Pro2Pac preview

The first Pro2Pac exhibition for food and drink processing and packaging suppliers is due to open its doors at ExCel exhibition centre, London, from 18-21 March.

Taking place alongside IFE07, the international food and drink event, and in association with the Process and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA), Pro2Pac has attracted more than 100 exhibitors in its inaugural year.

Exhibitors keen to display their latest packaging innovations include Reiser, T Freemantle, Nicholl Food Packaging, Windsor Food Machinery, ULMA Packaging, Rittal, Multivac UK, Compass International, Bizerba, A W Smith, Harrison Europack, SCS Packaging, Anchor Packaging and Parkers Packaging.
Packaging technology including biodegradable products, brand management software, packaging machinery, gift packaging and processing machines will be displayed and visitors can learn about the latest trends and future predications at the Future@Pro2Pac seminar programme.

“In 2005 we trialed a similar food processing event that was co-located with IFE and we had good feedback from both exhibitors and visitors,” says Sue Woodward, exhibition director from Fresh RM, the exhibition organiser. “So we decided to launch Pro2Pac. Specifically designed for the food and drink industry, Pro2Pac combines food processing with food and drink packaging to create a new event that collaborates perfectly with IFE.”

Here is some more information about what some of the exhibitors will be showing at Pro2Pac.

PFM Stand B36
Multinational PFM will exhibit three machines during the four-day show. Sales and operations director Chris Bolton says: “PFM is delighted to be attending the first Pro2Pac. We will be displaying a number of exciting machines including the UK debut of the Pearl flowrapper.” Suitable for both food and non-food applications, the Pearl will be exhibited alongside PFM’s Azimuth vertical bagger and an MBP10 multihead weigher.

Alexir Packaging Stand A41
In response to retailer requests, Alexir Packaging, the folding carton printer, will be showing a product it says will revolutionise the carton market. It is launching Alexipack, a more environmentally friendly pack for ready meals, salads and other tray-based products.

The Alexipack is produced from sustainable and renewable resources, is recyclable and much lighter than existing packaging formats. It has better gas retention properties, leak resistant qualities and the material is suitable for the microwave, fridge and freezer.

The top-of-the-range version has an ovenable film window, flat flanges to improve movement through the supply chain and sealed webs to provide leak resistant qualities.

Witt Gas Techniques Stand D05
Witt Gas Techniques, the Warrington-based gas safety, control, mixing and analysis equipment supplier, will be exhibiting and providing information on a range of gas distribution, mixing and analysis kit for modified atmosphere (MAP) packaging.

The newest product is Leak-Master Mapmax, an automatic in-line micro leak detection system designed to carry out automatic quality control on the entire packaging line. It is non-destructive and uses CO2 detection technology, eliminating the need for costly helium testing.

Information will be available on the firm’s new can and bottle piercer attachment for use with Oxybaby V hand-held gas analysers for O2 and CO2 content in the headspace of soft and alcoholic drinks bottles and cans, in metal, plastic and glass. It uses an unbreakable probe with integrated needle protection to penetrate the metal or plastic lids and caps to obtain a sample.

Ravenwood Packaging Stand F18
Chilled food packaging specialist Ravenwood Packaging will be exhibiting examples of its latest linerless adhesive-backed labels and the labelling machines and systems that apply them.

Sleevers, applicators and labels will be displayed on a themed stand. The “life of trees” theme will show dying metal trees surrounded by piles of used backing papers to highlight the problem of packaging waste.

New on display will be the Nobac 125 labeller, a high-speed linerless labelling system which eliminates the need for wasteful, non-recyclable backing papers. The absence of backing material means that reel changes are quicker and easier.

Also new for the show is the Nobac 400V, an applicator focused entirely on C-wrap applications. As well as C-wrapping regular shaped packs it is capable of labelling irregular packs such as whole poultry. The backingless labels can be made from slightly thicker than normal material, minimising wrinkling upon application.

Law Print & Packaging Management Stand A60
Flexible packaging specialist Law Print Pack will be exhibiting its range of primary and secondary packaging products including films, laminates, preformed bags and pouches. Latest features include re-sealable zippers. The firm prints in flexo or gravure in up to 10 colours to produce premium packaging at its sites in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.

Odin Stand A18
Odin, the brand management system provider, will be promoting its work for Asda’s Extra Special range and showing off what it could do for other companies.

For Asda, it helped with the redesign and relaunch of more than 750 lines in the retailer’s Extra Special range by Christmas last year. Odin’s brand management system increased the speed of new designs onto store shelves by 30% and saved time by creating a digital artwork approval system to ensure an effective flow of communication and visibility of status for every product line. Anyone involved in the design and production process, including buyers, printers and marketers, can monitor the system to keep the job on track.

Busch Stand C05
Busch has launched a new F model of its R 5 rotary vane vacuum pump, which the company says is designed for continuous use in a range of applications. Described as being sturdy in design and reliable, new features of the F model include improved end pressure of 0.1mbar, increased suction capacity at low pressure and reduced model variants. Mark Sumnall, sales manager for Busch, says: “The R 5 with its rotary vane technology is a tried and tested product which has been used in many different manufacturing applications. The new version with its improved features will give even better performance, but still at the same price as before.” Key features include air cooling, internal oil recirculation, integral oil mist separator for oil-free exhaust air, low vibration and low noise level.

Domnick Hunter Stand E05
Domnick Hunter will be showing its new nitrogen gas generator. The new Maxigas follows the trend in demand for larger nitrogen generators and on-site nitrogen gas generation owing to long-term cost savings and increased end-user control. Applications range from MAP to inert conditions for electronic assembly. The Maxigas uses pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology to separate nitrogen molecules from normal compressed air and produce quality nitrogen gas with purities up to 10ppm as standard. New features include equalisation technology and a user-friendly interface. Equalisation gives improvements in air-to-nitrogen ratios; on average this is reduced by 20%, which gives substantial energy savings.

Domnick Hunter says the Maxigas can typically lower the cost per cubic metre of nitrogen gas by up to 90%.

D2 Europack Stand A36
D2 Europack will be exhibiting its Smoothsolution range for consistent sealing on aluminium foil trays.
Smoothpack comprises smoothwall aluminium foil trays, including the company’s newly launched 276 series, Smoothpeel lidding film, Smoothdome clip-on or heat-sealable dome-shaped lids, and the Smoothseal family of tray-sealing equipment, on show for the first time ever.

The compact rotary 2700R is the entry-level model offering space savings and cost benefits. The in-line 2800A machine is capable of higher outputs of up to 30 packs per minute.

All models are available to buy or for short-or long-term rental as part of the company’s ‘pay as you profit’ rental scheme, and in stock for next day delivery.

The newly launched 276 series of smoothwall trays will also be exhibited. They offer one top-out size measuring 265x162mm and four convenient depths for added flexibility: 37mm, 47mm, 58mm and 75mm. In addition, the 276 series is available with a flat or integrated trivet base.

Future@Pro2Pac
The show has a central feature called Future@Pro2Pac, a seminar theatre where current and future trends will be put under scrutiny by some high profile industry speakers.

Attendees can expect lively debates on technologies such as RFID, security concerns, logistics and packaging trends.

Insights into these key areas will be delivered from industry experts such as Mintel, Sheffield Hallam University and Packaging News.

These will take the form of short presentations, debates, demonstrations and practical case studies including:

Sunday 18
Market research firm Mintel will present a discussion on Consumer trends and FMCG packaging exploring how companies in different parts of the world are using packaging to address current consumer trends and concerns. This seminar will also run on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Food Processing Magazine publisher Peter Whitfield and PPMA chief executive Chris Buxton will discuss Automating the food industry.

Odin will discuss Removal of waste from the design process.

Monday 19
PPMA chief executive Chris Buxton and Simon Wearing from Food From Britain will talk about the threats and opportunities presented by China in Enter the Dragon.

Food Processing Magazine publisher Peter Whitfield and Tony Hines from Leatherhead Food International will discuss the issues of Product recall.

Sheffield Hallam University will present on Product and packaging innovation. This presentation will also run on Tuesday 20th.

Tuesday 20
Former Sainsburys’ packaging director Terry Robins, now of TR Pack, will present A retailer’s perspective on biopolymers and biomaterials.

Packaging News editor Gordon Carson will interview the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) on How packaging can reduce food waste.

Wednesday 21
Checkpoint Systems managing director David Nuttall will talk about Product protection, right from the start.

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