Sidel has introduced Cermex RoboSELEX, its latest bottle collating system for case packers. Ultra-flexible and accumulation-free, it unlocks unlimited lightweight bottle shapes and unlimited batch configurations. This new system delivers high-speed performance of up to 320 products per-minute, while maintaining continuous stable product flow, smooth changeovers and long-term production agility. Designed to address the growing trend towards lightweight and uniquely shaped packaging, Sidel’s latest solution supports manufacturers from the Food, Home and Personal Care (FHPC) market segments.

“Cermex RoboSELEX builds on the proven Cermex ProSelex® concept with a robotic comb collating device, enabling accumulation-free operation and fast, repeatable changeovers thanks to a reduced number of change parts,” said Guillaume Bornard, Packing Innovation and Platform Director, Sidel Packing Solutions.

Responding to changing market demands
In a rapidly changing packaging landscape, differentiation through innovative container design is now essential, all while regulations limiting plastic use are driving lighter packaging solutions. These trends create challenges in conveying and handling uniquely shaped bottles, which must remain stable and undamaged during processing.

Production cycles are also becoming shorter, with a growing number of formats and Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), alongside diversified case counts from small to large batches. As a result, manufacturers are prioritising fast, repeatable and easy changeovers, without compromising efficiency or product integrity.

First introduced to customers at interpack, Düsseldorf in May, Cermex RoboSELEX has been engineered to directly address these challenges by ensuring continuous, optimised product flow into case packers.

Advanced robotic collating for maximum simplicity
Based on the proven Cermex ProSelex concept, Cermex RoboSELEX builds on a comb-collating device mounted upon a robotic arm. The system uses two Delta robots to deliver a continuous motion process without accumulation, reducing friction and eliminating shocks, scratches and product jamming.

Capable of handling complex bottle shapes – including conical, asymmetrical and small-base designs – the solution enables unlimited lightweight bottle design possibilities and batch configurations, ranging from small (3 × 1) to large (8 × 6) case counts, depending on product size. Batch orientation is completed at the source, eliminating the need for an intermediary rotating table.

In addition, the system’s smooth and precise handling allows for the removal of pucks, even for unstable or complex bottle shapes. Today, bottles that cannot be accumulated typically rely on pucks for transfer between machines, adding complexity through puck's management during changeovers as well as their own manufacturing costs and the footprint needed for their storage. By contrast, Cermex RoboSELEX eliminates this constraint, reducing operational complexity and associated costs.

Faster changeovers and simplified operations
Cermex RoboSELEX has been engineered for fast, repeatable changeovers, typically taking as little as one minute for collation changes and no more than two minutes and 30 seconds for switching to different bottle format. 

Its streamlined mechanical concept reduces the number of parts involved, creating changeovers without the need for intensive operator training. Only the comb mounted on the robot needs to be replaced when shifting formats, using a quick-release system and without additional mechanical adjustments, with full ground-level access to the core system. As the comb is the only format-specific part, it helps to reduce part costs when introducing new formats. This also supports faster time-to-market for new product launches by shortening tooling design and manufacturing timelines. Operators also benefit from simplified manual or motorised adjustments of the upstream guides.

To find out more, visit the Sidel website.

CALGARY, AB, Sept. 8, 2026 /CNW/ -- Noble Premium Bison and the National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food (NCIAF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a multi-year partnership focused on increasing Indigenous participation across Canada's bison value chain.

The partnership will explore opportunities in Indigenous bison production, producer education and mentorship, market development, procurement, value-added processing and product innovation. The organizations will also look for opportunities to collaborate on research, food security initiatives and the development of domestic and international markets for Indigenous-produced bison.

NCIAF will help connect Noble with Indigenous communities, producers and businesses interested in participating in the bison sector, while Noble will contribute its experience in bison production, processing and marketing.

"Our relationship with buffalo goes far beyond agriculture," said Kallie Wood, President and CEO of NCIAF. "By working with Noble Premium Bison, we can help create pathways for Indigenous producers and communities to build capacity, access markets and grow sustainable bison enterprises while strengthening the cultural connection to buffalo."

The partnership brings together NCIAF's relationships and community knowledge with Noble's experience across the commercial bison value chain.

"There's a lot of opportunity to grow the Canadian bison industry, and Indigenous producers can be an important part of that growth," said Kelly Long, CEO and co-founder of Noble Premium Bison. "Our job at Noble is to build markets and connect producers to those markets. Working with NCIAF gives us an opportunity to share what we know, learn from Indigenous producers and communities, and open more doors for participation in the bison industry."

Together, NCIAF and Noble Premium Bison are committed to strengthening Indigenous participation in Canada's bison industry, honouring the buffalo's enduring cultural significance, creating meaningful economic opportunities, and nourishing future generations through collaboration, innovation, and reconciliation.

Escalation of the U.S. trade war is casting a cloud over Canada’s economic prospects. Farm Credit Canada’s new economic analysis is looking at why bond yields are rising and whether that concerning trend will continue. 

Part of the problem seems to be tariffs, which have raised the U.S. inflation rate. That’s bad news for bond investors because inflation erodes the real return on Treasuries. Bond investors are also asking for extra compensation for enhanced risks associated with Treasuries which is now at a 12-year high. 

Given the interconnectedness of global bond markets, bonds of other countries, including Canada, are being impacted. For Canadian households and businesses, this means fixed mortgage rates and longterm financing costs will remain much higher than levels prevailing during the 2010s.

September 2, 2026 – The Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA) is pleased to announce that Steve Pratte will join the organization as director of policy, effective September 2, 2026.

“We are pleased to welcome Steve to COPA,” says Mark Walker, executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association. “Steve brings expertise in transportation policy and regulatory affairs, as well as significant experience in the Canadian grains sector. His work will strengthen COPA’s policy capacity and help advance the priorities of Canada’s oilseed processing industry.”

Pratte brings almost 20 years of experience in transportation and biofuels policy across both the public and private sectors. He has held positions with a Class 1 railway, a national grain industry association, as well as the government of Manitoba. Pratte was also the 50th president of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum, serving in that role from 2021 to 2023. Most recently, he has worked as a consultant focusing on transportation issues and regulatory affairs affecting the Canadian grains sector.

“Canada’s oilseed processing sector operates at the intersection of agriculture, food, biofuels and transportation policy,” says Pratte. “I’m pleased to be joining COPA and look forward to working with members and industry partners to support a competitive oilseed processing sector in Canada.”

Pratte holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology and a Master of Arts in Geography. He has also completed a professional program in supply chain and logistics management.