Having joined Tetra Pak more than 24 years ago, Sara has delivered countless innovations across solutions development, programme management, and equipment engineering for the company and its food and beverage customers. Her mandate in the new role is to develop and deliver innovative solutions with the highest value for customers, collaborate across the business to accelerate their deployment, and fast-track the work to realise the company’s ambition to deliver the world’s most sustainable paper-based food and beverage package1.
Sara De Simoni (Photo: Tetra Pak)
She is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is a member of the Tetra Pak Executive Leadership Team, reporting to Adolfo Orive, President & CEO.
Holding a Master’s Degree in Industrial Design from the University of Florence and a Post-graduation Master’s in Technology and Innovation Management from the University of Bologna, Sara joined Tetra Pak in 2001 as an industrial designer for carton packaging opening systems. Her technical, relational and collaborative skills led her to become Managing Director for Tetra Pak Packaging Solutions S.p.A. in Modena, Italy, a research and development centre, and Vice President of Programme Management in D&T.
Sara De Simoni, Executive Vice President Development & Technology (D&T) at Tetra Pak, comments: “Tetra Pak D&T brings together an exceptionally talented team of designers, of doers, of people who make things happen. I am proud to be leading them in our journey to shape the future of food packaging, and I see this as an opportunity to drive forward our pursuit of innovation, design excellence and groundbreaking sustainable solutions. We will continue to focus on delivering those solutions for our customers, who are at the centre of everything we do.”
1A carton package made of renewable or recycled materials, which are responsibly sourced, therefore helping protect and restore our planet’s climate, resources and biodiversity; contributing towards low carbon production and distribution; convenient and safe, therefore helping to enable a resilient food system; fully recyclable.
Ziemann Holvrieka, a leading German provider of tanks and process technology for the beer, the beverage and food industry, has broken ground on a new facility in the Amistad Chuy María Industrial Park, located in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, near the capital city of Saltillo. The ceremonial groundbreaking event, attended by the Governor of Coahuila, Manolo Jiménez Salinas, marks a significant milestone in the company’s expansion efforts and underscores its commitment to the region.
With a projected total investment of 20 million dollars, Ziemann Holvrieka’s new production plant is poised to generate 150 new jobs in the Southeastern region of Coahuila. The facility will specialise in the manufacturing of stainless steel tanks, execution of EPC-Projects and overall customer services tailored to the needs of the liquid food industry and to serve our existing huge installed base, bolstering local employment opportunities and contributing to the economic growth of the area.
Speaking at the event, Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas expressed his enthusiasm for the project, emphasising the importance of collaboration between government and industry in fostering economic development. “We are delighted to welcome Ziemann Holvrieka to Coahuila,” remarked Governor Jiménez. “Our state is committed to supporting businesses that seek to invest, innovate, and create jobs within our borders.”
Ziemann Holvrieka’s decision to establish a presence in Ramos Arizpe reflects its strategic vision for serving the growing demand for liquid processing solutions in Mexico. Klaus Gehrig, the company’s CEO, highlighted Mexico’s significance as the largest market of the group over the past decade and underlines their dedication to providing exceptional service to the clients from their new facility in Coahuila. Additionally, the company will extend its services and supplies to support the operations of its sister companies, DME and Briggs of Burton, catering to their customers in Mexico.
The new production plant, spanning 48,000 square meters, will feature state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities covering 6,500 square meters and accommodate 1,404 square meters office area across a three-story building. This investment underlines Ziemann Holvrieka’s long-term commitment to delivering high-quality products and services to its customers while leveraging the region’s skilled workforce and favorable logistical advantages.
Ziemann Holvrieka’s expansion represents a testament to Coahuila’s attractiveness to international investors, particularly from Europe. Governor Jiménez reaffirmed the state’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to investment and job creation, emphasising Coahuila’s status as a prime destination for businesses seeking to thrive and succeed.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including local government officials, representatives from industry associations, and key stakeholders, underscoring the collaborative effort to drive economic prosperity in the region.
The beverage can industry’s ongoing efforts to move to products free from materials of concern are being boosted by the launch of next generation coatings technology from AkzoNobel – while a new production plant is also being constructed in Spain.
The company’s Packaging Coatings business has just launched the first two products in its new AccelstyleTM range. Designed for the exterior of conventional two-piece aluminum beverage cans, both are free from bisphenols, styrene and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). They follow on from the May 2023 launch of AccelshieldTM 700 – the first BPx-NI* (free of intentionally added bisphenols) internal coating for beverage can ends – which complies with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and EU regulations.
At the same time, AkzoNobel is investing EUR 32 million in a new plant at its Vilafranca site, which will produce bisphenol-free coatings for the metal packaging industry in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). The facility will use advanced automation and has been designed according to high eco-efficiency standards, enabling the company to make a step-change in energy and material efficiency. It’s expected to be operational by mid-2025 and will create around 40 jobs.
Commenting on the new facility, Jim Kavanagh, Director of AkzoNobel’s Industrial Coatings business, says it will help the company respond to a strong need from the packaging industry. “The Vilafranca plant will allow us to offer leading-edge products to any customer and country in EMEA, responding to the most stringent bisphenol regulations in force in Europe. The investment is in line with our view that bisphenols are no longer required to create safe food contact coatings for the metal packaging industry.”
He adds that the new Accelstyle products further illustrate the company’s commitment to giving customers the tangible support they need to transition to a new future. “Both new products – Accelstyle 100 and 200 – can be seamlessly introduced into existing production processes, allowing can makers to transition to coatings that are free from certain important materials of concern, while remaining as commercially viable as possible.”
Continues Kavanagh: “The bisphenol-free products we’ve developed have a lower carbon footprint, compared with those we previously supplied. For example, the carbon footprint of the products for can interiors that we’ll manufacture in the new facility will be 26 % lower than our earlier offerings, which were epoxy-based. And it’s important to point out that bisphenol-free metal packaging isn’t just circular, it also meets consumer expectations for more sustainable packaging.”
Accelstyle 100 (a waterborne gloss overprint varnish) has already undergone multiple successful large-scale trials and qualifications with key major European can makers, while Accelstyle 200 (a waterborne matt overprint varnish) is currently undergoing trials to optimise the prototypes for different gloss levels, from “soft touch” high matt to a “grippy feel” mid-matt effect.
AkzoNobel’s approach to the bisphenol transition of metal cans prioritises consumer safety and sustainability with responsible material substitutions, while taking care to limit disruption to the value chain. The company is continuing to work closely with customers to help accelerate the adoption of bisphenol alternatives.
*The BPx-NI designation indicates that bisphenol or bisphenol compounds were not intentionally added to, or used, in the manufacture of the product.
Ingredion leads investment round to accelerate start-up’s advanced technology for naturally reducing sugar
FoodTech start-up Better Juice, Ltd., announced its collaboration with Ingredion, Inc., a leading global provider of specialty ingredients to the food and beverage industry. Ingredion Ventures, Ingredion’s venture investment arm, will lead the Series A funding round for Better Juice which will fast-track penetration of its breakthrough sugar reduction solution into the US juice market.
Better Juice’s innovative sugar reduction technology removes simple sugars in juice-based beverages, concentrates and other natural sugar-containing liquids. The Company developed an enzymatic technology, which converts sugars into non-digestible compounds, such as dietary fibers and non-digestible sugars, while maintaining the natural profile of vitamins, minerals and organic acids in the final product.
“This important partnership step is truly exciting,” enthuses Gali Yarom, co-founder and co-CEO of Better Juice. “It dovetails perfectly with the Better Juice strategy to penetrate the North American market. Ingredion was impressed by our non-GMO technology, and its uses in a wide variety of applications. This move will open doors to leading food and beverage companies seeking sugar-reduction solutions for their products.”
“The Better Juice technology adds a completely new dimension to our portfolio of sugar reduction solutions for food and beverage brands on a mission to meet increased consumer demand for less sugar,” says Nate Yates, Sugar Reduction Business Leader at Ingredion. “This technology also provides manufacturers with more options to successfully reduce sugar without compromising on great taste or nutrition.”
Clean-label conversion
The environmentally friendly clean-label conversion process applies proprietary beads composed of non-GMO microorganisms which produce enzymes. These enzymes convert the juice’s composition of fruit sugars including sucrose, glucose, and fructose into better-for-you prebiotic fibers and other non-digestible molecules. This enables sugar reduction by 30 to 80 percent.
“This alliance will accelerate our go-to-market journey,” explains Eran Blachinsky, PhD, co-founder and co-CEO of Better Juice. “Ingredion’s capital support will allow us to extend the technology to other liquids with natural sources of sugar, such as milk, beer, and wine.”
This achievement follows Better Juice’s well-established partnership with GEA Group, one of the largest suppliers of food processing technology.
Better Juice primed for commercialisation
Better Juice’s solution has successfully advanced to commercial scale in the U.S. In recent years, it demonstrated its full proof of concept in collaboration with juice manufacturers in the U.S. and Asia. These companies are now poised to progress to the next stage of commercialisation. Better Juice is now fully prepped for market entry, with a capacity to process 250 million liters of sugar reduced juice per year.
Since 2022, the groundbreaking GEA Better Juice Sugar Converter Skid is included in GEA’s test center in Ahaus, Germany. Better Juice collaborates with GEA for manufacturing the bioreactor, and together they install the technology in customers’ facilities.
“Better Juice has achieved important milestones in the past two years and has positioned itself as the leading company for reducing simple sugars from natural sources,” notes Amir Zaidman, VP of The Kitchen Hub. “The timing is perfect for serving the rapidly expanding trend of consumers striving to cut down on simple sugars in their diet.”
About Ingredion Ingredion, Inc. (NYSE: INGR), headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With 2022 annual net sales of nearly $8 billion, the company turns grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, brewing, and industrial markets. With Ingredion Idea Labs® innovation centers located around the world, and approximately 12,000 employees, Ingredion co-creates with customers to fulfill its mission of bringing the potential of people, nature, and technology together to make life better.
Symrise AG has signed a minority investment agreement with Bonumose. The early-stage food ingredient manufacturer specialises in the affordable production of delicious, good-for-you rare monosaccharides (alternatives to sucrose) such as tagatose and allulose. With this strategic transaction, Symrise will accelerate growth in its sugar reduction initiatives. The area represents a high-priority focus for the North America region within the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment.
“This exciting investment forges a strategic partnership. It will enhance our flavour and taste balancing technologies with Bonumose’s innovative and economical tagatose and other alternative sweetening solutions. Combining our technologies, will enable us to offer our customers new pathways to sugar reduction and taste balancing solutions. In turn, this will allow them to reduce sugar while optimising the taste of better-for-you products for their consumers. This applies especially in the beverage and ice-cream categories. Health forms a growing focus category for Symrise. With the support of Bonumose’s enzymatic expertise, we can bring novel and disrupting ingredients to the marketplace together”, said Nick Russell, Senior Vice President – Business Incubation Group, Symrise AG.
Bonumose opened a new R&D facility and manufacturing plant earlier this year. The facility allows for quality, consistent, and economic production of their growing portfolio of sugar alternatives. Bonumose was founded in 2016 as a start-up. It continues to grow thanks to their patented enzymatic technology. This allows for the sustainable bulk production of healthy ingredients from globally-abundant plant material.
Ed Rogers, Bonumose Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, said: “We feel enthusiastic about the future and the growth that the investment and partnership with Symrise enables. Now, we are coupling our expertise in tagatose and other naturally-occurring sugar alternatives with the extensive Symrise flavour proficiency and expansive portfolio across multiple platforms in both human food and animal nutrition. This creates the opportunity to offer unique value to customers. The strength of Symrise as an augmented flavour house paired with Bonumose’s patented enzymatic technology will enable cutting edge solutions to sugar reduction.”
Just a few years ago, Krones’ subsidiary Steinecker opened a technology center in Freising (GER) where customers can create and test recipes for beer and plant-based drinks. Now, the group is setting another important milestone in the evolution of beverages and processes. In early May, at the company’s headquarters in Neutraubling (GER), a fully-equipped R&D lab was officially inaugurated and dubbed the “Process Technology Center”.
The new Process Technology Center is designed to support Krones customers in their product development processes and meet the flavour demands of the global markets. It makes no difference whether the customer already has a finished recipe for a future product or is still at the start of the product development journey and would like to leverage Krones’ expertise for those first steps.
Krones itself will use the new technology center to more closely analyse the effects of various process parameters on different products. The results will then go into further developing and refining Krones machines and lines.
Expertise for process technology and water design
The technology center is divided into two sections: process technology and water design.
On the process technology side, various process and treatment steps can be realistically simulated on a pilot UHT system. That makes it possible, for example, to compare the thermal impact of indirect heating using a shell-and-tube heat exchanger versus direct heating. For this, customers can choose between two processes: steam injection and steam infusion. For other trials, the facility is also equipped with systems for mixing, flash pasteurisation, deaeration, homogenisation and filling. The results are then evaluated in-house, for example in Krones’ own microbiological and chemical testing labs.
Optimising the flavour profile of water
In the field of water design, customers can fine-tune the flavour of their water by adding just the right amounts of minerals and flavour compounds. The technological possibilities include deaeration, carbonation, electrodeionisation, ionisation, mineral dosing and filling.
A water sommelier provides support throughout the trials. Customers also have access to Krones’ extensive network of experts, with engineers in a variety of disciplines, including food and process engineering, to collaborate on transforming product ideas into real products.
IBC and NewTree Fruit Company to expand access to patented De-Sugaring Technology
InterContinental Beverage Capital and Travers City, MI-based NewTree Fruit Company (NTFC) are taking NTFC’s patented De-Sugaring Technology to the next level. The two companies will be collaborating on ways to bring NTFC’s revolutionary technology into IBC’s Bevnology product development facility in Tyron, GA (US).
Since 2016, IBC and NTFC have been working together to reduce sugar consumption among consumers of all demographics worldwide. With global patent approvals in the US, Europe, and Asia, NTFC’s De-Sugaring Technology has proven successful in reducing sugar to 1 g or less in an 8 oz juice-based product, while delivering great taste and the full nutritional value of two servings of fruit. Now, by integrating their technology into IBC’s client offerings, NTFC and IBC are poised to directly impact the speed-to-market while broadening product offerings for large global brands and businesses seeking a healthier, more flavourful offering with almost 0 sugar.
IBC founding partner, Stephen Horgan added “We have experimented with implementing this on a small scale since February and are extremely encouraged with the results. Working with NTFC, Louis Heinsz, our lead IBC partner at Bevnology Labs has been able to create a broad array of products that deliver these healthy consumer benefits with great taste across non-alcohol and alcohol products alike.”
Less sugar is a top priority for consumers today and there is an increasing expectation of healthier product solutions with reduced sugar which also deliver on taste. NewTree has cracked this code with their patented process that captures the authentic experience of fruit juice and can be utilised in a multitude of formulation applications. Consumers deserve products that meet this expectation and the many beverage and food offerings today, including the most popular brands on retailers’ shelves, fall short of delivering on this. The demand for healthier, low-sugar product solutions is rapidly increasing among consumers, and NTFC’s De-Sugaring Technology has emerged as the leading solution to this problem. By partnering with IBC, NTFC is even better positioned to bring its calorie reducing, de-sugaring technology to the forefront of the beverage industry and help more brands and companies to offer great tasting, healthy products to all consumers.
About InterContinental Beverage Capital, Inc. IBC is a New York-based advisory and investment firm focused on the beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. IBC has a worldwide network of strategic industry contacts, lending institutions, consultants, recruiters, and management teams. These sources provide expertise, industry capabilities, access to new customers, and valuable investment and commercial banking capabilities to partnership companies. IBC is actively seeking investments in its targeted verticals companies, which have unique products and dedicated management that exhibit the ability to develop into category leaders.
About NewTree Fruit Company NewTree Fruit Company is a Travers City, MI-based company dedicated to reducing sugar consumption among consumers worldwide. With its patented De-Sugaring Technology, NewTree has successfully reduced sugar to 1 g or less in an 8 oz juice-based product while maintaining taste and delivering the full nutritional value of two servings of fruit.
On 20th of April 2023, Krones has signed an agreement to acquire 90 % of Ampco Pumps Company LLC. Based in Wisconsin, USA, Ampco Pumps is supplying sanitary pumps and applied products like mixing and blending equipment to the food, beverage, dairy processing, personal care and pharmaceuticals markets. The company has more than 70 year history in the pump market and is a key player for sanitary pumps in the US food and beverage market.
In the 2022 fiscal year, Ampco Pumps generated with a workforce of more than 130 employees revenue of approx. USD 50 million and a high EBITDA margin. The transaction will increase the profitability margin of the “Process Technology” segment as well as the group margin of Krones. Current Ampco management will remain and will continue to hold 10 % of the shares of Ampco. Krones has an option to buy the 10 % of the shares in the future.
The acquisition of Ampco Pumps is a major step in expanding the components business of Krones Processing. With Ampco Pumps and Evoguard Valve Technology Krones has now a broad portfolio of all key components for the processing technology market. In addition, the businesses of the two companies complement each other perfectly in regional terms.
The transaction is subject to approval under the relevant antitrust legislation. Krones expects the transaction to be completed (closing) within the first half of 2023. As of the closing date, Krones will consolidate the figures of Ampco Pumps in the “Process Technology” segment.
SISTO Armaturen S.A., a member of the KSB Group, inaugurated a newly built technology centre in Echternach, Luxembourg, on 27 February 2023. The SISTO TechCenter includes testing facilities specifically tailored to the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology. Furthermore, this building also features modern office space for the technical departments.
The testing facilities also include a custom-built test stand for sterile process valves. This allows practical testing of valves for sterile processes. Here, developers are able to simulate all the necessary cleaning (CIP) and sterilisation (SIP) processes under original conditions. All common cleaning products (CIP), ultra-pure steam (SIP), compressed air, and vacuum are used, as well as cold and hot water. The tests can be performed according to ASME BPE standards or according to individual specifications of the end user.
In addition to further function and endurance test stands for diaphragm valves and accessories, a variety of facilities for materials testing and testing of mechatronic assemblies are also available. A vacuum chamber with leak detector is available for leak tests using helium in accordance with ISO 15848-1 or German Technical Guidelines on Air Quality Control (TA Luft).
The building covers an area of 350 square metres and has two floors. As part of its sustainability policy, SISTO Armaturen S.A. has designed the building to be climate-neutral. On completion, the building will require neither heating nor cooling. The inauguration of the multi-million euro building took place on 27 February in the presence of Franz Fayot, the Luxembourg Minister of the Economy.
SIG announced a BRL 10 million investment in innovative recycling technology that will enable polymers and aluminium from used aseptic carton packs to be recovered and sold separately for the first time on an industrial scale in Brazil. By expanding the range of applications for recycled materials from used aseptic cartons, SIG expects to increase their value by more than 50 %.
Innovative recycling technology
The renewable paper board that makes up around 75 % of aseptic carton packs on average can be separated for recycling in paper mills through Brazil’s existing recycling infrastructure. The polyethylene and aluminium mix (polyaluminium or PolyAl) left over from this process can be recycled into a robust material for purposes such as roofing, pallets and furniture.
SIG’s recycling plant will use innovative technology that makes it possible to separate the polyethylene from the aluminium in PolyAl to create a wider market and demand for these recycled materials. Developed over five years with project partner ECS Consulting, the new technology has already undergone a pilot project that proved the effectiveness of the chemical recycling process.
The new recycling plant is currently in construction in the state of Paraná. It is expected to begin operating in 2024 with an initial production capacity of 200 tonnes per month. Together with industry partners, SIG has also invested in a plant in Germany to separate polymers and aluminium from PolyAl that went into production in 2021.
Ethical collection programmes
Investing in new technology to create a wider market for recycled materials is an important step in increasing recycling rates for used aseptic cartons. SIG has already led the way with innovative programmes to support two other important steps: collection of used packaging from consumers and separation of that packaging to go into the right recycling streams.
SIG’s so+ma vantagens programme, run in partnership with NGO so+ma since 2018, enables people in underprivileged communities to collect loyalty points for bringing in waste for recycling. The points can then be exchanged for rewards, such as essential food products and skills training. SIG is now expanding this model to promote recycling and bring additional societal benefits to further municipalities in Brazil and beyond.
SIG also promotes public policies for selective waste collection in Brazil, and supports effective infrastructure and decent working conditions for waste collectors’ cooperatives as a seed investor in the Recicleiros Cidades programme. Set up with NGO Recicleiros in 2018, the programme is now operational in 13 municipalities and aims to reach 60 by 2027.
Over 1,000 exhibitors and around 25,000 trade visitors at the Special Edition in Cologne
For four days, from April 26 to 29, 2022, the food and beverage industry met with its supplier sector at Anuga FoodTec – Special Edition – in Cologne, Germany. “Anuga FoodTec is and remains the central and international meeting place for the industry. And this leading position has been clearly underlined by the successful re-launch of the trade show here in Cologne. The right concept, at the right time,” said Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. “The high-caliber trade audience that traveled from more than 120 countries met excellently positioned and committed exhibitors here in Cologne. Intensive effective discussions characterized the course of the trade fair. The exhibitors’ feedback confirmed to us once again how important personal encounters are for successful business,” added Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.
Dr. Reinhard Grandke, Chief Executive Officer of DLG (German Agricultural Society) and Chairman of the Anuga FoodTec Advisory Board, clarifies: “The mix of physical and digital offerings underscored the high professional relevance of the international Anuga FoodTec platform and provided the right setting for successful business deals and investments. Compact, innovative formats offered numerous opportunities to take an in-depth look at the intelligent automation of production processes in the food and beverage industry. Along the entire value chain, new technologies and concepts were presented that push the sustainable use of natural resources. The important networking of science and business practice was again achieved in an exemplary manner in Cologne.”
The opening of Anuga FoodTec by Federal Minister Cem Özdemir also underscored the outstanding importance of the trade show for the industry. During his tour of the trade show, Minister Özdemir learned about a wide variety of new concepts and solutions for meeting the challenges facing food and beverage producers worldwide.
A total of around 25,000 trade visitors from over 120 countries were counted. The attendance from other European countries and from Germany was very strong. Visitor numbers from the Middle East and some African countries were also gratifyingly good. The proportion of visitors from abroad was around 57 percent.
As the most important platform of the year, Anuga FoodTec thus successfully launched the re-launch of the entire industry. The great need for investment and, at the same time, the high level of willingness to invest on the part of the inquiring industry was expressed, among other things, by the fact that many of the managing directors and plant managers who attended approached the exhibitors with concrete project ideas. In some cases, machines and equipment were even purchased on the spot. The current world situation has increased the need for answers to questions in areas such as energy efficiency, resource conservation and sustainability. In addition to key players, numerous medium-sized companies, smaller specialists and 28 start-ups also showed innovative concepts tailored precisely to the industry.
“Smart Solutions – Higher Flexibility” was the highly relevant guiding theme of the trade show and its extensive technical program, which was very well received by the international audience with over 200 specialist events. The DLG played a leading role, using its expertise to organize the numerous events in a variety of formats. For example, specialist forums highlighted a wide range of current topics in food technology and linked scientific findings with business practice. Visitors also received a compact overview and orientation with regard to pioneering innovations in the field of food technology during the Guided Tours on the exhibition grounds.
Until June 30, visitors will have the opportunity to network with exhibitors at the Anuga FoodTec @home digital extension, watch missed presentations from the congress program and pick up a wealth of other industry information. Visitors to Anuga FoodTec can use the platform, free of charge, while the rest can access the content after registering free of charge.
The processing company VOG Products from South Tyrol continuously invests in new technologies. The most recent examples are the NFC juice line commissioned this year and a new sterile tank storage system that is almost completed.
Each of the six new tanks is six metres in diameter and 25 metres high, and can contain up to 625,000 litres of apple juice.
New NFC juice line
The raw goods are moving through the new production line for premium juices that features particularly careful dry transport and uses a cutting-edge belt press.
The new intake line at VOG Products can receive up to 150 tonnes of fruit per hour. It transports the fruit dry and not in water. Sails are used to enable the apples to roll along for processing, which results in fewer bruises and damaged spots. Dry transport has one additional advantage: the system consumes much less water.
The main element for juice extraction is the new belt press, which VOG Products uses to produce high-quality premium juice that features a long shelf life and more appealing colouration.
VOG Products ensures that the juice’s quality and turbidity are consistently in line with consumer wishes. In the separator (centrifuge), solid material and starches are removed from the juice with high efficiency and 100 % automation – exactly to the extent that meets the specified quality standards or the customer’s requirements.
JBT Corporation, a global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food and beverage industry, announced it has acquired Urtasun Tecnología Alimentaria S.L., a provider of fruit and vegetable processing solutions. The company is headquartered in Navarra, Spain.
“The acquisition of Urtasun expands our product offering in fruit and vegetable processing, particularly in the fresh packaged and frozen markets,” said Brian Deck, President and Chief Executive Officer. “By integrating Urtasun into FoodTech, we can leverage JBT’s global sales and service footprint to accelerate growth.”
The purchase price was approximately $40 million. Urtasun expects 2021 revenue of approximately $25 million with Adjusted EBITDA margins in the mid to high-teens. The transaction is expected to be approximately four cents dilutive to 2021 GAAP earnings per share and one cent dilutive on an adjusted basis which excludes transaction-related costs and purchase price accounting. In 2022, Urtasun is expected to be accretive to GAAP and adjusted earnings per share by approximately three cents.
IFF announced today that the Company invested a total of USD 87 million in their newly extended flavors manufacturing facility in Karawang, Indonesia during the site’s virtual opening. The facility, located in Karawang International Industrial City, first started operations in 2015 to address the fast-growing demand for flavour technology in the region. Today, as IFF’s largest manufacturing facility in Greater Asia, Karawang houses full manufacturing capabilities, from liquid compounds to powder, emulsions, and spray dry technology, warehousing and quality control.
The newly extended 12,800m2 state-of-the-art facility is equipped with modern infrastructure and technology to ensure efficiency, safety, quality, and traceability. In line with the Company’s dedication to drive sustainability, the site initiatives range from zero waste to landfill, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water, and hazardous waste. The expansion and increased capacity services customers in South East Asia and North Asia. This investment is consistent with IFF’s strategy to capture the growth potential of emerging markets in Asia.
Hiperbaric received The Association for Packaging and Processing (PMMI)’s Technology Excellence Award for its HPP In-Bulk technology at PACK EXPO 2021, in Las Vegas
Hiperbaric Bulk technology is a global innovation for high volume juice processing. Based on a revolutionary concept, in which beverages are processed in-bulk prior to bottling, the process obtains a 90 % filling volume, nearly double that of in-pack HPP technology. It also allows for any type of packaging, including glass, paper cartons, or aluminum cans. A fully automated process, HPP in-bulk results in an 80 % reduction in labour costs and nearly 50 % cut in energy.
“This technology is being used in Europe with great success and due to the latest trends in packaging sustainability, we remain positive that this will be another success story in the near future for the U.S.,” said Roberto Peregrina, director, Hiperbaric USA.
Hermes Boissons, a French copacker, uses Hiperbaric’s in bulk equipment for its customer, Juste Pressé, a natural fruit and vegetable juice company, which recently launched the world’s first HPP juice in carton packaging.
Alexia Chassagne, co-owner of Juste Pressé, said, “Hiperbaric HPP in-bulk technology has allowed us to develop a product that is 100 % aligned with our brand identity. We see this product as a game-changer in the HPP beverage industry since it provides premium quality and taste with environmentally friendly packaging.”
High pressure processing (HPP) is a cold pasteurization technique by which products, already sealed in their final packaging, undergo high pressure transmitted by water. HPP’s benefits include food safety, clean label and extended shelf life. HPP enhances flavour, texture and nutritional properties of food, without preservatives.
Novozymes, one of the world’s largest suppliers of enzyme and microbial technologies headquartered in Denmark, has entrusted GEA with the turnkey fitting of a major new plant to produce plant-based proteins for the plant-based food industry. The volume of this order is well into the high double-digit million-euro range.
GEA is further expanding its market position in the dynamically growing new food market with one of the biggest orders in the company’s history. Novozymes, the world’s largest supplier of enzyme and microbial technologies headquartered in Denmark, has entrusted GEA with the turnkey fitting of a major new plant to produce plant-based proteins for the plant-based food industry. The volume of this order is well into the high double-digit million-euro range. Building the new factory in Nebraska, USA, will start later this year and is expected to be completed towards the end of 2023.
“The demand for foods that have a demonstrably lower environmental footprint than conventionally produced products is growing enormously,” says GEA CEO Stefan Klebert. “With our technologies and experience in scaling industrial applications, GEA is ideally positioned to serve the new food market and thus contribute to our corporate purpose of ‘engineering for a better world’,” says Klebert. “We are pleased to partner with Novozymes in this strategic project.”
For decades, Novozymes has been developing fermented catalytic (i.e. industrially produced) proteins – enzymes – that are the basis for many industrial applications. Only recently, the company announced its intention to invest DKK 2 billion in the growth market for functional proteins (advanced protein solutions) for the food industry. “This investment in a new, state-of-the-art production line in Blair, Nebraska, underscores our commitment to feeding the world sustainably and demonstrating the true strength of biotechnology,” says COO & Executive Vice President Graziela Chaluppe dos Santos Malucelli, Novozymes.
The new plant covers the manufacturing steps from harvesting to separation of proteins. According to Heinz-Jürgen Kroner, Senior Vice President Liquid Technologies at GEA and responsible for the company’s alternative foods business, both partners are united by their ability to build scalable, reliable, and highly efficient plant systems. “This project is exceptional in many respects. The intensive bidding phase saw us planning the production lines for the ingredients less than a year later. We now aim to implement the project at the same pace. The partnership is a very rewarding experience.”
GEA will now construct the process systems, which include membrane filters, mixers, homogenizers, heat exchangers, pasteurizers and UHT units, cleaning and filling systems as well as the pump and valve technology. Installation will start mid-2022. The production capacity initially built can easily be expanded to multiply the capacity in the future as demand grows.
Eckes-Granini and Refresco today announced that they have established the JuicyChain Foundation. This is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of making the global juice supply chain more sustainable. The foundation will manage and further develop the “JuicyChain”, which is an open source blockchain-based traceability and transparency platform. IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative is acting as an Advisor to the Board of the JuicyChain Foundation.
This new platform, based on The New Fork’s open food chain platform, was designed to create added value for all parties involved in the juice supply chain: from growers to processors, bottlers, brand owners, retailers and consumers. JuicyChain supports a move towards a significant increase in availability of sustainable juice in the marketplace. All companies in the juice industry can join JuicyChain and share information about sustainable juice easily and efficiently. Consumers and other stakeholders will be able to examine provenance and sustainability data by scanning a unique QR code on a finished juice product.
The New Fork has developed the platform blueprint and are the JuicyChain Foundation’s IT Provider. This blockchain based platform brings transparency to the efforts to increase the sustainability of juice in the industry.
“The blockchain technology brings us new and exciting possibilities to drive positive change. With the JuicyChain, we are continuing to work on increasing digitalization and sustainability of our business processes.” explains Holger Schlenger, CIO at Eckes-Granini.
JuicyChain aims to accelerate the uptake of sustainable juice volumes by providing supply chain transparency and trust. It enables customer and consumer-facing communication on sustainable juice with minimum entry barriers. JuicyChain members will need to be aligned with the sustainable sourcing definitions under the Sustainable Juice Covenant, hosted by IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative.
More companies are invited
We invite all parties in the juice supply chain to join JuicyChain so that we can further develop the platform together. Join us and be a frontrunner driving traceability, transparency and sustainability in global juice supply chains. As Coert Michielsen, CPO at Refresco says: “By teaming up with others we can move faster towards a common goal of more sustainable juice supply chains and promote the uptake of sustainable juice across the supply chain.”
Beviale Moscow will take place in the Main Stage Event Hall in Moscow from 16 to 18 March 2021. This makes Russia’s first trade fair for the entire beverage production chain one of the few events that allows the sector to come together in person in the spring of 2021. The organisers are responding to explicit requests by Russian exhibitors and visitors who can now look forward to a well-designed and attractive event concept. Numerous event partners and associations are helping to create the high-quality supporting programme. Naturally, all the measures prescribed by the local authorities will be strictly implemented at Beviale Moscow 2021. This special round of the event will pave the way for the next chapter of the Beviale Moscow success story in 2022, which is already attracting a lot of interest, especially from exhibitors unable to attend this year.
Thanks to its timely relocation to the Main Stage Event Hall, Beviale Moscow was able to allow its customers to plan with certainty in what is a precarious environment with underlying conditions that are constantly changing. This location is ideal for this special round of Beviale Moscow this year. Around half of the exhibitors who had registered for the subsequently cancelled 2020 fair, and most partners, will be taking part in Beviale Moscow 2021. Some 80 percent of exhibitors come from Russia, but it is also worth mentioning the around 20 percent of international exhibitors who have committed to the event despite the difficult circumstances.
Comprehensive safety and hygiene concept
“The huge response and extensive support from the sector are a clear indication that our concept has paid off and that Beviale Moscow is the most important platform for the Russian beverage industry,” says a delighted Thimo Holst, Project Manager Beviale Moscow at NürnbergMesse. “We have therefore done our utmost to offer our customers and partners a modified yet high-quality concept under the current circumstances.” This includes a comprehensive safety and hygiene plan. As well all the regulations imposed by the local authorities, like measuring temperatures at the entrance and the wearing of face masks and gloves, Beviale Moscow 2021 is implementing other measures: Sufficient distances are ensured on all special display areas, entrances and exits are separate, numerous hand sanitising stations are provided around the hall, and the air is being continually filtered.
High-quality supporting programme as in previous years
In respect of content, the fair will be on a par with the event planned for 2020. Almost all partners and associations are continuing to support Beviale Moscow this year again and are helping to create an extensive, high-quality supporting programme. At the “Conference on wine production in Russia”, the partnership with the “Vinitech Innovation Tour” will take effect for the first time. Russian wine experts will introduce the peculiarities of the market, while French experts will hold presentations on technology and innovation, giving conference participants a comprehensive overview of the wine market and its future. In Russia, milk production and processing are key issues for the beverage industry. An overview will be provided by the Russian industry portal “The Dairy News” under the heading “The New Milk Retail in Russia”. In collaboration with Coca-Cola, Beviale Moscow will for the first time host a conference on the trend towards healthy drinks. Other items on the programme agenda familiar from previous years are a conference on the Russian beer market conducted by the ABBM, Association of Beer and Beverage Market, the conference on beverage packaging by the National Packaging Confederation NCPack, and the Craft Drinks Corner.
Given the circumstances, the representative Bavarian Pavilion with four Bavarian firms taking part in Beviale Moscow 2021 is particularly worthy of mention. “We are delighted by the unequivocal support of Bayern International, which was impressed by the event following the success of the first pavilion in 2019 and is continuing to back us this year as well,” says Holst. “We are especially pleased that Roland Weigert, Deputy Minister of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, will provide a welcoming address by video at the opening of the trade fair.” The continuity of the Bavarian Pavilion underscores the extremely strong economic relations between Bavaria and Russia. In addition, the Representative Office of Bavaria in the Russian Federation will offer a symposium at this year’s Beviale with the title “The latest information and trends in the brewing industry in Bavaria and Russia”.
Bucher Unipektin is acquiring 100 % of the German vacuum drying system supplier Merk Process GmbH. With the acquisition Bucher Unipektin further strengthens its vacuum and freeze drying capabilities.
Merk Process was founded in 1994 by Dieter Merk, is privately owned and located in Laufenburg (Germany). The company supplies vacuum drying systems for the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries and generated net sales of EUR 4 million in 2020. Its expertise is based on many years of practical experience in plant construction combined with efficient, innovative engineering skills. With the transaction Mr. Merk found an attractive and sustainable succession solution not only for his customers but also for the employees of Merk Process.
Together with Merk Process, Bucher Unipektin is in the position to supply a broader range of innovative and sound drying technologies and to provide an enhanced customer service offering to the vacuum and freeze drying customers of the two companies on a global base.
Following the transaction, the drying activities of both companies will be concentrated at Merk Process’ site in Laufenburg (Germany). Dieter Merk will actively contribute and assist the combining of the two companies’ technologies and knowhow as a consultant in the next years.
Bucher Unipektin, a Swiss based business unit of Bucher Industries AG, is a globally leading manufacturer of plants and components for juice and beer production, as well as vacuum and freeze drying for the food industry. The business unit is operating globally with production sites in Switzerland, Spain and China supported by a global distribution network and own sales and service organisations in Poland, Ukraine, Russia, New Zealand and Mexico.
The shift from fossil-based to renewable bio-plastics requires new efficient methods. New technology developed at VTT enables the use of pectin-containing agricultural waste, such as citrus peel and sugar beet pulp, as raw material for bio-based PEF-plastics for replacing fossil-based PET. The carbon footprint of plastic bottles can be lowered by 50 % when replacing their raw material of PET with PEF polymers, which also provides a better shelf life for food.
“In the near future, you may buy orange juice in bottles that are made out of orange peel. VTT’s novel technology provides a circular approach to using food waste streams for high-performance food packaging material, and at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” shares Professor of Practice Holger Pöhler from VTT”.
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and other polyesters are being widely used in food packaging, plastic bottles and textiles. The annual production of PET products is estimated at 30 million tonnes. Replacing fossil-based PET with plant-based PEF (polyethylene furanoate) polymers can lower the carbon footprint of the products by 50 %.
Moreover, the barrier properties of PEF plastics are better than PETs, meaning that the food products have a longer shelf life. PEF is a fully recyclable and renewable high-performance plastic. Therefore, it opens up possibilities for the industries to reduce waste and to have positive impact on the environment.
VTT’s technology has significant advantages for making bio-based PEF plastics. The technology uses a stable intermediate for the production of FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid), one of the monomers of PEF, which enables a highly efficient process. In addition, utilising pectin-containing waste streams opens up new possibilities for the circular economy of plastics.
VTT’s unique scale-up infrastructure from laboratory to pilot scale ensures that this new technology will be brought to a technology readiness level that will allow polymer manufacturers’ easy transition to full scale.
Coca-Cola European Partners funds dispensed delivery innovation with investment in self-pour, self-pay drink dispense technology leaders Innovative Tap Solutions
CCEP Ventures, the investment arm of Coca-Cola European Partners, has acquired a 25 % stake in Innovative Tap Solutions (ITS) – the creators of technology that enables consumers to pour their own beverages and increase efficiencies for the hospitality industry. Branded Strategic Hospitality, an investment & solutions platform headquartered in New York City, also participated in the investment in ITS alongside CCEP.
The investment will see CCEP work with ITS to introduce self-pour dispense technology to CCEP’s customers in Western Europe, beginning with a trial in Spain. ITS’s technology allows consumers to pour and pay for drinks themselves – cutting down queues, reducing the need for unnecessary contact and wait times and freeing up serving staff.
The partnership also represents a further step forward for CCEP’s Action on Packaging strategy, launched in 2017. CCEP is committed to investing and innovating in refillable and dispensed delivery models to eliminate packaging waste and lower its carbon footprint. CCEP is looking at developing suitable dispensed solution for different environments, and the partnership with ITS is a key part of this.
This agreement forms part of the wider CCEP Ventures programme – which aims to find, fund and nurture new technology and innovation.
Nik Jhangiani, Chief Financial Officer at CCEP, said: “We are committed to supporting package-free technology and finding new ways to help our customers increase value and provide a better experience to consumers. ITS is an exciting and ambitious business. We are confident we can help them expand successfully into the soft drinks category and grow their presence in Western Europe.”
Josh Goodman, Founder & CEO of ITS, commented on the partnership: “We’re excited to take this Self Pour Revolution to the next level with CCEP. Less than 5 years ago, our company was just me and one other person and our focus was just self-pour taprooms dispensing beer, wine and cocktails through our technology.
The market has spoken, customers and business owners love the concept, the efficiency and experience. We’re a liquid-agnostic company that wants to grow in the non-alcoholic space. Our partnership with CCEP ensures that we can continue investing in our technology to scale with the increasing demand.”
Let’s start with some good news: BrauBeviale will take place this year! The event concept has been modified due to the current circumstances. In consultation with the relevant authorities, safety and hygiene concepts were developed to ensure a safe and effective trade fair experience for all participants. This year, the international capital goods fair for the beverage industry will therefore take place at Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 10 to 12 November as a “BrauBeviale Special Edition”. This decision was taken in close consultation with our exhibitors, visitors and partners and therefore specifically meets their requests for the organisation of a physical platform before the end of the year to facilitate dialogue and foster business.
“The decision to hold BrauBeviale this year was not just down to us as the organiser but was taken in close consultation with our exhibitors, visitors and partners,” explains Andrea Kalrait, Executive Director BrauBeviale at NürnbergMesse. “The message that we kept getting in our discussions was that our customers still wanted to have their annual gathering in 2020, all the more so as it was probably the only opportunity for such a meeting this year, not just at national and European level but internationally. So I am really looking forward to welcoming as many visitors as possible in person to our event in Nuremberg!”
The key theme of the current three-year BrauBeviale cycle is the future viability of the beverage industry. This year in particular, which has also forced a lot of companies in the beverage sector to face unprecedented and difficult challenges, the future viability of the industry is more important than ever. The BrauBeviale Special Edition is therefore very much about showing solidarity. As a partner to the entire beverage sector, this year’s event will send out a message and provide an attractive, successful and at the same time safe platform to allow industry stakeholders to share information, network and join forces to emerge from this difficult situation in a stronger position.
BrauBeviale Special Edition – tailored hygiene concept
Andrea Kalrait explains the principle behind the Special Edition: “Naturally, protecting our customers is always a top priority for us, so together with the relevant authorities we developed a safety and hygiene concept tailored to BrauBeviale, to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety for all trade fair participants.” The main protection objectives and the cornerstones of all measures implemented are to make it possible to observe current social distancing rules and facilitate contact tracing and good hand hygiene. The supporting programme was also adapted to meet these requirements: The Craft Drinks Area, BrauBeviale Forum and brau@home will make the necessary adjustments to the way they communicate and provide information so as to ensure the safety of the participants.
“Except for stand parties, things can happen in the usual way but subject to the prescribed conditions that we are all familiar with meanwhile from our daily routines,” says Andrea Kalrait, summing up the concept for the BrauBeviale Special Edition. “There will be a one-way system to direct visitor flows through the halls. Wherever it is not possible to observe social distancing, masks must be worn, and the exhibition stands have to comply with the necessary safety and hygiene standards. In addition, the contact details of all exhibitors and visitors will be collected to ensure the necessary traceability. Because we cannot use the same hall configuration as last year, I encourage all visitors to do a bit more preparation for their trade fair visit this time round.” An obligatory part of this preparation will be to register in advance online. To make sure that the admissible number of visitors per day is not exceeded, only day tickets will be available this year. So each visitor has to decide on a specific day and then register for it. The tickets are available on mobile devices and allow contactless access to the exhibition grounds.
There is positive news from Beviale Family in China about the successful restart of the trade fair business. This is not just pointing the way forward for the exhibition industry worldwide, but also for Nuremberg as a trade fair venue and consequently, for BrauBeviale. CRAFT BEER CHINA took place in Shanghai from 1 to 3 July 2020 and was a professional event that did an excellent job in implementing the necessary distancing and hygiene rules.
Online option: the regular industry gathering on the internet
Considering the current travel restrictions, BrauBeviale has also undertaken to enable trade visitors and companies to participate in the BrauBeviale Special Edition even if they cannot come to Nuremberg in person. Alongside work on implementing the modified event concept at the exhibition centre, preparations are also in full swing for the digital dialogue platform “myBeviale.com” (www.mybeviale.com). It will dovetail the analogue and digital worlds and will also be available to the BrauBeviale community the whole year round after the trade fair is over. For the event the BrauBeviale Forum programme, among other things, will also be put online. Thanks to this online option, trade fair participants will have the opportunity to watch and even interact with interesting presentations live from their homes. In addition, it will be possible to live-stream contributions by high-calibre speakers who are not able to attend the event in person. “So I urge all of you to make a firm note of the dates 10 to 12 November 2020 in your calendar and take your place at the industry’s regular gathering! Whether in person at the Nuremberg venue or in virtual space from your PC at home, we have a wide-ranging programme to offer you!” says Andrea Kalrait in an appeal to all industry players.
Better Juice plan to go full scale with industrial implementation of sugar-reduction tech within a year
Better Juice, Ltd., the first foodTech startup to develop innovative technology to reduce all types of sugars in orange juice, announces its patent-pending technology is now scaling up. The startup is installing a semi-industrial pilot plant that also will be available for future testing at global partners’ plants. The pilot plant features the company’s sugar reduction process in a continuous flow technology that ensures a consistent, safe, and effective enzymatic process.
Pilot plant (Photo: Better Juice)
Better Juice developed an enzymatic technology that uses all-natural ingredients to convert fructose, glucose, and sucrose into prebiotic dietary fibers and other non-digestible molecules. Better Juice’s new pilot plant system marks a significant milestone in the startup’s commercial scale-up timeline. It is able to reduce up to 80 % of simple sugar in orange juice at a rate of up to 50 liters/hour. Better Juice’s non-GMO technology is designed to target the specific sugar composition in the orange juice to naturally create a low calorie reduced-sugar product that has a delicate sweetness. It is accomplished without using sweeteners or other additives to replace the sugars in the juice.
“We’ve signed collaboration agreements with several global juice producers so far,” reveals Eran Blachinsky, PhD, founder and CEO of Better Juice. “Our goal is to attain full industrial scale and supply to the market within a year. Soon, you will be able to see natural juice beverages with more favorable Nutri-Scores.” Nutri-Score is a new food label system that converts the nutritional value of products into a clear letter and color code on the packaging in Europe.
“Juice and beverage manufacturers are increasingly aware of the need to reduce the sugar levels in their products before new labeling initiative goes into action,” adds Blachinsky. “By using Better Juice technology, this will be easy to achieve.”
Maintaining juice quality through scaleup
The fruit juice industry, like any other, is constantly seeking ways to improve profitability. Adding a new procedure to the juice manufacturing by definition add costs. Better Juice uses a continuous flow technology that will only slightly influence the incremental costs to the overall price.
One of the major hurdles in continuous flow reduction of sugars in natural juices is keeping the process contamination-free even through large-scale production, without damaging the enzymatic activity. Better Juice developed a new device crafted from stainless steel, with aseptic fittings and welding, together with a unique process that guarantees a continuous, safe flow for its enzymatic sugar-reduction process for weeks at a time without interrupting the sterilization stage.
“The scale-up pilot plant is designed for smooth implementation into the standard procedures deployed by the juice industry,” explains Gali Yarom, Partner, COO, and VP of Business Development for Better Juice.
“Better Juice’s new tech process is cost-effective by virtue of its ability to maintain the continuous flow stage,” adds Yarom. “This is a key factor for beverage manufacturers seeking to affordably reduce sugars naturally while maintaining the juice quality and clean label attributes — a real game changer for the juice industry.”
9,925 visitors, 201 exhibitors and a total floorspace of 11,400 square meters (gross) – these are the figures achieved by drink technology India (Messe München), co-located with pacprocess and food pex India (Messe Düsseldorf). The growth of drink technology India remains strong. The trade fair that is taking place in a yearly rotation between Mumbai and New Delhi is now well established in the Indian Capital. The supporting program was expanded and addressed all segments and topics of the beverage, dairy and liquid food industry in conferences and seminars. Together with its partners, drink technology India underlines its status as India’s leading knowledge platform.
Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Messe München, is very pleased with how the trade fair went: “The event’s sizable growth demonstrates the fact that the trade fair has also become the most important industry event for solutions, networking and knowledge sharing at its location in New Delhi.” “This confirms our strategic decision of organizing drink technology India every year at alternating locations—Mumbai and New Delhi—to cover the Indian market,” adds Petra Westphal, Exhibition Group Director at Messe München. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe München India, comments: “The 30 percent increase in exhibition floorspace is proof that companies are responding to the continued high demand in India for machinery for producing, processing and packaging beverages, dairy and liquid food products.”
Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA’s Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, also confirms the importance of the event: “Demand amongst Indian consumers is growing across all segments of the beverage and liquid food industry and is expected to have risen by around 89 percent by 2022 according to market researchers. Indian suppliers are therefore importing systems and machinery in order to be able to meet this demand. This represents a great opportunity for international companies wishing to gain a foothold in the Indian market.”
At drink technology India, international exhibitors accounted for 12 percent, with China being the most represented country, followed by other international exhibitors from Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.
Supporting program – A 360 degree view oft he industry’s topics
Avisha Desai, Group Project Director of Messe München India, is pleased with the new value added for customers: “drink technology India has been successful in setting up valuable partnerships with associations from all the industry’s segments. All the areas from the beverage, dairy and liquid food industry were covered by exhibitors as well as by the trade fair’s supporting program.”
The Packaging Design Innovation & Technology Conference was held for the first time at the trade fair. Companies operating in the consumer goods industry presented interesting solutions and thought-provoking impulses relating to packaging design, sustainability, food safety and smart packaging. The supporting program also included the Indian Dairy Association’s Conference, which showcased packaging solutions for the dairy industry, as well as the FSSAI seminar, which highlighted regulations and initiatives as part of India’s “Eat Right Movement”. The Oil Technologists’ Association of India (OTAI) hosted a seminar on oils and fats. Special focus was given to food and non-food-related uses of palm oil. The place2beer and the Buyer Seller Meetings, which were with more than 400 business talks extremely popular again, are now firm fixtures of drink technology India.
drink technology India, pacprocess and food pex India
drink technology India is staged yearly in conjunction with the pacprocess and food pex India trade fairs of Messe Düsseldorf. Exhibitors and visitors can benefit from the advantages given by this unique combination of three trade fairs as this means they can leverage synergies given by the co-location. The three trade fairs cover the entire bandwidth of the beverage, dairy and liquid food technology (drink technology India), packaging and related processes (pacprocess India) as well as food and confectionery processing and packaging (food pex India) all under one roof and is unrivaled in the region.
drink technology India alternates every year between Mumbai and New Delhi. The next drink technology India will take place in Mumbai from December 9 to 11, 2020.
The war on packaging waste is fought on many fronts in the beverage industry – from the manufacturers of packaging materials to the bottler. KHS is helping to develop new standards in this field, from which beverage producers and consumers alike are set to profit.
The way to produce ever more sustainable primary and secondary packaging involves two major lines of approach: recycle and reduce. The first requires that packaging materials are kept in constant circulation by them being reclaimed, processed and continuously reused. The second entails finding many different ways of using less and less packaging material in order to save on resources and avoid waste. “The greatest challenge for us is the processability of the packaging materials,” says Karl-Heinz Klumpe, packaging product manager for KHS in Kleve. He explains what he means in the following example. “Shrink film made of recycled plastic demonstrates very different shrinking properties versus film made of new material. As an engineering company we can’t provide all the answers ourselves but instead have to coordinate closely with the film manufacturers.”
To this end KHS is staging a number of workshops this year. These aim to find out how the percentage of recyclate in film – as stipulated by the new German Packaging Law, for example – can be increased. “You make a few changes to the chemicals or recipe of your film and we adjust the air fl ow or temperature accordingly,” is how Klumpe loosely summarizes the topics up for discussion. “Providing that there’s a standard of quality which is accepted by the big bottlers’ marketing departments, of course. With film made of 100 % recyclate the shrink results aren’t yet satisfactory. Together we still have to work out how to close the gap here between recycling requirements on the one hand and the demand for packs of ever increasing quality on the other.”
Another avenue film manufacturers are exploring is to reduce the thickness of their film. “The material’s getting thinner and thinner,” states Klumpe. “To provide the same stability the materials have to be more and more complex. This has its limitations when used for beverage packaging: below a thickness of 35 microns it’s possible that the price per kilogram for film then again rises. When it comes down to it, neither bottlers nor their customers want to pay for this.”
Spotlight on economy
Klumpe well realizes that the striving for greater sustainability is often rooted in aspects of economy rather than ecology. “Everything we do to reduce the amount of material used primarily has a financial motive and aims to cut costs for bottlers. Or – if we’re talking about recycling – film manufacturers of course have to continue to develop and adapt so that their business model can be further maintained even in the face of stricter legal requirements.”
What applies to plastics also applies to cardboard – chiefl y when it comes to reducing the amount of material used. Paper factories are experimenting with thinner cover layers and lower ridges in the manufacture of corrugated cardboard. “The stability and durability are OK,” assures Klumpe. “However, we have to answer the question of how suitable these materials are for use with machinery. What happens when the cardboard absorbs moisture? If the cardboard is thicker on the outside than the inside, it bends rather like a bimetal and can only be processed on machines with certain restrictions or not at all. What can we do to counteract this?”
In terms of recycling less attention is paid to cardboard than to plastic. Yet here, too, the reuse of this material is an issue, for example in how far print can affect the recyclability of the paper.
KHS is itself also experimenting with new packaging materials. For instance, a manufacturer from Sweden recently approached the company with a newly developed, award-winning cardboard looking for partners for a market launch. “Our top requirement is that we can be sure that we can process the cardboard without any problems,” Klumpe stresses.
Constant process
The packaging experts in Kleve are also in constant dialog with the manufacturers of adhesives and adhesive application systems. “Here, we explore how we can avoid having to heat the glue so intensely or how we can reduce our consumption of adhesive,” says Klumpe. “We’re now applying smaller and smaller dots of adhesive as opposed to the diamond shapes we used to use.” All told, sustainable product innovation is a constant process which KHS is undergoing with both proven and new partners. The focus is always on the question of which approach can be adopted to save on materials, time and energy on the machines.
One example of how energy can be saved is the shrink tunnel with porous gas burners. To heat the air KHS has decided not to use electricity as the energy transfer medium but to work directly with gas to prevent energy being lost during transport from the producer to the consumer. This saves up to 50 % in energy costs and CO2 emissions are cut by as much as 60 %.
In the last few years KHS has also set standards in many other areas with its resource-saving packaging machines. Both Fully-Enclosed FilmPacks and nested and shifted packs have done away with the need for stabilizing cardboard pads or trays. “We don’t need any more cardboard at all here,” smiles Klumpe. “The taut film gives us a good shrink pattern and a sturdy pack.” In a countermove the DisplayPacker has also been developed where large packs are placed directly onto cardboard trays without the need for an extra wrapping of stabilizing film.
However, one of the most outstanding examples of how material can be reduced is the Nature MultiPack™. In 2018 it was launched to market as a six pack of cans by the Carlsberg Group under the name of Snap Pack. A few dots of adhesive developed specifically for this pack which hold the cans together and a stabilizing carrying handle make any further packaging material redundant. Once the new pack format has been fully rolled out, by completely eliminating the use of shrink film for cans Carlsberg is set to make a plastics saving of up to 76 % – that’s more than 1,200 metric tons a year. Danone Waters first made successful use of the Nature MultiPack™ to launch its prestige PET bottle for Evian in 2016.
“In the development of sustainable packaging we see ourselves acting as an interface between all those involved and the beverage industry,” Klumpe sums up. “We’re helping to develop new standards which marry ecological demands and legal provisions with bottlers’ economic interests.” A challenge which is sometimes tantamount to the squaring of a circle.
GEA presented a new modular orbital cleaner at BrauBeviale 2019 in Nuremberg. Compared to conventional orbital cleaners, the OC200 offers distinctive advantages in terms of cleaning performance and efficiency, build quality and lifetime. The modular concept allows the optimisation of the cleaning process, resulting in significant cost savings. The orbital cleaner’s normal operating pressures are 4 to 10 bar and can easily deliver high impact liquids for tanks with a diameter of up to 35 metres. The OC200 is particularly suitable for large process tanks and storage vessels for industries including food, beverage and wine.
Ground breaking design is a recipe for success
Effective, efficient and repeatable cleaning processes are essential in today’s modern hygienic manufacturing industries. The team at GEA has now developed a ground breaking modular cleaning solution for large vessels and particularly demanding cleaning applications. The new GEA Orbital Cleaner OC200 can be individually configured and easily adapted to the cleaning tasks at hand, ensuring optimization of the cleaning process whilst protecting valuable resources. The modular system allows interchangeability of key components – rotors, nozzle carriers and nozzles – in various standard options whilst the main cleaner assembly simply remains in place. This modularity offers flexible adjustments of impact values, cleaning diameter, dwell time and insertion size, as well as reduced consumption of cleaning media, according to the application requirements and customers’ priorities.
Powerful and flexible cleaner type
The new GEA Orbital Cleaner OC200 is the largest and most powerful cleaner in the GEA range. With nozzle sizes up to 15mm, it combines extended cleaning distances through the use of the latest nozzle and flow guide combinations, ensuring high impact performance standards. If the process parameters change, the cleaner can simply be adapted to the new requirements through the interchangeability of key components. Optimizing the cleaning performance helps to prevent product contamination and increase product safety, thereby protecting the product and brand.
Significant cost savings due to optimized cleaning
The GEA Orbital Cleaner OC200 saves time and valuable resources (chemicals, water, labor costs) thanks to the unit’s ability to be totally adjustable to the cleaning process. Once the cleaner has been installed, the process engineer is able to fine tune the “clean in place” process to obtain maximum efficiency, keeping the “total cost of ownership” and cost per clean optimized.
At the forefront when it comes to service and build quality
The superior design and build quality ensures repeatable performance, combined with extended service intervals, ensuring longer plant production. When service is required, the unit’s relatively small number of internal components, together with the availability of standard service kits through the extensive GEA network, allow a swift cost effective return to full operation.
The Beviale Family, the NürnbergMesse Group’s global network for the beverage industry, is adding another event to its portfolio. Beviale Mexico will open its doors in Mexico City’s Centro Citibanamex for the first time from 29 to 31 July 2020. Beviale events feature a specialised programme spanning the entire process chain for beverage production, from raw materials and technologies to components and logistics as well as marketing ideas. The programme also covers all segments – alcohol- free and alcoholic beverages and liquid milk products: water, soft drinks, juice, beer, wine and spirits, such as the Mexican specialties tequila and mezcal. Mexico City will have lots to offer the world of beverages in 2020: A congress will begin the day before the exhibition, although the real kick- off will happen in April when ACERMEX (Asociación de Cerveceros Artesanales de México) stages a beer festival. The Mexican craft beer association is a partner of Beviale Mexico.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer another comprehensive beverage exhibition in our international portfolio by adding Beviale Mexico,” notes Andrea Kalrait, who is in charge of the Beviale Family. “More than 124 million residents and good consumer trends make this market appealing to beverage manufacturers. We cannot wait for the first Beviale event in the Americas.”
Mexico is an attractive economic market with stable growth in key industries, including beverages and packaging. The food industry is among the country’s fastest growers. According to the Mexican Chamber of Commerce, Mexico’s beverage sector breaks down into 60 per cent alcoholic and 40 per cent alcohol-free beverages. Soft drinks, water and beer are the main revenue earners. Mexican families spend about four per cent of their money on alcoholic drinks. Seventy per cent of families prefer to drink beer, but national and international spirits are also popular. For instance, tequila revenues jumped 15.7 per cent in the first half of 2018 alone compared with the same stretch in 2017, according to the industry information service Información Sistematizada de Canales y Mercados (ISCAM). Developments in the Mexican craft beverages segment are following the global trend, which is clearly reflected in the growth posted by smaller breweries but also by spirits makers. According to ACERMEX, Mexico had 1,400 breweries in 2018 – and this number is rising. From a global standpoint, Mexico is also in the premier league when it comes to beverages: Mexico is the world’s fourth-largest beer producer with beer production of 110 million hl (2017), coming after China, the US and Brazil. Mexico even takes first place globally when it comes to bottled water with per capita consumption of 254 litres, ahead of Thailand and Italy (International Bottled Water Association).
The focus is on Central and Latin America
The steadily growing beverage market is creating stronger demand for beverage equipment. Beviale Mexico views itself as an intermediary between national and international beverage manufacturers and suppliers to the beverage industry. Kalrait feels that significant opportunities exist for international exhibitors in particular: “The political climate and still low exchange rates lead us to believe that beverage production will continue to grow in Mexico. Another factor that is certainly interesting for equipment suppliers is that engineering is not very developed at all in the country and beverage manufacturers import nearly all of their equipment. With Beviale Mexico, we are offering the industry a promising platform to reap the rewards of growing consumer spending and to find partners to ensure that technology and components are produced in the country.”
Based on the actual available figures Krones, the world’s leading manufacturer of filling and packaging technology, adjusts its earnings outlook for the fiscal year 2019. The uncertain macroeconomic developments, like the unsolved trade conflict between China and USA, as well as the discussion about the sustainability of PET-Packaging, negatively influence the customers of Krones and their willingness to invest. Nevertheless, the revenue growth of Krones in the first six month of 2019 were still satisfactory. However, the earnings before tax (EBT) for this period will be significantly below the expectations of Krones.
Increased costs and unfavorable product mix burden the profitability
The profitability of Krones is influenced by high costs, in particular the material cost ratio remains on high level. Krones expected, that the weaker economic outlook in other important industries in 2019 would have resulted in a small easing in the increasing of material costs. Also, the additional measures, which are implemented by Krones to reduce the material costs materialize with a delay. Furthermore, the product mix has an unfavorable effect on the earnings for the period January till June 2019. Especially in the second quarter 2019 the sales of products with a high own value added, like machines and lines for the plastic technology, were lower than expected. In the plastic technology Krones offers extensive products and services for the packaging and filling of beverages in plastic containers like PET-bottles. However, the current discussion about the PET-packaging solution will open opportunities for Krones for innovative solutions.
Another important reason for the actual earnings development is the sales growth of the high-margin after sales business (LCS), which were in the first 6 month of 2019 below expectations. This results from the demand of the customer of Krones for some parts of the LCS product and service offering, which were negatively influenced by the macroeconomic uncertainties. In the second half year this LCS business is expected to recover.
Outlook
Krones still expects an unchanged growth target of 3 % in 2019. The EBT margin is planned around 3 % (prior target: around 6 %). For its third target, working capital to revenue, Krones expects an unchanged figure of 26 %.
The board has taken measures in order to counteract the earnings decline. This includes among others a hiring freeze and measures to reduce the material costs. The current global footprint is on track. For example, the new plant in Hungary is according to budget and time schedule. During the second quarter of 2019, Krones will increase its production in Hungary with a positive margin contribution in 2020.
By its global footprint Krones will not only use competitive cost advantages, but also take advantage of regional market opportunities. The closer Krones is to its customers, the better the company can understood customer needs and local requirements.
The strategic measures that Krones has introduced so far, like the price increase and the development of the global footprint are however not sufficient to reach the ambitious targets. Hence, the board is working in additional structural changes in order to strengthen its earning level in the long run. Focus areas are reduction of complexity, an agile reaction to market needs as well as a corporate structure, which serves the customer even better.
Krones keeps its mid term targets. Depending on the macro economic environment and development of Krones markets, the board envisages a year-on-year revenue growth of 3 to 5 % without acquisition effects, an EBT margin of 6 to 8 % and a working capital to revenue ratio of 22 to 24 %.
Krones will publish the interim report as of June 30th of 2019 by 25th of July 2019.
How REVO is helping Stratus Packaging to optimize its label production
Stratus Packaging Group is one of the European leaders in the manufacture of printed labels, sleeves and in-mould labels. With 300 employees working in five production plants in France and a sales office in Switzerland, the company prides itself on its quality of service and the relationships it establishes with its customers. As such, Stratus Packaging is always on the lookout for true innovation that will provide its customers with a competitive edge. When it saw the solutions offered by BOBST and its REVO partners, Stratus Packaging knew it had found a source of innovation.
The DigiFlexo innovation, first brought to the market by BOBST at drupa 2016, has revolutionized the digitalization of packaging production by providing consistent color matching and control, process repeatability and consistency, with very quick job changes and minimum waste.
Progress in productivity
“Before, it was taking a lot of time to change the plates and clean the ink tanks between each job printed with different pantones,” explains Julien Chauveau, R&D Manager at Stratus Packaging. “It was costing us, and therefore our customers, time and money that we were keen to save.”
The solution came in the shape of a BOBST M5 UV flexo machine, which with the help of REVO innovation, transforms flexo printing and die-cutting into a digital process. Through a digital work flow, with integrated printing and converting technologies, the machine only generates 20 meters of waste and requires only one minute for each job change, providing the highest quality consistency at the lowest operating costs. The machine is equipped with Excellence™ for automated exchange of flexo print cylinders.
“We already had an advanced workflow, which made the DigiFlexo solution a natural fit,” says Julien Chauveau, “But now we have taken it to the next level. With only around 15 meters to automatically register up to eight colors between two jobs printed with REVO technology, we now have control and consistency at our fingertips at a very high production speed,” he says.
REVO and the color consistency revolution
REVO stands for Digital Flexo REVOlution. BOBST established the REVO partnership, consisting of Apex International, AVT, BOBST, DuPont, ESKO, Flint Group, Saica Flex, Stora Enso, UPM Raflatac and X-Rite Pantone, to optimize the digitalization of the complete production process.
One of its biggest successes has been around color consistency, which has been one of the main concerns of brand owners. Some substrates are more absorbent, which can affect how the color of the substrate itself interacts with the ink and affects the color. What’s more, different printing processes all using different types of inks and colorants.
The REVO 7-color Extended Color Gamut (ECG) is now a well-established turn-key DigiFlexo process that flows from pre-press through to production output. ECG printing uses three additional ink colors – orange, green and violet (OGV) – on top of the conventional colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK), enabling a match with 90%+ of the Pantone book, compared with approximately 60% previously. This means there is no need to keep huge inventories of spot colors, but these can be added if required.
The benefits for Stratus Packaging are significant.
“The machine allows us to print in multichromy in UV flexo,” says Julien Chauveau. “This leads to reductions in ink costs. In addition, eliminating color matching reduces set-up times significantly. Overall with the REVO technology, we are able to optimize our production, with less change time for colors, less cleaning operation needed and fewer flexo plate changes. Consequently, we are able to optimize the cost to produce labels for our customers. By adjusting our printing processes, we have been able to open up new avenues for our company.”
In a nutshell, the REVO DigiFlexo has transformed the way Status Packaging is managing its labels production. The technology benefits are significant, and they answer the brand owners’ requirements well. The changing demographics and customer behaviors are here to stay and adjusting its production capabilities is a must to remain competitive. “BOBST offers leading innovations and we are glad to have deployed them,” summarized Julien Chauveau.
Ardagh Group’s Nitro Can has been adopted by the UK’s number one cocktail mixer company Funkin Cocktails in a collaboration that sees the first-ever range of ready-to-drink nitro canned cocktails hit the shelves. With premium cocktails increasing in popularity, but traditionally demanding time and skill to serve to customers, Funkin have opted for Ardagh’s Nitro Can to deliver their ground-breaking range of canned cocktails. The slim aluminium can features a fixed nitrogen-infused widget that mixes the cocktail instantly, ensuring maximum product quality and consistency and producing an unrivalled multisensory experience for the consumer.
The Nitro Can technology was devised by Ardagh in 2016 to capitalise on the trend for nitro coffee, and with Funkin’s new range it now enters the fast-growing RTD alcoholic beverage market. Nitro Can’s innovative design makes the indulgent pleasure of a hand-mixed cocktail readily accessible in a convenient format. Upon opening the tab, the widget is activated, triggering an attention-grabbing ‘whoosh’ sound as micro-bubbles of nitrogen are released through the product. All the scents, flavours and colours of a bar-made cocktail are retained during the cascading pour, resulting in the instant delivery of an attractive beverage with a long-lasting foam head and the smooth, velvety sensation that is normally only achieved in a traditional cocktail shaker.
Not only does the Nitro Can offer an engaging consumer experience, its stable in-can environment is the perfect packaging solution to protect Funkin Cocktails’ quality ingredients. The 200 ml range contains real fruit, which makes retaining the integrity of product flavour and safety essential, and the can guarantees shelf stability both in refrigerated and ambient temperatures.
Consumers can enjoy Funkin’s four great flavours – Espresso Martini, Passion fruit Martini, Amaretto Sour and the on-trend Pink Gin Fizz – at home, out-and-about or in busy commercial environments previously unable to meet demand for quality mixology, such as restaurants and festival bars. The eye-catching cans feature Funkin’s brand new livery, a silver theme with bold graphics depicting the flavour varietals.
Funkin’s range is now available in the UK market.
drink technology India South (dti-South), which took place for the first time in Bengaluru from April 10 to 12, has established a strong position on the South Indian market. With more than 90 brands, 6,481 visitors and an extensive supporting program, the dti family further expands its footprint to the southern region of India.
“We are delighted that the first edition of dti-South in Bengaluru was so compelling. With it we have created an especially customized platform best suited to address the needs of our participants with even better networking opportunities with relevant buyers of the region.,” says Petra Westphal, Exhibition Group Director of Messe München. The local approach is intended in particular to address those sectors that are represented locally. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe Muenchen India, explains: “In this region of India, non alcoholic beverages as well as beer are predominant segments. Key exhibitors addressing these sectors, such as Ambicon Breweries, DVKSP, Goma Engineering and Hilden Packaging, presented their solutions and were able to get the most out of the visitor potential in the metropolitan region.” This is also reflected by the positive response of the exhibitors as expressed by Mr. Jeetendra C Rane, Aquapuro Equipment Pvt. Ltd.: “For the first time we are targeting the South Region and the idea behind participating in dti-South was to target the Bengaluru and South Market: We are not only happy with the number but also with the quality of visitors. We will be participating in all the upcoming editions of drink technology India.”
Supporting program: Buyer-Seller Meetings and beer trends
With over 500 meetings, the Buyer-Seller forum was very well received. Prior to the trade fair, potential customers were able to register for the meetings in order to meet specific exhibitors and initiate new business relationships. These included Amrut Distilleries, Hindustan Coca Cola, John Distilleries, Kaveri Industries,Marico Limited, Mondelez International, Mother Dairy, Pepsi, Pernod Ricard, and United Breweries, to name a few. Vijaya Kumar, Team Leader- Quality Assurance, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. one of the key buyer quoted: “The purpose of our visit to drink technology India-South was to understand the new technologies in the market. This event was organized very well. We were able to sense some of the new technologies which we can engage in our organization and we would like to thank the organizers for this beautiful event. The quality of the meetings were very good at the buyer seller forum.”
From trends and ingredients for brewing to craft beer variations: In addition to the Buyer-Seller Meetings, the place2beer and the Brewer World Seminars provided insights into future topics of the industry. Representatives of microbreweries, medium-sized and industrial breweries as well as suppliers for the brewing industry used the place2beer for networking and knowledge exchange. In addition to this platform, where even Indian beer was tasted, the Brewer World Seminars took place on the first and second days of the trade fair. There, experts discussed topics such as quality assurance of raw materials and ingredients and global trends in beer brewing.
dti-North
dti-North will take place in New Delhi in December of this year in conjunction with pacprocess and food pex India from Messe Düsseldorf India. “We are pleased to host the trade fairs at Pragati Maidan from December 12 to 14, 2019,” says Mr. Singh. In North India, the focus is on dairy, soft drinks and beer.
drink technology India continues to be the international hub for beverages, dairy and liquid food industry in India. The next event will take place from December 9 to 11, 2020 in Mumbai.
Krones, the world’s leading manufacturer of filling and packaging technology, continued to grow in 2018 despite difficult conditions. The company benefited as a full-service provider from its extensive product and service range and broad international footprint.
Krones achieves growth target for 2018 financial year
Revenue increased by 4.4 % year-on-year, from €3,691.4 million to €3,854.0 million. The company thus achieved the revised target of 4 % revenue growth announced in autumn 2018. Revenue grew operationally (i.e., adjusted for currency and acquisition effects) was around 5 %. Krones increased revenue, in some cases significantly, in Europe, China and South America/Mexico. Revenue was down in the Asia/Pacific region, the Middle East/Africa and in North and Central America.
Despite the high prior-year figure, order intake increased by 4.5 % in 2018, from €3,786.8 million to €3,957.3 million. Growth in order intake was above average in Western and Eastern Europe and in China. Krones had orders on hand totalling €1,261.1 million at the end of 2018. This once again exceeded the very high prior-year figure by 1.7 %.
Krones continued to invest in the growth of its workforce in 2018, primarily for the expansion of its global footprint. The company employed 16,545 people worldwide at the end of 2018. This represents an increase of 1,246 employees on the previous year, about 400 of which related to acquisitions.
Profitability affected by one-off expenses, mainly for reorganisation
Krones’ earnings were significantly impacted by higher material and labour costs in 2018. The 5.3 % EBT margin includes approximately €42 million in one-off expenses, mainly for reorganisation.
Had these expenses not been incurred in 2018, the EBT margin would have been 6.4 %. The costs related to establishing the production site in Hungary account for the largest share of this amount. In total, earnings before taxes (EBT) in 2018 were down by 21.1 % or €54.5 million year-on-year to €204.3 million (EBT margin: 5.3 %).
Earnings decreased in both segments. In the core segment, Machines and Lines for Product Filling and Decoration, EBT went down by 15.2 % year-on-year, from €263.3 million to €223.3 million. Expenses for reorganisation reduced segment earnings here by around €25 million. In the Machines and Lines for Beverage Production/Process Technology segment, EBT deteriorated from –€4.5 million in the previous year to –€19.0 million. This mainly related to a total of around €17 million in one-off expenses.
Krones improves free cash flow by €271.4 million
Krones was able to significantly reduce working capital between October and December 2018. This had a positive impact on free cash flow, which improved in 2018 by a substantial €271.4 million compared with the prior year, to €120.7 million (previous year: –€150.7 million). The ratio of average working capital over the past four quarters to revenue developed slightly better than expected, holding stable at 27.3 % in 2018. Net cash went up to €215.1 million at the 2018 reporting date (previous year: €157.4 million). Due to the increase in total assets, the company’s equity ratio decreased slightly to 43.2 % (previous year: 43.8 %). Overall, Krones continues to possess a very robust financial and capital structure.
With the above figures, Krones has confirmed the preliminary figures published on 21 February 2019. No significant changes arose in the course of the auditing process.
Shareholders to receive stable dividend of €1.70 per share
At the Annual General Meeting on 5 June 2019, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Krones will be proposing a dividend of €1.70 per share for the 2018 financial year. The proposed dividend is stable relative to the previous year. The planned payout is 35.7 % of consolidated net income.
Outlook
Based on the prevailing macroeconomic outlook and the current expected development of the markets relevant to Krones, the company expects consolidated revenue growth of 3 % in 2019.
In order to achieve its medium-term corporate targets, Krones will continue in 2019 to work towards a global structure fit for the future challenges. The company does not expect any noticeable fall in material procurement prices in 2019; the same applies to labour costs. Krones’ sales price increases on all bottling and packaging equipment and for process technology with effect from 1 May 2018 are likely to have a slight positive effect on earnings in the 2019 financial year. Overall, Krones expects an EBT margin of around 6 % for 2019.
Above all due to the focus on increases in the sales price level, in the current economic and geopolitical climate, Krones sees the achievement of its targets for 2019 subject to greater uncertainties than in the past. For its third performance target, working capital to revenue, Krones expects a figure of 26 %.
1893 – It was the year of inventions that are still indispensable today, such as the diesel engine by Rudolf Diesel and the zipper by Whitcomb Judson. And 1893 also showed what persistence means. Andy Bowen and Jacke Burke fought a seven-hour, 19-minute boxing match over 110 rounds – with no winners in the end. At the same time, the businessman Franz Ramesohl and the cabinetmaker Franz Schmidt in Oelde, Westphalia, proved their innovative strength, creativity and stamina. They opened a workshop on September 1, 1893, and produced a hand-operated milk centrifuge with the model name “Westfalia”. Ramesohl & Schmidt oHG had three locksmiths and two turners 125 years ago. They produced the hand-operated milk centrifuges with the simplest but effective equipment. Entrepreneurial skills, craftsmanship and technical expertise coupled with a love for innovation formed the basis for the following 125 years.
The roots of the company developed into today’s GEA site, the most modern separator plant in the world. The products “made in Oelde” are supplied all over the world. The export quota is currently over 80 percent. GEA’s expertise now encompasses over 3,500 different processes and 2,500 products for various industries ranging from food and beverage, marine, oil and gas to power, chemical, pharmaceutical and environmental technology.
Regionally rooted, globally active
Today, Oelde is GEA’s largest single site worldwide with a production area of around 37,000 square meters. Around 1,900 employees, 180 of whom are trainees, are currently working in the areas of design, production and administration. GEA invested heavily in the site in 2013. “We had and still have the clear ambition not simply to swim in the global competition, but to determine it by increasing efficiency,” says Steffen Bersch, member of the GEA Executive Board, who worked for many years in Oelde himself. For example, the new building in Oelde, which was built in 2013, was essentially based on the idea of sustainability: its own combined heat and power plant with an electrical output of 1.2 MW reduces the CO2 footprint and generates enough electricity to supply more than 2,000 average households. The new separator production enables GEA to optimize processes throughout the entire production process. The use of well-trained and committed employees in conjunction with modern production machines and technologies has led to significantly reduced throughput times in the production of the separators and plants, most of which are customized to the customer’s needs, while maintaining above-average product quality.
The company’s own Process Test Center (PTC), which opened in 2014 and provides extensive specialist support for customers’ investment projects, also enables even greater customer orientation: Starting with the specification of product properties through the determination and design of machine types to pilot tests at GEA and on site at the customer’s premises. In cooperation with the customer, GEA Product Managers and GEA Process Development, the PTC also develops and tests completely new processes. The PTC also underscores GEA’s innovative strength as a leading international technology group. More than 11,000 tests and process developments as well as more than 18,000 laboratory product analyses have been carried out to date. This know-how is bundled in a database, which is supplemented and updated every year by around 500 new product tests and over 150 process developments.
In order to reliably ensure maximum customer satisfaction and continuous machine availability during operation, the supply of spare parts is coordinated centrally from Oelde and in cooperation with renowned logistics companies via so-called hubs. These spare parts centers are currently located in Cologne, Germany (since 2011), Singapore (since 2014) and Naperville, USA (since 2017). At the European Parts Logistics Center (EPLC) in Cologne, around 21,000 different articles – from 5 mm diameter sealing rings to machine parts weighing several hundred kilograms – can be retrieved in the shortest possible time; on average, 250 shipments are handled daily. GEA customers can call this service 24/7 via a hotline. If an order is received by 3 p.m. local time, it is guaranteed to be ready for dispatch on the same day. Particularly urgent shipments even leave the site within an hour.
Exploiting the opportunities offered by digitization
The continuously and ever faster progressing digitization changes customers, markets and last but not least GEA. Finding the right answers with innovative digital products and services is crucial for tomorrow’s competitive advantage,” explains Brinke. GEA sees digitization above all as an opportunity and a pioneer for new growth and development potential, both in the new machine sector and with regard to the growing range of service solutions.
A current example from the service sector: GEA PerformancePlus includes service packages that go far beyond traditional maintenance and are an ideal complement to an industry 4.0 strategy. This uncovers optimization potentials that enable sustainable plant operation. Modern technologies for condition monitoring combined with the know-how of GEA employees provide the customer with meaningful condition analyses and information for decision-making with regard to possible process optimizations – with the aim of permanent availability and maximum productivity. At the same time, changed production requirements can be better assessed and orders can be scheduled in an economically optimal manner.
Strengthened by 125 years of success, GEA Separation continues to follow in the footsteps of digital transformation – and so this anniversary not only marks a milestone in the company’s history. At the same time, it is an incentive to push ahead with innovations and continue to improve customer processes and, not least, people’s lives in the long term – in other words, “engineering for a better world”.
Patented natural process converts sugar to fibers in just one-step
Better Juice Ltd. has developed innovative technology to reduce the load of simple sugars in orange juice. The patent-pending enzymatic technology uses all-natural ingredients to convert monosaccharides and disaccharides (fructose, glucose, and sucrose) into prebiotic and other non-digestible fibers and sugars, while keeping the juicy flavor of the beverage.
Popular juices, such as orange juice and apple juice, have nearly 1 oz. (25 g) of sugar per 1-cup serving (250 ml). Although juice contains the vitamins and minerals you’d find in fresh produce, it’s devoid of most of the natural dietary fiber as an outcome of traditional methods of juicing. In addition to its intrinsic health benefits, fiber also adds to the feeling of fullness.
Better Juice’s process harnesses a natural enzymatic activity in non-GMO microorganisms to convert a portion of the simple fructose, glucose, and sucrose sugars into fibers and other non-digestible natural sugars. The process works on all types of sugars. Yet the process preserves the great flavor and the full complement of vitamins and other nutrients inherent in the fruits. The technology was developed in collaboration with Hebrew University in Rehovot, Israel.
“This natural a non fermentative process occurs without adding or removing ingredients,” says Eran Blachinsky, PhD, Founder and CEO of Better Juice. “It also will not alter the flavor or aroma of the juice.” Better Juice uses an advanced solution that involves just one short and simple pass-through step in the juice-making process, allowing the product to be marketed at a price point comparable to other premium juice products.
”While the process does slightly reduce the sweetness of the juice,” explains Blachinsky, “It actually brings out more of the fruit flavor, making for a better-tasting juice product overall.”
Better Juice conducted several trials with different beverage companies and succeeded in reducing sugars in orange juice from 30 %, up to 80 %. The start-up can now provide proof of concept for orange juice.
Mono-and disaccharides – often called “simple sugars” – are easy for the body to digest and thus quickly metabolized. If the energy they provide can’t be used, it is converted to fat and stored. But when these individual sugar molecules link up, they become prebiotic fibers that are non-digestible. The shorter of these fibers, called oliggosaccharides, are still sweet yet have been shown to bestow a number of health benefits, from protecting against disease to helping manage weight. There are other natural monosaccharides that are not easily digested. These sugars have no glycemic index and low caloric values.
“Consumers, especially children, enjoy drinking natural juices but are not always aware of the less nutritious aspects of juice,” notes Blachinsky. “They want the whole package — great flavor, health, and natural ingredients, including the fibers that are essential part of fruits.”
The company will market an advanced device with the unique technology to fruit juice producers and, eventually, to cafés and restaurants.
Closure Systems International (CSI) and Talkin’ Things®, the leading innovator in product communication platforms, have collaborated to integrate smart packaging technology into CSI’s global platform of closures. CSI and Talkin’ Things have developed a new packaging solution named Talkin’ Cap, which uses embedded Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, for application on the inside of closures. This technology introduces a powerful platform to support a brand owner’s mobile marketing activities right from the package itself…with just a simple tap.
Brand trustworthiness and product reliability are paramount for consumer loyalty. Talkin’ Caps ensure product safety and reduce brand owners’ liability by protecting against counterfeiting and “gray market” activities throughout the distribution stream.
CSI’s Talkin’ Caps allow for real-time consumer interconnectivity at the point of consumption, giving brand owners the unique ability to have dynamic interaction and gather actionable insights based on consumer location and usage history.
With 90 % of consumers using their smartphone to help make purchase decisions in a brick and mortar setting1, Talkin’ Caps are an app-less way to drive marketing content, brand and product information, gamification, loyalty programs, awards and coupons to connected consumers.
INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA to feature a Distillers’ Forum for the first time / Talks, sensor technology seminars and tastings
INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA, International Technology Trade Fair for Wine, Fruit Juice and Special Crops, will be held in Stuttgart from 4 to 6 November 2018. The varied accompanying programme will also contain for the first time a Distillers’ Forum with an associated tasting area. Starting at 10.00 on Sunday, 4 November 2018, sensor technology seminars and talks on liqueur, gin and fruit brandy will each be held in succession in the Oskar Lapp Hall (Hall 6). The length of these moderated seminars and talks will be between 45 and 60 minutes. Suitable marketing strategies will also be discussed based on well-known campaigns. The seminars and talks are being organised by well-known distillers such as the KOVAL Distillery from Chicago and Manufaktur Geiger, as well as recognised experts such as Dipl. Lebensmittel-Ing. Dr. Klaus Hagmann. Pre-registrations are required for the sensor technology seminars which are subject to a charge and have a limited number of participants. You can find all the programme information and registration formalities at: www.ivifho.de/rahmenprogramm. Fruit brandies, gins, whisk(e)ys and liqueurs can also be sampled in the tasting area on all three days of the trade fair.
About INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA takes place together with the International German Winegrowers’ Congress every two years at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre. As an international technology trade fair for wine, fruit juice and special crops, it covers the entire process chain from cultivation and harvesting technology, processing and process control, and filling and packaging technology through to organisation and marketing. The German Winegrowers’ Association (DWV) acts as the professional supporter of the INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA section and organises the International DWV Congress. The German Agricultural Society (DLG) is the professional supporter of the HORTITECHNICA section.
Acquisition of W.M. Sprinkman Corporation
Krones, the world’s leading manufacturer of filling and packaging technology, has completed the acquisition of W.M. Sprinkman Corporation, Wisconsin, US. Founded in 1929, Sprinkman provides engineered food and beverage processing equipment, specializing in the dairy and brewing industries. Employing over 125 employees at its Waukesha and Elroy, Wisconsin locations, the company serves customers ranging from start-up microbreweries to large multi-national food and beverage producers. Sprinkman generates approximately $35 millions in revenues.
By acquiring Sprinkman, Krones and its other recent acquisitions enhance the capabilities of the “House of Krones” product portfolio in North America, ranging from process technology solutions and bottling and packaging equipment to intralogistics, IT solutions, plastics recycling, and entire lifecycle service support – thereby supporting the entire production supply chain for customers. Sprinkman’s headquarter and management will remain in Waukesha, Wis., with a production facility in Elroy, Wis.
