The Pro2Pac food and drink packaging exhibition at ExCeL London last week has been hailed ‘an overwhelming success’ by visitors and exhibitors alike, with this year’s edition seeing over 10% more visitors on each day of the event.Packaging professionals from across the food and drink industry including retailers, restaurateurs and catering companies, as well as host of FMCG companies like Krispy Kreme, Creme d'Or, Abel & Cole, Innocent Drinks and Lucozade, attended to discover the very latest pioneering technology and cutting-edge innovation from more than 120 exhibitors, including leading global names such as Tetra Pak, Fischbein-Saxon, Coveris, Henkelman and Rapid Action Packaging.
Visitors also heard thought-provoking and hard-hitting topical debate from high profile speakers including Dick Searle, CEO of The Packaging Federation, Benjamin Punchard, Global Packaging Insights Director at Mintel and Martin Kersh, Executive Director of the FPA (Foodservice Packaging Association). “It’s been an exhilarating event which in every aspect has reflected the fast moving pace of the food and drink packaging sector,” commented Nick Piper, Event Manager. “The range and quality of exhibitors – including increased international representation this year - has been amazing. “At a time when issues such as sustainability, food safety and food waste are all in the spotlight, visitors have been able to experience the very latest developments – and discover a whole host of packaging solutions – all under one roof.” Pro2Pac took place alongside Waste-Works, the only waste and sustainability event dedicated to the food industry, and the UK’s largest food and drink event, IFE. Together the three events covered the full food and drink supply chain, from ‘Farm to Fork to Fertiliser and Fuel’, and brought together key decision makers from the entire industry to offer unbeatable business and networking opportunities. New Technology Exhibitor highlights included the Foodjet Printing System from JJA Pack, which enables tailor-made and high-viscosity edible decorations to be digitally printed directly on to mass-produced food products, new linerless print technology from Coveris, and eco-friendly edible packaging from Ecolotec. Ravenwood Packaging also chose Pro2Pac to reveal its latest game-changing technology, the VXR, combining vision, x-ray and seal check technology. The new compact and high-tech arrangement provides an all-inclusive process for the seamless production of sleeving, contaminate detection and sealing of trays. Pro2Pac was also the venue for the UK debut of the revolutionary new Meson Technology pp thin-wall injection, stretch blow-moulded hot and cold cup by Mark Crawley of Imagine Technologies, whose presentation attracted a packed audience including representatives from Costa Coffee, EAT and Pret A Manger. The new double-walled cup has been billed as the solution to the coffee cup issue as it’s totally recyclable within existing waste streams. Made from ultra-thin polypropylene, it keeps hot drinks hot and hands comfortable, and cold drinks cold without condensation – a big issue in the US and Australia. The cup, said Mark, is not yet in production but has had a positive reception from some key global retailers while product trials over the next few months will prepare the product for commercialisation. Outside the Box Speakers The event’s ‘Outside the Box’ speaker programme tackled a wide range of issues ranging from how the packaging industry will fare post-Brexit, to reducing food waste through packaging innovation to the role of augmented reality in packaging design. At the lively ‘Storm in a Coffee Cup’ debate there was standing room only as the panel of experts discussed the latest thinking on the coffee cups issue. Speakers included Martin Kersh, executive director of the FPA, Adrian Pratt, marketing manager of Benders and vice chair of the PCRRG, Dr Chris Sherrington, principal consultant, Eunomia Research & Consulting, Henry Chown, campaign manager, Friends of the Earth, Joanna Gilroy, head of sustainability at Bunzl Catering Services, and Peter Goodwin, director, Simply Cups. The consensus was very much that the supply chain needs to work together to find workable solutions for all stakeholders and the industry must work together to ensure the issue is addressed or government will be inclined to intervene. Both Friends of the Earth and Eunomia felt that government intervention would be effective and should not only cover a coffee cup charge but also ban single use cups in some environments. The panellists all agreed that a lack of product life cycle analysis made it difficult to compare the environmental impact of single use cups with reusables, and also that there is no single solution to the issue as the right solution very much depends on the environment in which the cup is used. Chris Sherrington (Eunomia) said consumption should be reduced to prevent waste in the first place and that a charge on cups is the right way to go, while Joanna Gilroy (Bunzl) said understanding consumer attitudes to recycling and littering was critical to making progress. In a separate debate on how the packaging industry will fare post-Brexit, speaker Andy Barnetson (Director of Packaging Affairs, Confederation of Paper Industries) said leaving the EU would present a number of challenges and that faced with uncertainty over currency exchange and the threat of having to import more raw materials could unsettle industry. Dick Searle, CEO of the Packaging Federation, said the packaging industry imported almost all its raw materials and in the light of recent swingeing price increases, it would remain to be seen how those costs would be passed through. All panellists agreed that over the next two years of Brexit negotiation, the industry needed to focus on the issues that made sound economic sense and ensure that its views are heard. Pro2Pac Design Challenge The UK’s ‘grab & go’ food market is estimated to be worth more that £20bn this year so students taking part in the 2017 Pro2Pac Design Challenge were asked to design an initiative whereby the recycling aspect of on-the-go packaging was encouraged through graphic or structural design. As part of the brief from Sanjay Patel, Global Innovations Connector at Coca Cola, their designs had to tackle the issue of excess packaging generated by on-the-go products. At a presentation on the opening day, Rhys Howell, a 24 year old final year graphic design student at Leeds Beckett University, was named the winner for his ‘Cyclegram’ app design. The app, which allows people to share and sell upcycled rubbish, satisfied the judges’ criteria on design and functionality as well as consumer benefits and marketability, and earnt him £250 and a work placement at brand and packaging agency Hurricane Design. “It was an exciting opportunity to get involved in a real life project, working within real timescales to an actual brief,” said Rhys. Jayne Cunningham, also from Leeds Beckett, was highly commended for her reusable drink packing solution, and all shortlisted designs were on show during the three day event. The winners were chosen by Sanjay Patel, Simon Oxley, formerly Food Packaging Technologist at M&S, and senior Graphic, Art and Design lecturer Andrew du Feu. “Many of the entries explored an app-focused solution as the students wanted to create a way to challenge consumer attitudes to recycling,” said Sanjay, who also mentored the students during the design process. “It’s so important to have creative people involved in the future of packaging.” Waste-Works New technology on display at Waste-Works included Power Knot’s innovative solution to waste, the LFC (Liquid Food Composter), a fully enclosed automatic bio-digester which turns most food waste into grey water within 24 hours, and the BioWhale food waste management unit from Organic Waste Logistics. Sustainability was also a feature of the Willen Biogas stand, which demonstrated the benefits of treating food waste through anaerobic digestion and revealed details of its fully operational London-based 1.MW AD plant, which turns food waste into valuable biofertiliser and green energy – enough to power 2,600 homes. Green Earth Appeal Underlining both Pro2Pac and Waste-Works commitment to sustainability, organisers Fresh Montgomery partnered with the Green Earth Appeal to help offset the event’s carbon footprint by planting a fruit tree in Africa for each of the 120 exhibitors. The initiative, which gives individuals in developing countries a chance to create a sustainable future for their community with help from businesses in more economically developed countries, aims to combat climate change and poverty while protecting the natural world. “One in five people will choose a brand that made their sustainability credentials clear on their packaging,” said Marvin Baker, managing director of the Green Earth Appeal. “It's important to put customers in touch with sustainability.” Testimonials “It’s been a really worthwhile day and I’d definitely come again. We’ve been really interested in the packaging side, but also picked up lots of ideas in bakery and frozen food.” David Martin, The Lodge Coffee Shops “Thanks so much for an interesting show. I found there to be lots of flow and a positive rhythm and vibe all round.” Dee-Dee Zaine, GreatWineDirect.com “We’ve had a really good day, we’ve seen a lot of new companies and interesting ideas and technologies.” Phil Kirkby, Business Development Manager, Offset Print & Packaging “It exceeded my expectations. We met a number of great companies who had serious interest and budget. One order will pay for our investment ten times over.” Paul Sutcliffe, Managing Director, Redzone Production Systems "It's very much an industry get together as well as something that we are participating in terms of revealing some of the new things that we are doing as a business" Ian Williamson, Business Development Director, Tetra Pak "Great buzz in the hall. Good organisation and lots to learn and look at. Best show in town." Inder Poonaji, 6butterflies "Pro2Pac is phenomenally important really, if you look at packaging it's the second biggest employer globally after customer service." Sanjay Patel, Coca-Cola. Source: Packaging Europe
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-40.7% from December and -11.4% year-on-year indicates manufacturers are still holding off capital investments
Domestic manufacturers’ new orders of machine tools and related technologies fell 40.7% from December 2016 to January 2017, from $425.18 million down to $252.21 million, and chilling for now some of the optimism that has been building in the U.S. manufacturing sector. The year-on-year comparison shows the January results fell 11.4% from January 2016’s total.
New orders for cutting tools have been flat or declining for much of the past two years, with some incidental peaks sparking hopes for a steady revival of manufacturing demand, such as the high volume recorded during September 2016, coinciding with IMTS 2016, or the year-end increase that was registered during December 2016. “January’s slump was not unexpected as it was in line with analyst forecasts for a soft start to 2017. We continue to be on track for an upturn later in the spring,” according to Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT – the Association for Manufacturing Technology. AMT releases the total value for new orders of machine tools in its monthly U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report. USMTO summarizes actual totals for machine tool sales, nationwide and in six regions, as reported by participating companies that produce and distribute metal-cutting and metal-forming and -fabricating equipment, including domestically manufactured and imported machinery and equipment. AMT describes USMTO data as a reliable leading indicator of current activity in the industrial economy, as manufacturing companies invest in capital equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity. Notwithstanding the drop in new orders, Woods offered a series of examples that suggest higher levels of investment are imminent: “Several large capital expansion projects have been announced in recent weeks,” the AMT president noted, “and the PMI was up for the sixth consecutive month. Our members report increased quotation activity and at the Houstex show in early March; both attendees and visitors were upbeat.” He pointed to several high-profile expansion projects ($386 million at Pratt & Whitney, Columbus, O., $600 million at Toyota, Princeton, Ind.) and to the increased activity indicated by the latest Cutting Tool Market Report, as evidence of “a coming upturn in orders for capital manufacturing equipment.” Even so, the decline in January orders was evident across the six regions included in the USMTO. In the Northeast, new orders for metal-cutting equipment fell 43.9% from the December result to $46.95 million during January. That figure is 16.8% lower than the January 2016 regional result. In the Southeast, new orders for metal-cutting equipment totaled $27.06 million, down 36.5% from December and down 30.2% from January 2016. The North Central-East region reported new orders totaling $63.74 million for January, 34.9% less than the December total and 3.0% less than the January 2016 result. In the North Central-West, January new orders for metal-cutting equipment fell 41.5% from December, and dropped 7.0% from January 2016. January new orders for metal-cutting equipment in the South Central region were down 36.5% from December, but were up 53.5% from January 2016. Finally, the West region had January new orders for metal-cutting equipment totaling $48.63 million, 44.5% less than December’s total and 6.9% less than the January 2016 total. Source: American Machinist CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey shows that expectations for growth are at an over 20-year high.
The survey, which acquired honest responses from 423 companies across the UK, found export order books are at their highest since December 2013, and that output growth rose at its quickest pace since July 2014 in the three months to march this year. Manufacturers anticipate further acceleration in the near future. Anna Leach, CBI Head of Economic Intelligence, said: “It’s been a strong month for UK manufacturers, with production growing robustly and overseas demand on the up. The past fall in the pound seems finally to be helping lift demand for UK manufactured exports, which rose at one of the fastest paces in this survey’s history. And manufacturers are positive about the quarter ahead, expecting output to grow at the fastest rate since February 1995. “But the flipside is that cost pressures are widespread, and manufacturers expect factory-gate prices to continue to rise strongly over the next three months. And this will also put pressure on prices generally. “Innovation continues to be a fundamental driver of UK competitiveness and productivity gains and will influence the success of UK companies over the longer term. That’s why we want a commitment from the Government to spend 3% of GDP on R&D by 2025 – a joint target to be met by the private and public sector.” Also contributing an expert comment is Pete Baxter, Vice President of Digital Manufacturing at Autodesk: “The CBI's findings that manufacturers’ export order books have risen to the highest level in over three years, while expectations for growth are at a more than two-decade high, is promising for the UK manufacturing. To keep building on this momentum the industry needs to invest in the right skills to work with new and advanced technologies. This will be an interesting year for UK manufacturing. Remaining competitive on the global stage will be more important than ever. “Technology advances in the fields of Robotics, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence and connected technologies have the potential to supercharge the UK’s manufacturing output and increase global exports. By harnessing the real potential of intelligent machines, we can enhance our capability to create more sophisticated products at a faster rate and at a higher quality. Connected devices via the Internet of Things will undoubtedly change the face of manufacturing. The potential of technology to help us deliver better quality products, enable closer collaboration with our customers and to improve manufacturing processes to drive increased competitiveness should not be ignored. “For UK manufacturing to reap the rewards, the industry should invest in STEM skill development, from secondary education to upskilling engineers out in the field, alongside reviewing technological innovations. The UK government’s Industrial Strategy has potential, but manufacturers should act now, and take it upon themselves to invest in skills and technologies to remain competitive for the long term.” Source: Manufacturing Global
Manufacturing output in the United Kingdom has risen at its fastest rate for two years as the lower pound boosted demand abroad for British goods, according to a survey out today. The Confederation of British Industry's industrial trends suggested output volumes accelerated at the fastest rate seen since July 2014, with a balance of plus 23 per cent in March. The survey of 423 companies found strong demand in the pharmaceutical and mechanical engineering sectors had pushed export order books to levels not seen since December 2013. Order books had reached a balance of plus 10 per cent for March, with 24 per cent of companies reporting above normal levels and 14 per cent seeing a fall in demand. Total order books showed a balance of plus 8 per cent over the period, the CBI said.
The fall in the value of the pound since the EU referendum make UK goods cheaper for overseas buyers and demand has risen accordingly. The other side of this coin however is that a lower pound makes importing materials to use in the production of goods more expensive, and the CBI said average output prices were on course to rise over the next quarter as manufacturers pass on this cost rise on to consumers. 'The past fall in the pound seems finally to be helping lift demand for UK manufactured exports, which rose at one of the fastest paces in this survey's history,' said Anna Leach, CBI head of economic intelligence. 'And manufacturers are positive about the quarter ahead, expecting output to grow at the fastest rate since February 1995,' she added. Chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics Samuel Tombs said the data revealed a brighter picture for exports. 'The CBI's survey indicates that exports are picking up rapidly, softening the blow to manufacturers from slowing domestic demand.' 'Producers are benefiting both from the improvement in global trade flows and the weaker pound. UK manufacturers, however, are heavily reliant on imported inputs. As a result, net trade likely will not offset fully the slowdown in domestic consumption this year.' Source: This is Money The global laser cutting machine market size was valued at USD 3.02 billion in 2015. The growing trend of automation in the manufacturing sector and the increasing demand for the end-use industry is expected to augment the demand for these machines over the forecast period. The increasing globalization has led to a huge demand among consumers for final products to the micron level. Moreover, the end-use segment is widely adopting these machine to produce high-quality products in minimal time. The increasing trend of automation is enabling manufacturers to automate various processes including laser cutting. These tools precisely cut parts and patterns at higher speeds with consistent results. Manufacturers are investing in automation of laser cutting owing to the minimal downtime and energy conservation needs. The key players are focusing on reducing the price of these machines owing to the intense competition among the vendors. The presence of a vast number of manufacturers has enabled them to adopt the pricing strategy to reduce the cost and gain a considerable market share. However, the high cost involved in the implementation of these devices, lack of technical expertise and high power consumption are expected to challenge the industry growth. Technology Insights Gas segment is estimated to be the fastest-growing at a CAGR of over 9.4% from 2016 to 2024.Increased demand for improved machining tools and equipment is driving the adoption of these lasers. They are widely used in laser printing, dye laser pumping, barcode reading and for making holograms. The solid state is anticipated to dominate the technology segment owing to the demand for these in low-power applications. Moreover, the broad adoption of this technology in medical applications such as endoscopy, dentistry, and skin rejuvenation is augmenting the demand for the solid state over the forecast period. Technological advancements in CO2, YAG, and fiber lasers are enabling greater adoption in areas such as healthcare, consumer electronics, and military. Process Insights The flame segment is estimated to dominate the market by 2024. The flame based process offers an improved finish, high quality, and high cutting speed compared to other procedures. The increased demand for trimming small alloys of steel and carbon is anticipated to boost the revenue for the flame based process. Fusion segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 9.4% from 2016 to 2024. This process is suitable for cutting structural steel and electrical sheets in the production and prototyping of electric motors. Moreover, owing to the high flexibility and faster-cutting speed the process is estimated to dominate the industry over the forecast period. Application Insights The industrial sector is estimated to dominate the market reaching over USD 1.78 billion by 2024. The growth can be attributed to the expanding industrial sector in the developing countries worldwide. The growing use of these machines to clean molds and parts during the manufacturing process is contributing to the industrial sector growth. Consumer electronics is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period. These lasers are used for welding and cutting in consumer electronics and other consumer products. Laser-based machines are commonly used to cut printed circuit boards, iPhone display cases, etc. Moreover, the short shelf life of these devices is expected to increase the requirement for the machines over the forecast period. Regional Insights North America is expected to be a significant region, owing to the presence of robust industrial sector. The region accounted for over 31% revenue share in 2015 and is estimated to reach over USD 1.97 billion by 2024. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region owing to the presence of robust economies such as China, India, and Japan. The increasing adoption of laser systems in the manufacturing sector is boosting the regional growth. Moreover, the strong growth in industries that use laser cutting to produce semiconductors, consumer electronics, and automotive components is expected to drive demand. Competitive Insights Key competitors such as Trumpf Laser GmbH + Co. KG, Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc., IPG Photonics Corporation and Coherent Inc. majorly occupies the global laser cutting machines market share. Other prominent players include Jenoptik Laser GmbH, Kern Laser Systems, Amada Miyachi Co. Ltd., and others. These players are involved in research and development activities to develop products compliant with the regulatory standards mandated by the government authorities. The intense competition is enabling market participants to develop innovative products that are efficient and provides faster cycle times for cutting and engraving processes. Strategic investments and partnerships are anticipated to be the most efficient way to gain quick access to the emerging markets. Further key findings from the report suggest:
Source: Grand View Research
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