Boston, MA — Harpak-ULMA will exhibit at Seafood Expo North America 2026 (March 15–18) at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Booth #581, with a focus on practical seafood packaging applications designed for today’s market realities.

Seafood consumption remains strong, and demand continues to shift toward convenient, retail-ready, and value-added products. Processors are under pressure to present seafood in ways that meet buyer expectations while managing labor, SKU growth, and distribution requirements.

At this year’s show, Harpak-ULMA will demonstrate how common seafood products can be packaged for modern retail and foodservice channels.

Live applications will include:

• Salmon fillets in retail trays
• Portion-controlled salmon packs
• Formed seafood items such as salmon patties
• Bagged shrimp and frozen specialty products

These demonstrations are centered on familiar product types that processors handle every day. The goal is to show how bulk or semi-processed seafood can be transformed into clean, consumer-facing formats ready for the shelf or freezer case.

Rather than focusing on technical specifications, the exhibit emphasizes flexibility and market fit. Visitors will be able to evaluate packaging styles side-by-side and discuss practical considerations such as shelf appeal, portion consistency, frozen distribution, and ready-to-cook positioning.

“Seafood Expo is first and foremost about seafood products and the companies behind them,” said Joshua Allen, Marketing Director for Harpak-ULMA. “Our role is to help processors visualize how their seafood can be presented in packaging formats that meet today’s retail and foodservice expectations—so visitors see the product and immediately recognize its commercial potential.”

In addition to the live demonstrations, Harpak-ULMA will host an educational session titled “Flexible Seafood Packaging Lines: Embracing Product Variety through a Systems Solution Approach,” presented by Mike Marchand, Senior Product Manager. The session will explore how coordinated packaging systems can help processors manage product variety more efficiently.

Seafood processors, brand owners, and operations leaders are encouraged to visit Booth #581 to explore packaging formats and discuss current challenges in a straightforward, application-focused setting.

Kalamazoo, MI - , a global leader in the design and manufacture of custom bulk material handling equipment, is proud to highlight its . This advanced conveyor combines gentle handling, efficiency, and compliance with the most demanding food industry standards.

The CablePro™ Tubular Drag Conveyor is designed specifically for gentle, clean and efficient transport of products, such as cereals, grains, nuts, frozen foods, pet food, and other delicate items. The CablePro™ system features FDA-compliant components, including food-grade coatings and stainless-steel tubing. Another key feature of the CablePro are the self-lubricating UHMW disks, which are injection-molded directly onto a pre-stretched, food-grade oil-lubricated stainless-steel braided cable with a nylon coating. This unique construction helps maintain product integrity and meets the stringent sanitation standards required by the food and beverage industry.

The CablePro™ is available with all-metal or clear sight glass inspection tubes for improved visibility. Integrated cleaning accessories, such as wiper disks, scraper disks, brush boxes, air knives, and single-use sponge disks, support thorough cleaning for food-handling safety. 

CablePro™ incorporates an auto-tensioner as standard, to maintain the optimal cable tension, extending the cable and disc life while reducing maintenance. Its sealed design with integral drains also supports Clean-In-Place (CIP) protocols, allowing for easier and faster cleaning through various cleaning options, such as mechanical scrapers, fluid rinse and foam cleaners.

To further streamline installation, the tubing is engineered and cut to application length, sanitary flanged, and match-marked, enabling labor-saving and fast assembly. The optional sanitary flanged connections enable fully seated tube ends which guarantees a tight gap fit, helping prevent product harborage and contamination. For increased flexibility, standard tube lengths may be field-cut and joined with compression couplers for easy on-site customization. The CablePro™ system also offers integrated floor and ceiling mount options for enhanced installation stability.

The CablePro™ can be seamlessly integrated with other Hapman products and systems, including Bulk Bag Unloaders, Bulk Bag fillers, PosiPortion feeders for precise product delivery, and SolidQuid® liquid-solid mixing systems. This flexibility enables manufacturers to optimize their processes and achieve higher productivity while maintaining quality.

The CablePro™ Tubular Drag Conveyor reflects Hapman’s dedication to developing practical and customer-focused material handling solutions. For more information, please visit .

Richmond, B.C. (Feb. 26, 2026) — WorkSafeBC is highlighting the continued impact of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) in B.C. workplaces and the ongoing need for employers to reduce the risks associated with these injuries.

An MSI is an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, or blood vessels. Injuries may include sprains, strains, and inflammation, while disorders may include tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

“Many everyday work activities — such as lifting, reaching, or repetitive movements — can place strain on the body and lead to musculoskeletal injuries,” says Todd McDonald, Head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. “MSIs remain the most common type of workplace injury in B.C., accounting for about 30 per cent of all WorkSafeBC time-loss claims and more than a quarter of overall claim costs.”

Over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024, WorkSafeBC accepted approximately 88,000 time-loss claims for MSIs. Total claim costs for all MSI injuries over that period exceeded $2.35 billion.

MSIs affect workers across a wide range of industries, but are most seen in health care, retail, local government, restaurants, public schools, and the skilled trades.

Workers who experience MSIs may face reduced quality of life, long-term or chronic disability, and psychological impacts. Beyond the human toll, MSIs also have significant consequences for employers, including increased absenteeism and turnover, as well as higher insurance premiums.

What employers can do

Employers are required to assess the risk of MSIs in their workplaces and take steps to eliminate or minimize those risks. They must also ensure workers are educated and trained to recognize MSI hazards.

“Making MSI prevention part of everyday occupational health and safety practices is critical,” says McDonald. “Employers should look closely at tasks that involve repetitive motion, heavy or awkward lifting, or sustained postures, and then identify practical ways to reduce those risks.”

To determine which jobs or work activities may present MSI risk factors, employers should review available records — including first aid records, injury claims, and incident investigation findings — conduct workplace observations and speak directly with workers who perform the tasks.

WorkSafeBC emphasizes the importance of involving workers and joint health and safety committees throughout this process, as they are often best positioned to understand the work being done and the associated hazards.

Encouraging early reporting is also essential, as many MSIs develop gradually and may only be addressed once symptoms become severe enough to require time away from work.

WorkSafeBC's inspectional focus

WorkSafeBC’s planned inspectional initiatives identify industries and employers with a high risk of serious workplace injuries and a significant contribution to the serious injury rate and the time-loss claims rate.MSI prevention will be an inspectional focus for WorkSafeBC in 2026, particularly in sectors where data indicates elevated risk, including health care, construction, retail, and transportation.

Several of WorkSafeBC’s planned inspectional initiatives emphasize MSI prevention across various sectors. WorkSafeBC also provides resources and tools to help workers and employers identify, assess, and control the risk factors for MSIs.

For more information on preventing MSIs and promoting workplace safety, see our Ergonomics webpage.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 25, 2026 /CNW/ - Puratos Canada officially opened its first Canadian Bakery School program at Father Michael Goetz Catholic Secondary School today, reinforcing its commitment to education in Mississauga, workforce development, and long-term industry sustainability in professional baking and pastry arts.

The program is being developed in partnership with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB). Its location near Puratos' Mississauga facility enables students to engage directly with industry professionals through guest speakers, program support, and mentorship. This proximity transforms learning from classroom-based instruction into a launchpad for careers, where students build skills, confidence, and industry connections side-by-side with professionals.

"We are proud to open the first Puratos Bakery school in Canada at Father Michael Goetz Catholic Secondary School, just minutes from our Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario," said Michael Simone, President- Puratos Canada. There is a clear shortage of skilled labour in the Canadian baking industry. The positive impact these students can have on the industry and the role we can help play in shaping their careers is tremendous.

Puratos operates Bakery Schools worldwide, with programs launched in economically underserved regions including South Africa, India, and Vietnam. The first Bakery School opened in 2014, and Puratos now operates 13 schools in 12 countries, with 3 more coming soon. The Mississauga school represents the company's first Canadian location, reinforcing Puratos' commitment to strengthening the baking industry and expanding access to skilled employment.

The program will run across four semesters, starting in Grade 11 and running through to Grade 12, with coursework counting toward high school credits. The curriculum provides hands-on training in bakery, patisserie, chocolate, and complementary culinary fundamentals. The inaugural cohort includes approximately 25 students in 2026, with additional students joining the program each year.

"We are pleased to be able to partner with Puratos in this unique program, which provides an opportunity unlike any other for DPCDSB students interested in exploring or pursuing a career in the baking industry, specifically, or in the foodservice industry in general," said Dr. Marianne Mazzorato, Director of Education at DPCDSB.

The program is designed to address ongoing skilled labour shortages in the baking and food manufacturing sectors, youth employment gaps in underserved communities, and the need for inclusive education pathways for neurodivergent students, who are expected to comprise approximately 50% of participants.

Through this program, students gain practical skills and work-ready experience, while the baking industry benefits from a trained, job-ready talent pipeline. The school also supports Puratos' global ambition to operate 20 Bakery Schools by 2030, welcoming approximately 1,000 students annually worldwide.

Puratos has already obtained verbal commitments from multiple key customers, enthusiastically expressing their support for the program and expressing a desire to leverage the bakery school to help fill their labour pipeline in the future.