Weekly Roundup: SIG receives Breakthrough Food Technology Award, PulPac and Pagès Group collaborate for Dry Molded Fiber downstream equipment

18 Nov 2022 --- This week in industry news, SIG obtained the Breakthrough Food Technology Award at Gulfood Manufacturing 2022. Meanwhile, PulPac and Pagès Group partnered to provide downstream equipment to the Dry Molded Fiber community and Berry Global Group reported its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022 results. 

In brief: SIG news
SIG received the Breakthrough Food Technology Award at Gulfood Manufacturing 2022 in Dubai, UAE, for its “Heat&Go” packaging. The achievement is a tribute to the company’s commitment to R&D and its “unique” technology, breakthrough innovations and determination to open up new opportunities for customers and retailers, says the company. SIG’s key offerings provide convenient packaging solutions that protect the flavor, aroma, color, nutrients and vitamins of food and beverage products for an extended time without refrigeration or preservatives. 

TekniPlex Consumer Products’ new PCR dip tube. Dairy producer OSM Łowicz became “the first” to opt for SIG’s combibloc Ecoplus packaging material without an aluminum layer in Poland and “first” in the world in the cooking cream category. OSM Łowicz says it is also one of the first in the world to use SIG’s fastest growing square base family pack combiblocMidi, and its combiblocSlimline carton pack, in small 500 ml volume, with combibloc Ecoplus. The environmentally sustainable packaging offers more options regarding product volumes and product categories for the dairy specialist to differentiate its products on the shelf.

In brief: Fiber and plastic news
PulPac and Pagès Group partnered to provide the “best available” downstream equipment to the Dry Molded Fiber community through Pagès Group’s products and services. In a world searching for alternatives to plastics, there is a “massive” market pull for Dry Molded Fiber, says PulPac. To effectively scale and support converters in the transition to the new technology, PulPac expands the global network of “world-leading” suppliers. The network covers all aspects of Dry Molded Fiber manufacturing, including application development, toolmaking, pulp, tissue and barrier solutions, machinery, automation solutions and turnkey providers. 

TekniPlex Consumer Products, a globally integrated company that provides innovative solutions through materials science and manufacturing technologies, introduced a new PCR dip tube to European markets that can be made of up to 100% PCR content, depending on customer requirements. Suitable for industrial aerosol and household cleaning product applications, the ProTecFlow dip tube, not compromising on performance, offers a reduced environmental impact compared to dispensing tubing products made from virgin materials.

Cocoa Canopy adopted NatureFlex, a cellulose film made by the manufacturer Futamura. The partnership with Futamura will help Cocoa Canopy achieve its expansion goals – it needed to explore new, automated packaging options. Although the UK remains its key market, US buyers are increasingly focused on renewables and sustainable packaging.Cocoa Canopy adopts Futamura’s NatureFlex.

In brief: Launches and releases 
Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced the launch of its Novolen PPure PP portfolio, a new grade range of polymers suitable for supporting the production of high-quality products for automotive, healthcare components and food packaging materials. The new non-phthalate process technology provides significant energy savings by delivering an improved hydrogen response with the catalyst. The PPure technology portfolio includes several variants applicable to an operator’s process and end-product requirements. Grades within PPure include high crystallinity homopolymers, ethylene random copolymers and advanced impact copolymers.

Rieke added a multi-color inkjet digital printer to expand its print offering on a range of caps and closures. Installed at Rieke’s US headquarters in Indiana, US, the high-speed industrial inkjet printer will provide increased print capacity, faster speeds, energy savings and an overall higher quality print. The equipment is “ideal” for printing on PP and PE plastic or metal flat caps, with a maximum diameter of 120mm. The printer also has the capability to print QR codes, providing an ideal opportunity for driving customers to a website or initiating a call-to-action.

Rieke’s multi-color inkjet digital printer.In brief: Miscellaneous
Berry Global Group reported its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022 results. Fourth quarter highlights include net sales of US$3.4 billion, operating income of US$336 million, an operating EBITDA of US$539 million – a 9% increase. Fiscal year highlights are record net sales of US$14.5 billion – a 10% increase, operating income of US$1.2 billion and an operating EBITDA of US$2.1 billion. 

Mars Wrigley brand Celebrations rebranded its packaging to encourage consumers to view the confectionery as a choice all year round, and not just at public holidays like Christmas. Brand agency Taxi Studio, who collaborated with Celebrations on the new design, said the brand was being overshadowed by its constituents and it saw the need to bring Celebrations into its own identity to drive more equity into the brand.

Metsä Board published new detailed roadmaps to help visualize the measures it will take to achieve its 2030 targets regarding climate change and water use. Roadmaps will be updated at least once a year, both in terms of the actual performance and future investments. Future investments, which are at the planning stage, are also included in the roadmaps. Metsä Board’s targets include that, by the end of 2030, its mills will phase out the use of any fossil fuels and any fossil-based purchased energy meaning that production will no longer generate any fossil-based carbon dioxide emissions. 

By Natalie Schwertheim