer recycling, as well as improved biodegradability and new technology, such as compostable capsules and vegetable inks.

• 5. Snacking: the Definitive Occasion

For most consumers, snacking is a part of daily life and always has been. What is changing, however, is the way people think about snacking and what is considered a snack. Snacking is no longer the optional extra, but the definitive occasion. It is a central focus of innovation across all food and beverage categories, with 10 percent average annual growth of global food and beverage launches with a snacking claim over the past 5 years (CAGR 2013-2017)

The other top trends identified by Innova Market Insights are:
6. Eating for Me
7. A Fresh Look at Fiber
8. I Feel Good
9. Small Player Mindset
10. Connected to the Plate
The Top Ten Trends for 2019 will be presented by Innova Market Insights in a live webinar on November 21, 2018 at 4pm CET/10am EST. Register for the webinar by clicking here.

About The Innova Database:
The Innova Database (www.innovamarketinsights.com) is the product of choice for the whole product development team. See what food manufacturers are doing around the world in a way you never thought possible. Track trends, competitors, ingredients and flavors. It contains excellent product pictures, search possibilities and analysis.

Get the world of new products on your desk, set e-alerts, examine category activity, find new ideas, be inspired. In today's fast moving environment this is a resource you cannot afford to be without.

Frankfurt, 7 November 2018 – The autumn event of the Forum Packmittel took place on 30 October 2018 at the company ROVEMA GmbH in Fernwald. Due to current events, the focus was on plastic packaging.

Rising global demand for packaging materials
The global food and beverage industry continues to be a dynamic growth market and is thus generating increasing demand for packaging materials. According to the British market research institute Euromonitor International, global packaging sales are expected to grow by almost 13 percent between 2017 and 2022. Above all in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East/Africa regions, above-average growth is expected over the same period.

Flexible packaging - blessing or curse?
Stefan Glimm from Flexible Packaging Europe talked about the current discussion on plastics and microplastics. The association called for a more objective discussion on the topic. The lecture answered the question how packaging can contribute to feeding the world's population and avoiding food losses. If the market for flexible packaging were to disappear, the economic benefits of flexible packaging would also be affected. One of the messages of the lecture was that especially in emerging and developing countries, no recycling is possible without orderly collection of packaging waste: "No collection - no recycling".

European Strategy
The information day also provided information on developments within the framework of the circular economy package adopted by the EU Commission on 16 January 2018, which focuses on the European strategy for plastics in the circular economy. This includes an EU-wide voluntary commitment to ensure that 10 million tons of recycled plastics will be used in new products in the EU market by 2025. In October 2018, the EU Parliament agreed to ban disposable plastic products from 2021. The resulting uncertainty among buyers of machinery and equipment is leading to a reluctance to invest, which some machine manufacturers are already noticing

Bio-based plastics
The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging has presented a study commissioned by the BMEL on bio-based plastics for food packaging. The aim of the study was to clarify whether bio-based plastics are suitable for food packaging. Packaging must fulfil functions, such as being suitable for logistics and protecting food, but it must also fulfil communication tasks. Even if the respective requirement profile is decisive for suitability, the study concludes that bio-based plastics basically cover the properties of fossil-based plastics.

As an example of alternative packaging solutions, Rovema presented its clean and dense flour packaging made of organic paper.

The VDMA Packaging Forum is organized by three sector associations, i.e., the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association, the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association as well as the Printing and Paper Technology Association. 

Ghent (Belgium), 08 November, 2018 – Esko (www.esko.com) will showcase its innovative packaging software solutions for brand owners, trade shops and converters, as well as a Kongsberg C24 cutting table (1680x3200) at All4Pack, Paris, November 26 to 29, Hall 6 Stand L141.

Esko will show visitors how streamlining and connecting the end-to-end production delivers tangible business benefits, resulting in faster throughput, higher quality, and ‘Right First Time’ production.

Eddy Fadel, VP Sales EMEA of Esko, explains: “Visitors to All4Pack will see how Esko’s solutions are connecting job specifications, order information, approval cycles, CAD and graphic data, as well as requirements for manufacturing and logistics in one integrated workflow, making the process from order to completion far more efficient and cost effective.”

Design Solutions

A virtual reality setup on the booth will allow brands and their suppliers to discover hyper-realistic 3D packshots and entire store environments enabled by Studio Store Visualizer and that can be used for proofing, marketing and e-commerce purposes. These environments are stocked with packaging developed using Esko’s packaging design solutions, ArtiosCAD for structural design and Studio for 3D packaging design.

Prepress Workflow Stars

Live demonstrations of the latest business enhancing developments of Esko’s Software platform:

• - Esko’s “QuickStart” solutions of Automation Engine and WebCenter are quick to deploy workflows for packaging and sign applications to be used by brands and packaging suppliers. Automation Engine automates repetitive prepress tasks from one-up artwork to the print-ready data. WebCenter includes program, artwork and asset management tools for quick and easy project handling and approvals. Both Automation Engine and WebCenter connect with ERP/MIS systems.
• - ArtPro+ is the next generation native PDF editor that reshapes packaging prepress editing into an intuitive QA tool with fewer clicks. Within the editor routine, functions can be automated to speed up production. Novel features like the powerful Packaging Preflight
• - The easy-to-use Print Control Wizard software further simplifies the platemaking department. It takes the complexity out of flexo platemaking by going beyond excellent screening to output the right plate fit for purpose based on a range of print run parameters. The plates produced through Print Control Wizard deliver superior print quality; they use screen and dot gain curves that take into consideration the press, substrates, inks, anilox and other print run parameters.

Digital Finishing

Demonstrating high quality finishing capabilities will be Esko’s Kongsberg C24 cutting table. It delivers value, durability, reliability, precision and ease of use at an attractive investment level. It features a lightweight carbon composite traverse to consistently provide the fastest throughput. Fadel adds: “We are excited to show new and existing customers how our continuously evolving suite of solutions combines to deliver a connected offering that streamlines every production step and ensures consistency, accuracy and reliability. We will share ways to add value and support operations as they address key market demands efficiently and effectively.”

About Esko (www.esko.com)

Packaging Connected. Esko helps its customers to make the best packaging for billions of consumers. Esko solutions touch 9 out of 10 retail packages worldwide.

The Esko portfolio supports and manages the go to market process at brand owners and the production process at packaging suppliers - such as designers, premedia, printers and converters.

- Esko Software Platform: project management, artwork creation, structural design, prepress, 3D visualization, workflow automation, quality assurance, palletization, supply chain collaboration and approval
- Enfocus: PDF preflight and workflow automation software
- MediaBeacon: digital asset management (DAM)
- Blue Software: label and artwork management
- CDI: computer-to-plate solutions for flexo and letterpress plates
- Kongsberg: digital cutting tables for sample-making and short run production
- Professional services, training and consultancy
Esko employs about 1,800 people worldwide. Headquartered in Gent (Belgium), its direct and indirect sales and service organization is in daily contact with customers all over the globe.

R+E Automation showcases assembly machines for pen and auto-injectors and blood collection tubes]

In addition to Optima Pharma, one of the newest members of the Optima Group will also be exhibiting at P-MEC: R+E Automation, based in Fellbach near Stuttgart (Germany). The company manufactures assembly machines for products including pen and auto-injectors and blood collection tubes, and complements the portfolio of the Optima Pharma division.

“Anything with a needle is a matter for R+E,” says Eugen Wanner, Director International Sales. The company is presenting its portfolio at P-MEC in the Indian city of Delhi from December 12 to 14, 2018. Not only does this include assembly machines for pen and autoinjectors and blood collection tubes, it also incorporates feed systems. The machines fit syringes that have been filled by Optim Pharma’s systems in the pen and auto-injectors used by diabetes patients, for example. This means that customers receive complete systems that integrate technologies and expertise from both R+E and Optima Pharma.

Assembly solutions for this application are the main focus at the trade fair, as is the company’s latest innovation: an assembly system for blood collection tubes that can be used to process all common additives. 

The importance of a lightweight and fully recyclable aluminium can to contain nutritious seafood has long been accepted, but a recent collaboration in Norway between leading can producer Ardagh Group and major seafood brand Stabburet shows how the versatile package can also become a design icon.

This major project for Stabburet’s mackerel filet, a national dish in Norway, has seen sixty different designs presented on the “Hansa” shaped seafood can. Each design, some of which use cartoons and are all linked by the brand’s recognisable yellow background, represents a different town or place, an aspect of people’s behaviour or way of life in Norway.  

To bring this ambitious project to a successful conclusion, Ardagh’s metal packaging plant in Cuxhaven in north Germany, which handled all aspects of the print and production of the cans, worked in close cooperation with Stabburet to ensure that all 60 designs were delivered as specified.

The base of the can contains the catching phrase: “ER DU EN AV OSS?” (ARE YOU ONE OF US?) explaining the relevance of the picture on the lid, and the pull ring shows the green Nordic “keyhole” food symbol.

Birte Hjorth, Product Group Manager at Orkla Foods Norge explains: “Mackerel filet in tomato is an important part of the Norwegian everyday diet, and we wanted to honor all the loyal consumers throughout the country. We therefore created a series of on-pack designs; each design representing a way of living or a typical local feature from a different town or place in Norway. The campaign has been very well received and engaged consumers all over the country.”

Patrick Savouré, Commercial Director Seafood at Ardagh Group’s metal division, adds, “the lightweight aluminium can offers a perfect branding surface for this striking design and together with the excellent functionality, this is a winning combination.”

Stabbur-Makrell was launched in 1958 and is one of the longest-established brands of Orkla, a leading Norwegian supplier of branded consumer goods to the grocery, out-of-home, specialised retail, pharmacy and bakery sectors.

Hansa is the name of a seafood can with rounded edges.

The green “Keyhole” is a voluntary Nordic label for food. Compared to other foods of the same type, products with the Keyhole comply with one or more of these requirements: more dietary fibre, less saturated fat, less salt and less sugar. There are a total of 33 food product groups which can use the Keyhole.

Ardagh Group is a global leader in metal and glass packaging solutions, producing packaging for most of the world's leading food, beverage and consumer brands. It operates 108 facilities in 22 countries, employing approximately 23,300 people and has global sales of approximately US8.6 bn.  

The European label industry challenges next generation talents

The Hague, The Netherlands – 8 November 2018 – Labels are so well hidden in plain sight that many people are not aware of their omnipresence. Would you be able to guess how many labels you see on any given day, and how essential they are to help you make the right brand choices?

The professionals who dedicate their talents to develop labels on a daily basis are equally discrete. They work silently in the background to create labels, to add value to their customers’ branded products, or to add value through process improvements. Consequently, the label industry is not well known to the generation of talents who are currently making career choices, while at the same time, it innovates at a fast pace and needs to attract ambitious talents with fresh ideas.

In this context, FINAT, the European association for the self-adhesive label and adjacent narrow-web converting industry, launched yesterday the #LABELicious talent competition on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.

The competition’s objective is to increase the visibility of the label industry, of its exciting professional challenges, and of its excellent career perspectives to students and early career professionals aged between 18 and 25.

Entrants are invited to submit their ideas and concepts for labels in three categories:

• Smart / Intelligent / Multifunctional Labels – #LABELicious calls for truly fresh and feasible ideas about how integrating technologies in brand/functional labels will enhance the label’s experience and value in an end-customer’s business case for the year 2025. The entry should demonstrate how label converting technology adds value to a label through new functionality, production methods, or technical innovation.
• Brand Design – #LABELicious calls for next-generation label design, both visually and from a constructive and functional perspective. The entry should demonstrate how in 2025, a branded label will create an outstanding experience, with a competitive advantage and added value for a brand in its own product category.
• Sustainability – #LABELicious calls for new approaches to improve sustainability in the field of product labelling. The entry should demonstrate how in 2025, a new approach to label design, production and application can contribute to a positive sustainability performance.

While the competition was officially launched on 7 November 2018, participants will be able to submit their entries on the website www.Labelicious.eu between 15 January 2019 and 15 May 2019. The early launch enables interested young professionals to prepare their ideas in due time, either individually or in the context of their professional education. During the entire competition, #LABELicious will publish educational and inspirational material from the industry to show its diversity in craftsmanship, its combination of creativity and technology, and its continuous focus on sustainability to improve the environmental performance of product labeling.

The relevance of reaching out to the next generation workforce is illustrated by the industry-wide cross-European support for the project. “The findings of our annual industry survey, the FINAT RADAR, demonstrate the sector’s growing challenge to attract young talents over the past few years,” says Jules Lejeune, Managing Director of FINAT. “This project currently gets support from some 25 international and national trade media companies, industry partners of all sizes across the value chain, and virtually all national label associations in Europe, proving that #LABELicious is addressing a top priority challenge.”

With the support of the competition’s partners, the international winner in each category will receive a week of industry experience, a complimentary visit to Labelexpo 2019 in Brussels where the awards’ ceremony will take place, and an additional financial reward.

“The biggest benefit of the #LABELicious project, however is to create connections between this innovative and fast evolving high-tech industry and the next generation talent force,” continues Lejeune. “We aim to reach the audience both directly through our media efforts, and indirectly through our relationships with the educational institutions in packaging technology and design. The European label industry challenges next generation talents, and as an industry, we are ready to be likewise challenged by the fresh ideas of the next generation.”

# # #

About FINAT

FINAT, founded in Paris on 7 November 1958 with current headquarters in The Hague (The Netherlands), is the worldwide association for manufacturers of self-adhesive labels and related products and services. With more some 560 members in over 50 countries around the world, FINAT has much to offer to label converters and all suppliers to the labelling industry in terms of information exchange and in terms of international networking. www.finat.com

St. Croix Falls, WI November 8, 2018 - Slate Group, a national commercial printer out of Lubbock, TX, has greatly expanded their in-house capabilities to include Foil Stamping and Embossing by installing Kluge's ApexFoil machine. Although the key properties of foil stamping are easy to identify - Time, Temperature, and Tonnage (3-T's) - they have often been difficult to measure and control. Operators at Slate Group can use the ApexFoil's Compass™ control system that includes patented features to control the 3-T's. Compass allows operators to greatly reduce, and in some cases, eliminate make-ready on every job.

 Slate Group focuses on providing their clients with a consistent look, no matter the print job requirements. Since opening their doors in 1985, they have aimed to build a reputation of creativity, consistency, and quality. They involve their customers as much as possible in the creative process, coming up with print solutions customers originally didn't know were possible. And by adding foil stamping and embossing they can control the turnaround times and ensure the quality standards their customers at Slate Group have come to expect. 

 They have been impressed from the beginning with the heated platen and intermittent controls of dwell and pressure on their Kluge and are certain those features will help them continue to produce the best possible print products and truly stand out from their competitors. They also point out how Kluge's support and in-depth training will help them fully utilize all the features of their new machine:

 
"The quality and ease of use of our new ApexFoil machine, along with the sale, installation and support of the Kluge team, especially Kenneth 'K.C.' Chapin, has exceeded our expectations," said Brad Phinny, COO at Slate Group.

 However, it turns out that Slate Group themselves were able to teach Kluge's technician a thing or two about running the ApexFoil:

 
"David Uriegas, Slate Group's ApexFoil operator, is a phenomenal beginner on Kluge foil stamping," said Kluge Technician Kenneth "KC" Chapin. "He has shown me skill levels way beyond where I have picked it up from. It is good to see new talent forming and shaping with the new presses that Kluge has built."

It is important to Slate Group to be able to follow through on its claims of producing high-quality work, which is why they make sure to invest in equipment that will let them do just that. They chose a Kluge for its heavy-duty construction and precise registration, along with the company reputation for service and support. As they aim to be a reliable, high-quality company, it is important for them to have reliable, high-quality equipment they can trust.

Brandtjen & Kluge profile
Adding value since 1919, Brandtjen & Kluge is an industry leader in manufacturing specialty print finishing and converting equipment. For 99 years the brand name "Kluge" has represented innovation, technical leadership, productivity and rugged durability to companies worldwide. Recently acquired by Mark Andy, a pioneer to the label and packaging industry, Kluge remains headquartered in St. Croix Falls, WI, and will continue to market equipment through a direct sales force in the United States and Canada as well as with a well-established network of industry-qualified distributors to provide global coverage. For more information visit us at www.kluge.biz. 

Frankfurt, 7 November 2018 – The autumn event of the Forum Packmittel took place on 30 October 2018 at the company ROVEMA GmbH in Fernwald. Due to current events, the focus was on plastic packaging.

Rising global demand for packaging materials

The global food and beverage industry continues to be a dynamic growth market and is thus generating increasing demand for packaging materials. According to the British market research institute Euromonitor International, global packaging sales are expected to grow by almost 13 percent between 2017 and 2022. Above all in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East/Africa regions,above-average growth is expected over the same period.

Flexible packaging - blessing or curse?

Stefan Glimm from Flexible Packaging Europe talked about the current discussion on plastics and microplastics. The association called for a more objective discussion on the topic. The lecture answered the question how packaging can contribute to feeding the world's population and avoiding food losses. If the market for flexible packaging were to disappear, the economic benefits of flexible packaging would also be affected. One of the messages of the lecture was that especially in emerging and developing countries, no recycling is possible without orderly collection of packaging waste: "No collection - no recycling".

European Strategy

The information day also provided information on developments within the framework of the circular economy package adopted by the EU Commission on 16 January 2018, which focuses on the European strategy for plastics in the circular economy. This includes an EU-wide voluntary commitment to ensure that 10 million tons of recycled plastics will be used in new products in the EU market by 2025. In October 2018, the EU Parliament agreed to ban disposable plastic products from 2021. The resulting uncertainty among buyers of  machinery and equipment is leading to a reluctance to invest, which some machine manufacturers are already noticing.

Bio-based plastics

The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging has presented a study commissioned by the BMEL on bio-based plastics for food packaging. The aim of the study was to clarify whether bio-based plastics are suitable for food packaging. Packaging must fulfil functions, such as being suitable for logistics and protecting food, but it must also fulfil communication tasks. Even if the respective requirement profile is decisive for suitability, the study concludes that bio-based plastics basically cover the properties of fossil-based plastics.

As an example of alternative packaging solutions, Rovema presented its clean and dense flour packaging made of organic paper.

The VDMA Packaging Forum is organized by three sector associations, i.e., the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association, the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association as well as the Printing and Paper Technology Association. 

Process, packaging and beverage technology are the main focuses of the Russian trade fair; considerable growth in the packaging sector

Starting immediately, visitors can register for upkovka 2019 free of cost under www.upakovka-tradefair.com. The most important Russian trade fair of the packaging industry and the related processing industry takes place at the AO Expocentre Krasnaja Presnja exhibition centre in Moscow from 29 January to 1 February, 2019.

After a positive trend with a corresponding increase in visitors to last year’s fair was already noted at the beginning of this year, early signs for 2019 are promising once more: After cautious consumption during the years of recession, Russian consumers are now increasingly reaching for high-quality packaged foods again. The sale of soft drinks is also rising. At the same time, Russia is resolutely continuing its policy of import substitution. Thanks to state support and subsidies, the percentage of
locally produced products has increased. For the further processing of these products, Russian and international companies are unabatedly investing in the development and expansion of their local production capacities, boosting the demand for packaging, processing and bottling/filling technology in the process.

Wide range from technology to packaging

The upakovka trade fair exhibits promising products and solutions from the entire value chain for the target groups of food, beverages, confectionery products and baked goods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, non-food consumer goods and industrial goods with a focus on processing and packaging technology, whereby the packaging part of the upcoming event is once again considerably expanding in scope. The increased alignment towards the pharmaceutical sector due to the partnership with the Association of Pharmaceutical Packaging Manufacturers (APFU) is also new in 2019. APFU represents the interests of leading Russian manufacturers of pharmaceutical packaging. At upakovka, pharmaceutical companies not only find solutions for solid products, but also for liquid medications. In addition to beverage bottling technology, filling technology for cosmetics and chemicals is part of the offerings of exhibitors such as KHS, Krones, Sidel and SMI. Companies that are taking part within the scope of the official German delegation also include global players such as Fawema, KBA, Theegarten-Pactec, Sollich and Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein. Added to this group are individua exhibitors such as Rovema, AUER Packaging, OMAG Srl, SIPA, CFT Group and OMAS Tecnosistemi. Various companies of the “Processing & Packaging – The High Tech Italian Way” network and members of the Italian mechanical engineering association UCIMA will also be represented at upakovka 2019. The Russian exhibitors include DanaflexNano, Zolotoy Shar Group, Russkaya Trapeza and Robotek Production Company.

“Innovationparc” special topic considerably expanded

Since upakovka has been organised under the aegis of the interpack alliance, the “innovationparc” special topic adapted by interpack in Düsseldorf will play an important role in Moscow. After the lively interest of the last two years, the forum programme of innovationparc will take placein parallel on two stages at upakovka 2019. In this way, visitors can obtain even more information on the trending topics of the industry throughout the duration of the trade fair. Focuses will include “Digital Innovation for Packaging & Labelling,” “Packaging Design,” “Recycling and Packaging Waste” and, for the first time, “Pharmaceutical Packaging and Labelling.” The latter is of particular interest to affected companies due to new legal regulations. In addition, a block will once again be provided on the topic of SAVE FOOD in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The partners of innovationparc are the National Packaging Confederation (NCPack), the Verband Deutscher Maschinen und Anlagenbau (VDMA), the Global Association for Marketing at Retail (POPAI), the Russian Branding Companies Association (RBCA) and the Russian trade journal Tara i Upakovka.

In total, about 850 companies will have exhibits at upakovka and the parallel trade fair interplastica – International Trade Fair Plastics and Rubber. upakovka will once again take place in the Forum hall, one of the largest on the trade fair grounds. 

 
About interpack alliance  

The interpack alliance comprises events of Messe Düsseldorf that form part of the Processing & Packaging portfolio. Exhibitors and visitors can recognise the corresponding trade fairs by an umbrella brand that is oriented towards its counterpart – interpack, the world’s most important event in the packaging industry and related process industries. In addition to the flagship trade fair giving the alliance its name the interpack alliance includes the trade fairs upakovka (Moscow), food pex (Shanghai), bulk pex (Shanghai), pacpro Asia (Shanghai), pacprocess India/IndiaPack and food pex India (Mumbai, New Delhi), pacprocess Tehran (Tehran), components (Düsseldorf), food processing & packaging  exposyum Kenya (Nairobi), indopack (Jakarta) as well as process expo (Chicago). The Chinese events are held together every two years as the Shanghai World of Packaging (swop). The interpack alliance targets the segments food, beverages, confectionery and pastries, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, non-food consumer goods as well as capital goods on important growth markets – with focal themes differing by event. The trade fairs in China, India, Iran and Russia are exclusively supported by the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association, UCIMA. 

About UCIMA

UCIMA (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers' Association) is the national trade association that represents and supports the Italian packing and packaging machinery manufacturers. It has more than 120 member companies from all over the country, including the industry leaders. UCIMA member companies cover the entire range of packaging machinery production, from the food, confectionery and tobacco industries through to pharmaceuticals, chemicals, petrochemicals, cosmetics and end-of-line technologies. UCIMA is a member of the Italian Employers' Federation Confindustria, making it an integral part of Itali industry's representation system. It maintains links with a variety of institutions and plays a major role in fostering the growth of the sector as a whole. Being part of a national and international network helps the association pursue initiatives and develop strategies for the sector. UCIMA offers support to its member companies by providing professional services and information, consulting and assistance on all the major issues concerning the sector.

Troisdorf, October 2018 | Following the big success of the 2013-release high-performance extrusion lines for PET thermoforming sheets with the patented mechatronic polishing stacks of the MIREX-MT-V design series, the next generation of this line type was presented this year.

As in the past, the heart of these lines is the tried-and-tested synchronous “REItruder” twin-screw extruders, which are now in their third generation. In combination with dry-running high-performance vacuum pumps that work with an operating pressure of 5 mbar, and the degassing units on the REItruder that have continuously been optimized through the years, the systems meet the FDA requirements (N.O.L for Recycled Plastics #209) for films that are made of 100% recycled PET and are in direct contact with food. All required declarations confirming the line technology's compliance with EFSA requirements are provided; the user is responsible for applying for the appropriate EFSA approval.

Depending on the customer's requirements, various different coextrusion feedblocks are available from Reifenhäuser EDS, the youngest member of the Reifenhäuser Group. The customers have frequently expressed their desire for simple (quasi “plug and play”) production. To meet this need, feedblocks are now available both for fixed layer geometries and for the tried-and-tested and highly flexible REIcofeed 2.1 systems that can be configured during operation. Additionally, completely modernized dies are available in the wide product portfolio of Reifenhäuser EDS. For example, the producer can choose between internal deckling for maximum flexibility in the film width, or a lip gap that can be configured during operation for fast thickness changes, as well as between manual or automatic operation with thermal expansion bolts.

After 5 years of successful worldwide use, the MIREX-MT-V high-performance polishing stack has also been fundamentally modernized. Depending on the system capacity, it has 3 or 4 polishing rolls. Additionally, an axis crossing for the first roll is available optionally, for the production of thin films with large widths.

The entire line has been prepared for the implementation of Industry 4.0 functions that are being developed group-wide by Reifenhäuser Digital. Thanks to the modular concept, the customers can decide individually which functionalities benefit their business activities and which are not needed (for the time being). The tailor-made solutions for individual needs are part of the portfolio of Reifenhäuser CSC, from “as simple as possible” to convenient fully automated solutions.

About the Reifenhäuser Group

Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating is part of the Reifenhäuser Group, the leading provider of innovative technologies and components for plastics extrusion. Founded in 1911, the company creates high-tech solutions used all around the world. Drawing upon its technologies and the expertise of its 1,500 employees, the Reifenhäuser Group enables the production of blown films, cast films, polishing sheets, and nonwovens of the highest quality. Bernd Reifenhäuser is the Group CEO. 

Amherst, NY – November 4, 2018 – Allied Motion Technologies has introduced the SWS Steering Wheel Sensor, a compact steer-by-wire steering wheel feedback sensor designed specifically for warehouse vehicles like reach, counterbalance, and lift trucks.

Steering wheels can be mounted directly to the SWS and connected to a CAN bus. Without theneed for a mechanical connection, truck designers are free to position the steering wheel where it is most suitable from all aspects - ergonomic, practical, and economical. For drivers, the SWS delivers a superior steering feeling from its no stick-slip, no wear, integrated magnetic friction system.

SWS Steering Wheel Sensor highlights include:

 Compact and flat, the unit mounts directly to most vehicle steering wheels
 High-resolution sensing (≥16,384 steps/rev)
 Integrated connector for simple installation and high reliability
 IP67 rated, complies to PL d according to ISO13849
 CAN communication output
 Excellent steering feel

The SWS works seamlessly with Allied Motions’ EPS steering actuator motor for responsive, accurate warehouse and utility vehicle steering.

About Allied Motion Technologies Inc.

Allied Motion Technologies (NASDAQ: AMOT), designs, manufactures and sells precision and specialty motion control components and systems used in a broad range of industries within our major served markets, which include Vehicle, Medical, Aerospace & Defense, Electronics and Industrial. The Company is headquartered in Amherst, NY, has global operations and sells into markets across the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Asia. 

Allied Motion is focused on motion control applications and is known worldwide for its expertise in electro-magnetic, mechanical and electronic motion technology. Its products include brush and brushless DC motors, brushless servo and torque motors, coreless DC motors, integrated brushless motor-drives, gear motors, gearing, modular digital servo drives, motion controllers, incremental and absolute optical encoders, and other associated motion control-related products. The Company’s growth strategy is focused on becoming the motion solution leader in its selected target markets by leveraging its “technology/know how” to develop integrated precision motion solutions that utilize multiple Allied Motion technologies to “change the game” and create higher value solutions for its customers.

“With eye tracking you can measure customers’ visual attention to and experience with your packaging design, you can test before production to ensure you get the wanted result and catch the consumer’s eye in the store. The majority of shoppers’ decisions are made in store therefore capturing the shopper’s attention and interest through effective packaging formats is key in a competitive market landscape,” explains Ali Farokhian, who heads up the research consultancy team Tobii Pro Insight at Tobii. “Getting it wrong can be quite expensive – both in the form of direct costs when you have to redo designs and material and of course in the form of lost revenues.”

 Iggesund Paperboard is the maker of the high-quality paperboards Invercote and Incada, the two strongest brands on the European paperboard market. Tobii Pro is a division of Tobii Group and began by developing eye tracking hardware for research in 2001 and then grew into supplying a range of tools from hardware – desktop and wearable-, software and cloud, to the research consultancy Tobii Pro Insight, which is Iggesund’s project partner. They focus on studying visual attention to help businesses understand human behaviour in situations such as how consumers perceive packaging.

 
“Consumers often function on autopilot, so the key issue is how to arrive at a design that captures attention and interest in a relevant way, persuading the consumer to dare to try something new. In the hunt for the optimal solution, we are offering a powerful tool,” Ali continues.

 Iggesund not only supplies paperboard but also works actively to convey knowledge about how to get the most out of it. This joint project is one step in spreading knowledge about packaging and packaging materials.

 “We want to make our customers aware of the possibilities that are available to them at an early stage so they can evaluate various design alternatives,” says Jonas Adler, Director Business Development at Iggesund Paperboard.

 Combining measurements of visual impressions with sensory measurements of packaging’s haptics – how it is experienced when it is held by someone – is ingenious. The psychological concept called “the endowment effect” – that we have difficulty getting rid of things we own – can also be applied to something we are holding in our hand. The more pleasant that experience is, the longer we want to keep on holding it.

 “We often hear from customers that one reason they choose Invercote is the experience when they hold a piece of packaging in their hand,” continues Jonas Adler. “We really welcome the opportunities to measure this, because until now the feedback has mostly been word of mouth. Now we can actually measure the haptic differences between materials.”

 Clemson University in South Carolina, USA, offers a highly ranked educational programme in packaging expertise. The university have built a laboratory there equipped with eye tracking tools from Tobii Pro, a store environment where types of packaging can be tested.

 “The use of eye tracking will result in design that is more consumer oriented,” explains Andrew Hurley, Associate Professor at Clemson University. “By that I mean packaging that makes it easier for consumers to find the right product faster and enables us to more rapidly and more efficiently find the products that satisfy our needs.”

 The seminars on neuromarketing and its usefulness in developing and evaluating packaging will initially be held in Paris, London, Tokyo and San Francisco.
 

Caption 1: Ali Farokhian Tobii Pro Insight

Caption 2: Jonas Adler Director Business Development at Iggesund Paperboard.

 
Caption 3: Combining measurements of visual impressions with sensory measurements of packaging’s haptics – how it is experienced when it is held by someone – is ingenious.

Iggesund Paperboard is part of the Swedish forest industry group Holmen, one of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies listed on the United Nations Global Compact Index. Iggesund’s turnover is just over €500 million and its flagship product Invercote is sold in more than 100 countries. The company has two brand families, Invercote and Incada, both positioned at the high end of their respective segments. Since 2010 Iggesund has invested more than €380 million to increase its energy efficiency and reduce the fossil emissions from its production.

 Iggesund and the Holmen Group report all their fossil carbon emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project. The environmental data form an integral part of an annual report that complies with the Global Reporting Initiative’s highest level of sustainability reporting. Iggesund was founded as an iron mill in 1685, but has been making paperboard for more than 50 years. The two mills, in northern Sweden and northern England employ 1500 people.

The new Nova tablet dispenser from RPC Bramlage VelkyMeder, part of the RPC Bramlage Division, offers a stylish and user-friendly solution that meets the highest demands of consumers.

Perfect for hot drink sweeteners, the Nova’s three-piece injection moulded design combines an attractive modern shape with a smooth and fluid dispensing mechanism. The curved lines are comfortable to hold while allowing easy one-handed operation.

The Nova is available in three sizes, containing up to 350, 650 and 1200 tablets, ideal for family ranges, and the two larger sizes can be specified with a tamper-evident feature. Typical tablet sizes are 5mm x 2mm and 5mm x 2.5mm but tests can be carried out to assess the dispenser’s suitability for other sizes.

The Nova’s glossy finish is complemented by a choice of decoration options including labelling or the colouring of individual components, to create brand individuality and on-shelf appeal.

Ishida’s ability to devise universally available solutions for specific products and applications has been underlined by the introduction of a new multihead weigher into its Sector Solutions range. The CCW-RV-216W-1S-20-SS-STK1 is a standard model designed to handle the particular challenges of stick snack products at high speeds - up to 120 packs per minute - with no loss of accuracy or product quality.

Pretzel sticks - in salted, plain, seeded and filled varieties - are a hugely popular snack in countries such as Germany, Turkey and the Middle East and are a growing market in many other areas. Their fragile and dusty nature makes them particularly difficult to pack in an automated weighing system.

The Ishida stick weigher has been designed for gentle handling of the fragile stick snacks to minimise the potential for breakages. It ensures optimum flow of the sticks, with reduced angles throughout, a low-profile inlet chute, convex dispersion table, and waterfall ends for smoother transition of the long products into the pool hoppers. Special electrostatic polished contact parts reduce dust build up throughout the weighing process.

To enable maximum flexibility in handling different pack sizes, from35g to 250g, the weigher is also supplied with special hopper inserts.  These align the sticks and keep them upright,ready for a clean transfer.

Following initial weighing, each batch of sticks used in the combination is held in a special shutter hoppermid-way down the discharge chute to ensure they remain correctly aligned, ready for discharge into the bag. The correct combination of product is then transferred via a high-speed discharge chute which also incorporates an inner guide insert to maintain alignment down to the next section.  To reach the pack, the sticks pass through a pneumatically-driven triple Iris type timing hopper that settles the product as it passes through each stage of the iris. At the second stage it is passed through an oscillating devise before a cutting device is used at the third stage to remove the top of anyremainingmisaligned sticks. Any last sticks cut then stay on the top of the bundle to ensure the correct target weight is not compromised in the final pack.

The Ishida stick weigher is particularly suitable for the packing of product into bags, including pillow and block bottom varieties, but it has also been successfully combined with other downstream equipment, for example for discharge into trays. It is available as a stand-alone weigher or can be supplied with an Ishida snacks bagmaker for a fully-integrated solution. In addition, Ishida can devise and install a complete line from the moment the sticks exit the oven, with special non-vibratory belt feeders that provide gentle handling and ensure the correct length and alignment of the sticks as they enter the weigher.

As part of Ishida’s most advanced RV series, the new stick weigher also incorporates a number of features that deliver the highest levels of speed and accuracy.   Advanced software, improved digital filtering, refined anti-floor vibration, faster processing speeds, more precise feeder control and enhanced average weight control all combine to deliver a market-leading performance to increase packed product yields.   A robust construction ensures long-term reliability, and an easily accessible design, including a slide-out frame for the Iris timing hoppers, provides ease of access for servicing and cleaning for maximum uptime.