interpack17: Event Highlights
Industry 4.0 and a fundamental collaboration with clients in technology development were among underlying concepts in the industry’s dialogue, as seen on the first day of interpack.
By Catalina Mihu
With about 2,700 exhibiting companies from 60 countries recorded in 2017, trends for the packaging supply chains and processing are set in the halls of Messe Düsseldorf. Spread over 19 halls, this year’s show is the largest yet, according to the organizers, who anticipate over 170,000 visitors.
The implementation of industry 4.0 can be seen in a wide range of “live” examples and approaches at interpack, as it is one of the major priorities for exhibitors and visitors alike. In addition, the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association showcases the Technology Lounge (Hall 5 Stand 38), to display innovative ideas and concepts driving machinery development, brainstormed in association with partners from industry, science and research.
VDMA’s Industry Outlook
The German food processing and packaging machinery manufacturing companies look forward to the interpack trade fair full of confidence, according to the association. “For years, our industry has shown a positive development and the German manufacturers can look back on a record year,” said Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA, at interpack.
Last year, the companies generated machines and plants worth EUR13.3bn, an increase of 2.4% compared to the previous year. “The current development of the industry is a good thing for us, so we expect a growth in sales of between 3 and 4% for the entire sector covered by the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association,” Clemens added. Demand from abroad is the driving force of the industry, as last year’s exports amounted to EUR8.3bn. This was an increase of almost 4% compared to the previous year.
Europe remains the most important sales region, according to the association’s research data. In 2016, the German manufacturers exported food processing and packaging machinery worth EUR4.1bn. After Europe, Asia is the most important sales region for German food processing and packaging machinery. In 2016, machinery and equipment worth 1.4 billion euros went to Asian countries.
“Smart Future” is the header under which the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association within VDMA gives partners from industry, research and development the opportunity to present their latest developments in packaging technology. The exhibits show ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines.
From Virtual Reality to Everyday Reality
Virtual reality is increasingly present at trade shows and at home at interpack too, as it is becoming a useful tool in showcasing technology, processes – from the big picture to zooming to the smallest components. One company illustrating this is Haas: an augmented reality tour of four of their wafer lines is available via tablet, starting from the component showcased to display the line in its entirety. It can be “dismantled” to show pieces of interest in complete detail.
The comprehensive equipment display at the Haas booth includes lines that can quickly swap belts for product variations. This is a priority that can be seen with GEA’s machinery, fast belt changeovers ensure not only shorter downtimes, but also allow for easy and fast equipment cleaning. GEA Comas and GEA Imaforni are presenting their range of integrated bakery solutions for cracker, cake, pie, biscuit and cookie manufacturing at the GEA stand in hall 7a (B09/B31).
Habasit presents its timing belts solutions for the packaging industry (Hall 3, booth B49), introduced as one of the company’s most versatile products yet. The HabaSYNC timing belts comes with an extensive range of covers, textures and accessories.
Sandvik also presents its best in belts for the baking industry (Hall 3, Stand F44). Bake ovens belts represent Sandvik’s largest food-related market, and can be produced in widths from 800 – 3500 mm. The company supplies belts in carbon or stainless steel to suit the needs of a whole variety of food processing applications. They can be supplied in solid form, or perforated to provide a lighter alternative to wire mesh belts.
Turnkey solutions
Tromp is presenting total solutions at interpack (hall 1, stand D23), from dough preparation to baking or freezing, with a special focus on their Midi Waffle & Funcake concept and some of their pizza production equipment. The company’s food technologists are at the stand for demonstrations and Q&As. For more information, the Tromp Group Post publication is also available at the stand, with highlights on the company’s “views and capabilities in this industry.” Industry events in Tromp’s agenda are also included in this newspaper.
Mecatherm is also here (hall 4, stand E14) to talk about its complete lines for the production of bread. These include machines and equipment for the production of bakery products, snacks and cereals (including biscuits, waffles, etc.); complete lines for manufacturing bakery products, snacks and cereals (including biscuits, waffles, etc.); complete lines for the production of croissants; lines for the production of special breads (baguette, chiabatta, focaccia), among others.
Introducing New Technology
Baker Perkins is among exhibitors showing new equipment. The company is showcasing end product technology for the biscuit, cracker and bar industries (hall 4, stand C21). This includes a new 3-roll sheeter and gauge roll; a new servo-driven version of its wirecut range; an encapsulating system for totally enclosed, filled cookies; and an HS High Speed mixer.
The new TruClean 3-roll sheeter and gauge roll for crackers and snacks brings major benefits in maintenance and hygiene, with lower costs and faster changeovers. Time for a typical cleaning routine for a line can be reduced by up to 40%, according to the company. These lines comprise either a 3-roll sheeter or a laminator to take a bulk feed of dough and form it into a sheet, ready to pass through gauge rolls, which achieve the chosen thickness, and then a rotary cutter before baking.
Bosch is presenting a dual-lane version of the Two-in-One biscuit packing system at interpack 2017. The single-lane system was premiered at interpack 2014 and the new system goes comes with increased flexibility and speed. It is the first system to produce single, pile and slug packs on two independently operating lanes, explains Bosch. “The development of the Two-in-One biscuit packing system builds on our existing market success. Our compact system stands for maximum efficiency and productivity, from product distribution to the closed carton”, says Daniel Bossel, product manager at Bosch Packaging Technology.
Dough-how
Rondo introducesnew technology and innovative processes in hall 3, booth D17, covering the production of premium bakery products such as croissants, pastries and pizza, with a focus on bread and rolls. This focus is on new solutions for the industrial production of long-molded bread, in addition to round-molded rolls.
“We exhibit two trend-setting systems at Interpack; the Industrial Long Moulding System for the production of long-moulded bread loaves and RONDObot for the production of round-moulded rolls. Such an industrial bread line can be equipped or supplemented modularly according to customer requirements. It is characterized by modern hygienic design in which all parts and components can be easily accessed and cleaned. Like all our industrial lines in ASTec design, it is also available in a version which can be wet cleaned with high pressure washing equipment,” says RONDO.
FRITSCH is displaying their FRITSCH Multitwist – the all-rounder for products made from a dough strand. With a developed range of tool sets and innovative extensions, this equipment is designed for product variety within one line. It is also ideal for the production of sweet pretzels, rings and knots made of yeast or donut dough, says FRITSCH.
Koenig showcases the Industrie Rex Compact AW, the dough dividing and rounding machine with high weight range in compact design. “At adjusted max. 50 strokes/min this machine has an hourly capacity of up to 30,000 pieces. The dividing system and the continuously adjustable, absolutely constant pusher pressure guarantee highest weight accuracy even with various dough qualities,” explains the company.
The Koenig Accurate Weight System (AWS), awarded at Suedback, is also among exhibits. In order to increase the weight accuracy of the products made on the Menes, the Koenig Accurate Weight System (AWS) can be integrated. The newly developed Koenig Accurate Weight system (AWS) system is an independent machine component with its own electronic equipment and drive unit which allows segmented weighing of the dough sheet across the entire working width of the line.
PMMI Highlights
More than 210 members of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, showcase global processing and packaging machinery solutions at interpack. PMMI’s Business Intelligence will release the 2017 Global Packaging Trends report, produced by Euromonitor and sponsored by PMMI, Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association, Italian Manufacturers of Automatic Packing and Packaging Machinery, and the Processing & Packaging Machinery Trade Association. This report explores key trends driving packaging innovations such as increasing awareness of health and wellness and growing concerns about environmental impact while identifying hot spots for packaging growth in all regions of the world.