Category: Operations
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Packaging EPR governance is moving into a more formal phase. PackUK has appointed UK Packaging PRO as the producer responsibility organisation for the UK’s packaging recycling scheme, with the industry-led not-for-profit beginning formal duties on 1 April 2026.
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Legionella compliance still depends on dependable culture workflows in practice. AnalytiChem has launched ready-to-use Redipor Legionella agar plates covering non-selective recovery, selective isolation, and cysteine-dependency confirmation for ISO 11731-aligned water testing.
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Takeaway packaging security is moving from workaround to engineered format. Westpak Group’s GrabLok linerless tamper-evident bag closure won the Innovation Gallery visitor vote at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026, with Futamura’s compostable liquid sachet placing second.
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Hapman is promoting a feeder for precise ingredient dosing operations. The system is designed to improve control, reduce downtime, and support consistent handling across a wide range of bulk food materials.
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Dennis Group is promoting phased facility planning for expansion projects. The design-build specialist says early decisions on utilities, site infrastructure, safety, and layout can reduce retrofit costs as food plants scale.
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A cheese-ripening inspection system built around AI, machine vision and mobile robotics is showing how dairies can push defect detection and traceability deeper into long-maturation processes without expanding manual inspection.
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COPA-DATA is using interpack 2026 to press the case for modular, standards-based automation in packaging and process lines, with zenon demonstrations focused on data integrity, HMI flexibility and legacy integration.
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The Food and Drink Federation has renewed its call for targeted support as higher costs, rising insolvencies and energy volatility tighten pressure on a sector now contributing £42bn to the UK economy.
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Kepak has cut packaging energy use at Aberdeen. The retrofit adds variable-speed control to existing vacuum pumps, reducing power demand during production and idle phases.
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Energy efficiency is rising on food plant engineering agendas. Processors are looking beyond component ratings and focusing more closely on pumps, thermal control, digital monitoring, and system-level performance.