Wolfertschwenden, 3 February 2023 - Alternative proteins have succeeded in making the leap from niche products to the mainstream. But the entry into this growth market is challenging. What are the trends in products and the market? How do I produce a tasty and healthy product? And how can I design my production to be efficient, sustainable and safe? These and many other questions were addressed in the "Future Proteins" conference, which MULTIVAC and Handtmann held from 1 - 3 February 2023 in Wolfertschwenden.

More than 240 visitors from around the world convened on Wednesday at MULTIVAC headquarters to take part in the "Future Proteins" conference. They were all united in their interest in food products from alternative protein sources - for example Camembert alternatives made from cashew milk, shrimps made from soya, and cutlets made from chickpeas. Food products, which are often particularly delicate, and which consequently have to be processed and packaged in a very gentle way. “The event was a unique opportunity for the participants to learn not only about the current trends in alternative proteins, but also about the latest sustainable and efficient solutions for processing and packaging these products,”says Dr Tobias Richter, Director and CSO of the MULTIVAC Group. “I was very impressed to see the wealth of ideas, which inspire this forward-looking sector, as well as the range of products that arise from these alternative protein sources, and also how great the demand is for sustainable processing and packaging. In short: The "Future Proteins" conference has shown, that we are on the right path.”

Talks, podium discussions, networking - The participants developed solutions for the pressing questions of the future

Over three days the organisers, MULTIVAC and Handtmann, offered the visitors a full program, which was supported by the Industry Association of Alternative Protein Sources (BALPro). This included presentations by outside speakers from the spheres of science, research and industry, which were then followed by podium discussions - on subjects such as product trends, opportunities for market positioning, and ways of reducing the CO₂ footprint of packaging over the entire life cycle. Between the talks the conference visitors exchanged views over finger food and refreshments, while also making visits to the Market Place. There the organisers, together with various players - from ingredient suppliers to film manufacturers - along the entire added value chain, presented a wide range of solutions for the manufacture, processing and packaging of alternative proteins. Events in the evening provided opportunities for networking over communal meals, and these rounded off the daily program of sessions. “The feedback from the conference participants was outstanding,” said Harald Suchanka, CEO of Handtmann. “The visitors appreciated the opportunity to expand their horizons, to network with experts and like-minded people, as well as to develop solutions together for the pressing questions of the future in a relatively new growth market.” Also highly popular was the "Meet the Experts" format. Here more than 60 experts were available for half an hour of individual discussion with the conference participants.

Deep dive sessions: Demonstrations of real machine solutions for processing and packaging alternative solutions

It was the highly practical aspect above all, which made the conference unique. Deep dive sessions in MULTIVAC's Innovation Center offered the more than 240 visitors the opportunity to observe machines and lines at work. The demonstrations ranged from semi-automatic individual machines right up to fully automatic, industrial-scale line solutions from MULTIVAC and Handtmann, all of which featured the processing and packaging of sliced, minced and formed products, as well as other items such as convenience foods and spreads. “We have now completed more than 100 projects in the alternative proteins sector,” says Klaus Deniffel, Project Manager for Alternative Proteins at MULTIVAC. Experienced project managers accompany customers at every stage - from the first idea and design of the concept right up to the final efficiency adjustments by the digital MULTIVAC Smart Services. “Each individual solution is configured independently, so that every manufacturer is supported during the challenges in their transformation of proteins.”

The year 2023 is finally here and with it the anticipation of the largest and most international industry meeting for the processing and packaging sector. Exhibitors will show how to become a gamechanger in the field of sustainability, processing and packaging technology for a better life or efficient and resource-saving production processes. About 2,700 key players and newcomers from all over the world will use interpack from May 4 – 10, 2023 (in Düsseldorf, Germany) as a stage to present their premières, and celebrate the long-awaited reunion of the global packaging industry.

   “interpack is back, and Syntegon of course is there. At our booth, visitors experience processing and packaging technology for a better life”, says Dr. Michael Grosse, CEO of Syntegon Technology. “On almost 2,000 square meters, we present intelligent and sustainable solutions for tomorrow – automated, digital and efficient.” At interpack, the company is present with a booth in Hall 6.

   The anticipation for the event is also great at MULTIVAC. The company is presenting its technologies in several locations at the trade fair, for example in Hall 5. “We are very happy that the industry is coming together again after the Covid-induced hiatus. As a large, internationally leading trade fair, interpack is an important platform for presenting trends and novelties. In a total of four presentation areas, the MULTIVAC group presents its comprehensive portfolio of solutions, for food as well as for medical and pharmaceutical products. The focus is on innovative, sustainable process and packaging solutions as well as digital services which help to create efficient production processes while avoiding unnecessary waste of resources”, says Christian Traumann, CEO and spokesman for the board of directors at MULTIVAC and vice president of interpack.

Processing and packaging technology for sweets

   At Aasted ApS in Hall 1, the focus is on the chocolate, baking and confectionery industry. “We will launch new exciting enrobing and molding solutions, so visitors will be the first to see them“, says CEO Piet H. Tæstensen with regard to their innovations. “We are pleased to participate again in interpack after six long years. We have been improving our equipment and making it more sustainable. We will exhibit some energy-saving products, a complete bakery line, and our entire portfolio of tempering machines. Also, our After Sales & Service team will be there to give the best-fitted plans for businesses to prevent production downtime.”

   Ralf Schäffer, member of the board of directors at SOLLICH, is eagerly looking forward to the trade fair. “interpack is back! The entire team of SOLLICH and CHOCOTECH is happy that interpack 2023 is here. Recent times have strengthened the need for personal encounters with customers and “real life” talks in front of the exhibits. interpack will shape the trends within the industry, especially concerning digitalization and sustainability, for the coming years.” The company offers a variety of production processes for all kinds of confectionery and is present at the trade fair with a booth in Hall 3. 

Sustainable material innovations

   Much is happening on the market for packaging, packaging material and packaging aids. Visitors can expect many innovations, for example at Metsä Board in Hall 8a. The company specializes in the development of light cardboard and recyclable barrier cardboard. „With our products and services, we can reduce the carbon footprint of packaging throughout the value chain, from optimal material selection, packaging design, 3D simulation and enhance recyclability and production efficiency. We have a clear roadmap to move to 100% fossil free products and production by the end of 2030“, Marjo Halonen, VP Communications, describes the company’s focus.

   Packaging systems by SCHÜTZ are used a million times every day the world over. At interpack in Hall 10, the company presents, among other things, product innovations such as the Green Layer series, which helps customers minimize their carbon footprint. “For Schütz, for our global team and for our internationally active customers, interpack is the world’s largest and most important platform for communication and information. With our multimedia overall concept, digital animations and of course in personal talks with our international team, at our booth we present new products which are ideal for a circular economy and optimize the supply chain of our customers both economically and ecologically”, says CEO Roland Straßburger and Vice President of interpack.

   Also in Hall 10 is ProAmpac Flexibles with creative solutions for the area of flexible packaging. “ProAmpac is thrilled to be back at Interpack as this trade show allows us to meet with a wide range of brands worldwide. We are eager to discuss ProAmpac’s approach to sustainable packaging solutions and how we can collaborate with customers on even more innovative flexible packaging solutions“, says Ali McNulty, Market Manager Europe.

   Starlinger in Hall 8a offers machinery for producing woven plastic sacks, as well as systems for recycling plastics, extruding and refining PET. “At interpack 2023, we are for the first time presenting our new sack tailoring system alongside our most recent product developments in the area of woven sacks. Our focus is on circular economy, production that uses resources responsibly, and on energy efficiency”, says Angelika Huemer, Managing partner Starlinger & Co.

  Inform, decorate, individualize

How to mark products, safely, efficiently and in an intelligent manner, is what visitors can learn, for example, at Bluhm Systeme in Hall 8b. Here and in Hall 8a, the spotlight is on packaging as a medium of information. “This year, the marking world of interpack is concentrated within one-and-a-half of all the 18 trade fair Halls. We are already looking forward to many talks with our customers, to the impressive design for our booth and the many new products. 300 m² offer us enough space for a close-up presentation of our highlights,” says Andreas Koch, Sales Director at Bluhm Systeme.

   “We are delighted that with interpack, the largest leading trade fair is happening again this year – and right on our doorstep,” says Matthias Rauen, Sales Director of Langguth GmbH, which is also represented in Hall 8b. “With our labelling machines, we want to meet the modern demands of the production world with regards to more efficient machines, higher degrees of automation as well as the service demands made of production systems, like OEE data recording or predictive maintenance.”

Sustainable technologies

   With flexible filling and packaging machines for the market segments pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, paper hygiene and medical products, the OPTIMA packaging group supports companies worldwide. At interpack, the focus is on sustainable solutions. CEO Dr Stefan König is looking forward to the trade fair: “interpack is the best of all options worldwide to get up-to-date on the newest developments in technology both quickly and concisely. Our visitors have the chance to experience our fascinating exhibits as well as our technological competence in action. We also present custom service solutions and demonstrate how to turn our customers into game changers regarding sustainability.”

   Also in Hall 16 is Romaco Holding, for which the sustainability aspect is also a decisive factor in this year’s edition of the trade fair as well: “We use interpack to present our sustainable, innovative machine concepts. They not only help our customers to lower their carbon emissions, they also lower production costs. In addition, we offer laboratories for granulation, pelleting, pellet coating, filling technologies and consulting for sustainable packaging”, says CEO Jörg Pieper.

   Overall, approximately 2,700 exhibitors will present packaging and processing technology for tomorrow at interpack 2023. Numerous specials, such as the spotlight talk & trends lecture program and trend topics of the industry round out the offerings for visitors. Tickets for the trade fair are available now at www.interpack.com/tickets  

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at interpack 2023, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: info@mdna.com

BASINGSTOKE, UK (February 6, 2023) – Thermo Fisher Scientific has simplified the workflow for the SureTect PCR System, by introducing streamlined handling and fail-safe color-coded plates and reagents, to smart, intuitive software and instrumentation.

In the pursuit of food safety, every test matters. There’s no room for uncertainty and no time for retests. When Thermo Fisher experts asked its customers to share their challenges, they put streamlining staff training and eradicating human error at the top of the list.

The enhanced SureTect PCR System workflow, part of Thermo Fisher’s commitment to continual improvement and leadership through innovation, has been designed to help laboratories the world over protect public safety their own reputation and profitability. Features include:

Streamlined handling: Ready-to-use reagents and ergonomic tools provide a streamlined workflow and ease-of-handling, simplifying staff training and boosting laboratory productivity.

Pre-dispensed lysis and PCR reagents reduce hands-on time

Clearly oriented lysis and assay plates reduce the likelihood of human error

Pierceable lysis tube seals reduce handling steps and risk of cross-contamination

Workflow tools to simplify the workflow and reduce risk of operator error for a superior user-handling experience

Internal positive control (IPC) in every PCR well provides confidence in each and every result

Fail safe: Color-coded plates and reagents reduce the likelihood of human error, enhancing confidence in right-first time results.

Color indicator in Proteinase K reagent enables pipetted wells to be visually tracked, quickly and easily

Assay strips color-coded to target pathogen for simple, rapid identification

Smart instrumentation: The updated features are supported by fully automated amplification, detection, data collection, analysis and interpretation, using Thermo Scientific™ RapidFinder™ Analysis Software v2.0 or later.

Validated for a broad range of targets and matrices according to ISO 16140-2:206 by AFNOR and AOAC certification requirements, the SureTect PCR Assay workflows provide the ultimate solution for any food laboratory’s pathogen detection requirements.

Nicole Prentice, senior manager, product management, Thermo Fisher, said: “Our customers work hard to produce safe food for the world, and our technology helps them do that in the most efficient way possible. The Thermo Scientific SureTect PCR System is trusted globally, but accurate results ultimately depend on the precision of the technicians using it. Because we carefully gather feedback from the people who use the system every day, we’ve been able toinnovate to enhance and optimize workflows, and to help our customers generate right-first time, every-time results.”

Jani Holopainen, operations and R&D director, Thermo Fisher, said: “Every day, Thermo Fisher’s solutions help our customers protect food supplies – for everyone. That’s why we’re so proud of our innovations to reduce the risk of errors and simplify the workflow. The enhanced SureTect PCR System workflow has been designed from the ground up to be faster and safer than ever before.”

For more information visit thermofisher.com/suretect

Oconomowoc, WI – Source Wurx, a food & beverage sector printed packaging facilitator whose services range from design and prepress to print production and ongoing oversight, has been selected by a major private label food manufacturer to enhance packaging graphics and oversee color management.

Source Wurx manages over 8,000 SKUs for this manufacturer across various printed packaging substrates and categories, and now has been tasked with reducing graphics costs and improving lead times despite the current challenging materials and supply chain landscape. In addition to tightening production protocols, the move is expected to save the private label food manufacturer up to 50% in design and prepress costs compared to internal execution.

Source Wurx’s turnkey approach will help streamline several mission-critical processes for the private label manufacturer, including file control, flexibility, and version control. File ownership is vital in printed packaging; without it there are constraints that can impact the printed packaging supply chain.

“With so much outside of our control, in the past few years clients have experienced fires, security hacks, acquisitions that have caused negative consequences,” said Leslie Williams, Vice President of Business Development for Source Wurx. ” Managing digital assets with a third party partner enables Source Wurx to effectively and efficiently move business from one printer to another for contingency planning purposes.” Ms. Williams explains that, through Source Wurx, the manufacturer can archive and access each of its 8,000+ files in a central location.

File versions management also is crucial in the private label space, where shifting nutrition transparency rules, ingredient formulations and overarching redesigns all demand nimbleness. Due to printed packaging’s fluid nature, overseeing versions for individual SKUs can be challenging and overly complex. To minimize confusion and hassle, Source Wurx manages version control through the coding of files in the file naming convention and on printed packaging. This protocol best ensures that printers use the correct, most updated version of each file, and that the manufacturer receives correct versions of each file for application.

For the private label food manufacturer, Source Wurx also is managing printed packaging color via a sampling process consisting of approved proofs and samples from the first production run. In coordination with printers, Source Wurx analyzes samples from each run and compares them against the established color standard. This supports run-to-run color consistency and serves as a safeguard against printers producing out-of-tolerance product. This protocol is being performed across multiple packaging formats and materials substrates.