Americas: Beverage company uses reclosable aluminum bottles to package products
Green Sheep Water is launching in infinitely recyclable, 16-ounce aluminum bottles made by Ball Corporation, instead of the usual plastic, glass or carton packaging. "Studies show that Americans use about 1,500 plastic water bottles every second, and only about 30 percent of those bottles are recycled. The rest end up in landfills and oceans," says co-founder of the company Jess...
Americas: Fanuc, Rockwell Automation collaborate to offer seamless production environment, finds FNI
Fanuc and Rockwell Automation have announced a global collaboration to provide their customers with a more seamless and integrated manufacturing solution. The two companies have expanded their initial collaboration, started four years ago, in the computer numerical control and Logix programmable automation controller (Logix PAC) environments with further integration of robotics, Robomachines and enterprise software products. Food News International asks Dick...
Europe: Demand to increase for on-the-go dairy products in the UK, says report
The consumption of dairy products is increasing among British consumers, and children's development remains a key growth driver. In particular, there are opportunities to target busy parents with on-the-go dairy products such as milk and yogurt, says new report from Canadean. UK consumers are increasing their demand for dairy products, and the overall UK dairy market volume will grow at a...
Europe: Sonoco buys composite can maker for €286M
Sonoco has completed the acquisition of Weidenhammer Packaging Group (WPG), an European provider of composite cans along with composite drums and rigid plastic containers. The acquisition costs €286 million (US$360 million) in cash. “The acquisition creates a global leader in rigid paper packaging and is expected to increase Sonoco's combined global consumer-related packaging and services business to approximately $2.8 billion in...
Asia Pacific: Japan to import UK’s Dale Farm cheese
UK’s dairy farmer cooperative Dale Farm has secured its first cheese export deal to Japan with food manufacturer Hoko Co Ltd. Hoko will be importing Dromona cheddar for use in its cheese production process, through which it seeks to bring the taste of natural cheddar to the Japanese consumer. Hoko sells dairy and frozen foods into the retail, wholesale and catering...
Europe: Barry Callebaut switches to using more sustainable, traceable ingredients
The Barry Callebaut Group will from November 3, 2014, switch its sourcing of core Cocoa Butter Equivalents (CBEs) from The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) mass balance to RSPO fully segregated material across its European operations. With this sustainable approach, the company aims to lead the confectionery market in offering fully traceable solutions to its customers. CBEs are used in...
Europe: Krones’ lightweight bottle wins design award
Krones’ superlight polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle wins the German Design Award 2015 in the packaging category. The bottle is suitable for being filled with carbonated beverages, and has a capacity of 500 ml. It weighs 9.9 gm, which is 30-45% lighter than comparable PET containers on the market. The lightweight bottle has been developed by a design team at Krones that has...
Europe: KHS subsidiary technologies shortlisted for German Packaging Award 2014
Two pioneering new technologies from NMP Systems GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of KHS GmbH, have been shortlisted for the German Packaging Award 2014. The nomination is for the combination of the new Direct Print and Nature MultiPack developments – both currently at the prototype stage. Together they produce a multipack without a secondary packaging, with information printed directly onto each...
Europe: Key Technology introduces new sanitary belt conveyor for bulk foods
Key Technology’s new Sanitary Belt Conveyor is designed for transporting bulk foods on processing and packaging distribution lines. It has a positive drive urethane (PDU) belt, stainless steel frame and components, open construction, and other sanitary features. It comes in “dog leg”, flat, and inclined configurations that can be mounted to the floor, on casters, or suspended. The belts can be designed...
Americas: UPM Raflatac release thin, clear films for food packaging
UPM Raflatac launches VANISH, a new range of ultra-thin, clear films for beverage, personal care and food package labeling in the Americas. These products offer the no-label look on glass and other clear rigid containers. The range of clear polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films has a 0.92 mil face stock for imagery previously considered unattainable by creative designers. Additionally, their dimensional...