Unitech, a leading designer and manufacturer of end-of-line packaging automation, will showcase its high-speed packaging conversion technology at Pack Expo booth #LU 8724. The exhibition will feature live operational demonstrations of Unitech’s Model T012 Automatic Pre-Stretched Film Rewinder, alongside on-site participation from Kristian Hulgard, MotionTech’s newly appointed Executive Sales Director for North America. Unitech operates as a specialized member company within MotionTech, a European supply chain and warehouse automation group currently expanding its North American footprint and customer support infrastructure.

The Model T012 Automatic Pre-Stretched Film Rewinder is an advanced converting system engineered specifically for manufacturers and commercial distributors of industrial stretch film. The Model T012 processes master rolls of stretch film by running the material through servo-controlled rollers to achieve variable pre-stretch ratios. The machine automatically folds the edges of the film to reinforce roll borders against tearing before rewinding the material into smaller rolls for manual stretch wrapping. Operating fully automatically at speeds up to 4,000 feet per minute, the Model T012 enables film converters to maximize material yield, increase throughput, and deliver durable hand-wrap rolls to end users.
While the Model T012 serves a vital and highly specialized audience of stretch film manufacturers and distributors, it represents just one key dimension of Unitech’s comprehensive manufacturing portfolio. Unitech designs and produces end-to-end packaging systems, including automatic stretch wrappers, pallet strapping machinery, material handling conveyors, and integrated line accessories.

Unitech’s participation highlights a broader group effort by MotionTech, a Stockholm-headquartered automation group, to strengthen local sales, engineering, and service capabilities for North American packaging manufacturers and logistics operators. MotionTech recently launched its U.S. expansion, establishing a regional operational base in the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas to manage its growing North American footprint and support its portfolio companies.

"Unitech has a long history of delivering robust packaging machinery to North American customers, and Pack Expo remains a crucial venue for connecting with our industry partners," said Kristian Hulgard, Executive Sales Director for North America at MotionTech. "Through MotionTech’s dedicated local sales and service infrastructure in Texas, we are committed to providing Unitech’s customers with direct regional support, faster response times, and seamless access to integrated end-of-line automation solutions."

Attendees visiting the Unitech booth at Pack Expo can experience live demonstrations of the Model T012 rewinder and consult with technical experts from Unitech and MotionTech regarding custom packaging lines, conversion efficiency, and automated material handling systems.

HERNDON, Virginia; Oct. 8, 2026 — The next generation of packaging and processing professionals won’t just be watching from the sidelines at PACK EXPO International 2026 — they’ll be building machines, demonstrating robots, racing across the show floor, meeting potential employers, and exploring careers in one of manufacturing’s most dynamic industries.

Taking place Oct. 18–21 at McCormick Place in Chicago, PACK EXPO International will bring students face-to-face with the technologies, companies, and professionals shaping the future of packaging and processing. Through hands-on competitions, demonstrations, tours, career development opportunities, and networking, students can experience the industry in action while beginning to build connections for their own futures.

Educational opportunities for students include:

PACK Challenge: Six high school teams face off in a machine-building showdown. These teams earned their spot in the qualifiers with inventive designs and are now ready to compete in tasks such as Factory Acceptance Test, sales and marketing, and operator training. Teams may win up to $20,000. Teams include:

• Alexandria Area High School
• Legacy Christian Academy and Becker High School Coalition
• Rich Township High School
• Sartell High School
• South Shore Technical High School
• Waterford Union High School

Future Innovators Robotics Showcase, sponsored by Schneider Electric: See high school robotics teams showcase their design, engineering, and troubleshooting skills with live demonstrations. Participating teams include:

• Armada Robotics (FRC 2508)
• Charger Robotics (FRC 5348)
• First Starforce (FRC 11173)
• Gear Wizards (FTC 16917)
• Golden Ratio Robotics (FTC 12882)
• Monty Pythons (FRC 2151)
• Random Engineers (FTC 23802)
• Sartell Robotics (FRC 6045)
• Sensory Overload (FTC 25956)
• That ONE Team - Our Next Engineers (FRC 4967)

Students PACK the EXPO: Students from local Chicago-area schools will take to the show floor to experience PACK EXPO International through a virtual scavenger hunt, student tours, and a lunch-and-learn session.

Amazing Packaging Race, sponsored by SICK, Inc.: In this fun and educational event, teams from colleges and universities across North America race around the show floor to complete a series of tasks at participating exhibitor booths in a thrilling race. Participating exhibitors include:

• All-Fill Inc.
• B&R Industrial Automation
• Beckhoff Automation
• BW Packaging
• Carleton Helical Technologies
• CMCO Conveyance Solutions
• Cold Pressure Council (CPC)
• Delta Modtech
• Duravant
• Econocorp Inc
• Fallas Automation Inc.
• FOX IV Technologies, Inc.
• Fresh-Lock By Presto Products
• HARPAK-ULMA Packaging, LLC
• HEISLER Industries, Inc.
• Hoosier Feeder
• Institute of Packaging Professionals, IoPP
• LinMot USA
• Morrison Container Handling Solutions
• OMAC
• PAC Machinery
• Pacteon Group
• Pepperl+Fuchs
• Rinco Ultrasonics USA, Inc.
• Shurtape Technologies
• SICK
• Siemens Digital Industries
• Starview Packaging Machinery
• Triangle Package Machinery Company

The Workforce Development Pavilion serves as the ultimate resource hub for strengthening the existing workforce and nurturing the future workforce. Attendees can explore PMMI U's array of offerings, including sought-after training workshops. Colleges and universities will showcase their mechatronics, packaging, and processing programs, while companies will have the opportunity to engage with students interested in pursuing careers in the industry. Participating schools include:

• Brigham Young University - Idaho
• Cal Poly Packaging
• Clemson University Packaging Science
• Fresno State University
• Hennepin Tech College
• Illinois Tech – Food Science and Nutrition Department
• Indiana State University
• Michigan State University School of Packaging
• North Carolina State University
• Northwood Technical College
• Purdue University Northwest
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Rutgers Packaging Engineering Program
• San Jose State University
• Toronto Metropolitan University
• Tuskegee University
• University of Florida
• University of Wisconsin – Stout
• Virginia Tech

Additional networking opportunities for students include:

• Student Tours: PMMI staff will conduct tours of the show floor Sunday and Monday at 3:30 p.m. Tours start at the PMMI U and PMMI Foundation Booth.
• Student Lounge: Open for students to meet with HR professionals to discuss career opportunities, receive resume-writing tips, and attend interview workshops. Interview Workshops will be conducted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
• Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Breakfast: Students attending PACK EXPO International are invited to attend the PPWLN Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
• Tour with PPWLN Executive Council: Following the PPWLN Breakfast, members of the PPWLN Executive Council will provide a guided tour for the students.

“PACK EXPO International is a place where students can connect with future employers and glimpse the real-world machinery, challenges, and solutions they may encounter in a career,” says Kate Torrence, director, workforce development, PMMI. “By bringing these opportunities to students, we are investing in the future of our industries and preparing a skilled next-generation workforce.”

As the largest packaging and processing industry event in North America, PACK EXPO International is set to feature over 2,700 exhibitors across 1.3 million net square feet, with 48,000 attendees from across 40+ vertical markets.

For more details on student opportunities at the show, visit https://www.packexpointernational.com/education/student-opportunities.

To register for the show, go to packexpointernational.com.

TORONTO, Oct. 8, 2026 /CNW/ -- Bimbo Canada is proud to announce that our Laval and Hamilton Bakeries have been recognized by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Laval Bakery has been awarded the 2026 ENERGY STAR Industrial Energy Saver Award (Challenge Category) while the Hamilton Bakery was awarded the 2026 ENERGY STAR Industrial Energy Saver Award (Certification Category). Each year, only one industrial facility in Canada is selected in each category for the ENERGY STAR Canada Awards, in recognition of outstanding energy efficiency performance and impact.

"This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our Laval and Hamilton Bakery teams and their relentless focus on continuous improvement," said Sam Yehia, Bimbo Canada's Vice President of Operations. "By finding smarter ways to use energy and driving out waste every day, they are helping us build a more sustainable business while delivering the quality Canadians expect from our brands. I am proud to see their efforts recognized by ENERGY STAR Canada." 

This award in the Challenge Category represents the Laval Bakery's fourth recognition from ENERGY STAR Canada. The bakery achieved ENERGY STAR Certification for the first time in 2025, in recognition of outstanding energy efficiency as measured against the Canadian bakery industry as a whole. In 2026, the bakery maintained Certification and completed the ENERGY STAR Challenge by reducing the bakery's energy intensity by at least 10% in under 5 years.

The Hamilton Bakery's Award in the Certification Category is its seventh recognition from ENERGY STAR Canada. The bakery has achieved ENERGY STAR Certification six times, tied for the most of any facility in Canada across all companies and industries.

This recognition highlights the Laval and Hamilton bakeries' leadership in operational excellence and reinforces Bimbo Canada's ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible energy management.

Bimbo Canada's Hamilton, St. John's, and Viau (Montreal) bakeries have maintained ENERGY STAR Certification for at least five consecutive years, demonstrating sustained operational excellence and continuous performance improvement. The company's Calgary, Moncton, and Stonemill (Toronto) bakeries have also completed the ENERGY STAR Challenge by reducing their energy intensity by more than 10 percent in less than five years. 

"The Laval and Hamilton team's achievements demonstrate what's possible when sustainability becomes part of everyday operations," said Jeff Robertson, Director of Environment & Sustainability. "Nourishing a Better World is our purpose as a company, and that includes finding practical and innovative ways to lower our environmental footprint while continuing to serve Canadians from coast to coast." 

"Congratulations to this year's ENERGY STAR Award recipient Bimbo Canada. Through innovation, leadership, and a strong commitment to energy efficiency, organizations like Bimbo Canada are helping Canadians reduce energy use, lower energy costs, and support a cleaner economy. Their work delivers practical, energy-efficient solutions that can benefit both consumers and businesses while advancing Canada's environmental and economic objectives. The federal government's electrification strategy, Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy, highlights the importance of advancing energy efficiency to cut costs and build a more sustainable future. Thanks to their leadership, Bimbo Canada is setting an example of how to make a modern and energy-efficient Canada a reality." 

– The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature 

Bimbo Canada has earned more ENERGY STARindustrialcertifications than any other company in Canada across all industries and nowoperatesseven ENERGY STAR Certifiedfacilities nationwide.

As one of Canada's leading baking companies, Bimbo Canada continues to invest in initiatives that improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact and support a more sustainable future for the communities it serves.

Regina, Saskatchewan, October 7, 2026 – Canadian cultivated farmland values rose by an average of 3.8 per cent in the first half of 2026, according to the mid-year farmland values review by Farm Credit Canada (FCC).

This marks a slower pace compared with the first half of 2025, which saw a 6.0 per cent increase. Over the 12 months from July 2025 to June 2026, there was a 7.0 per cent increase, representing a slower pace compared with the previous 12-month period (January to December 2025) with a 9.3 per cent increase.

“The pace of growth has eased from last year, but Canadian farmland values continue to show resilience,” said Craig Johnston, FCC’s chief economist. “Higher production costs, tighter margins and uncertainty around trade, tariffs and international markets are contributing to a more cautious and selective market.”

The sector across the country has not moved uniformly in the past and that continues to be true, making local conditions increasingly important. Values continue to rise overall, but trends are more regional, selective and tied to the economics of individual farm operations.

Prince Edward Island recorded the strongest increase in the first half of 2026 at 11.9 per cent, followed by Quebec at 6.2 per cent, Alberta and Manitoba at 5.3 per cent, and Nova Scotia at 3.6 per cent. Saskatchewan rose 2.6 per cent, Ontario 2.4 per cent and New Brunswick 2.1 per cent, while British Columbia recorded a 1.9 per cent decline.

The review also compares current growth with the latest upward cycle that began in 2020, showing that farmland value growth has not peaked at the same time across Canada. Overall, growth momentum has shifted from the provinces that led the post-pandemic surge toward the Prairies, particularly Alberta, while Ontario and British Columbia have experienced the sharpest normalization.

“Prairie farmland market growth preceded a difficult harvest season that has been marked by adverse weather and surging diesel prices,” Johnston added. “Final crop quality and yields will shape the land market this fall and into next year.”

The mid-year update provides an early outlook on farmland value trends, with FCC’s full-year assessment to follow in the spring report.