AIP May 2014 eNewsletter

AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

Join the AIP on

CALLING ALL AIP MEMBERS AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING When: Time: Where:

Monday the 16th of June 4.00 pm until 5.00 pm SOFITEL Wentworth 61-101 Phillip Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Please RSVP no later than Monday the 9th of June to mark@aipack.com.au should you wish to attend the AGM.

NEW MEMBERS

iPad Mini WINNER

The AIP would like to welcome the following new Members...

Deane Barnes George Dislakis Skye Reilly Chris Roden Christopher Stanko Josie Wells Johannes Wendorff Jeannine Winiata

Associate Member Associate Member Associate Associate Associate Member

VIC VIC NSW NSW VIC NZ QLD NSW

AIP MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS NOW DUE

Just a friendly reminder that AIP membership renewals are now due. Should you need another copy of your invoice please email mark@aipack.com.au

The AIP would like to announce that the winner of the iPad Mini is Bob McFadyen FAIP, Senior Design Engineer, PACT Group. Congratulations!

JOIN THE AIP LINKED IN GROUP TODAY The AIP recognises the changing role of social media as an additional means of reaching our members, sponsors, and industry contacts across Australasia as an international group. The AIP has a Linked in Group and we invite you to join your peers who have already connected.

Linkedin: Australian Institute of Packaging.

AIP PARTNERS

Find out how your company can become a partner of the AIP by emailing info@aipack.com.au Untitled-1 1

19/9/11 3:47:10 PM

AIP National Office 34 Lawson Street Oxley QLD 4075 Australia  +61 7 3278 4490  +61 7 3009 9916  info@aipack.com.au  www.aipack.com.au

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EARLY BIRD CLOSES SOON! 40 SPEAKERS. 7 COUNTRIES. TWO DAYS.

2014 AIP NATIONAL CONFERENCE: PACKAGING & INNOVATION EXCELLENCE TUESDAY 17TH AND WEDNESDAY THE 18TH OF JUNE

PACKAGING & PROCESSING WEEK Sofitel Wentworth, 61-101 Phillip Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000 USA

Richard Smith FAIP Amcor Flexibles Asia Pacific – ANZ

Ralph Moyle MAIP AIP

Dr Carol Lawrence Phd, MAIP UPM Raflatac Oceania

Rick Fox PMMI

Dr Helen Lewis FAIP RMIT University

Mark Dingley Matthews Intelligent Identification

Antony Conway Esko

Ben Knight Hannapak

Thomas L Schneider, CPP WPO

Bryan McKay FAIP Campbell Arnott’s

Jason Goode MAIP Simplot Australia

Neil Highfield MAIP Caps and Closures

ITA

Massimo Annaratone Gualapack Packaging System

Zdenka Fuller Nicolas Georges Frank Bova Dip.Pkg. Tech.

NSW Government - Health Mondelēz International FAIP Share Kimberly-Clark Australia

Bassam Hallak MAIP Avery Dennison

Bruce Gunn MAIP GunnLab

Claude D’ Amico MAIP Innovia Films

Paul Taulien Sidel Group

BEL

USA

Peter Snopko Packaging Resources & Development

Dr Steve Mirams Qenos

Brad Malcolm MAIP O-I Asia Pacific

Peter Lockrey H.B. Fuller

Nina Cleeve-Edwards Dip.Pkg. Tech. MAIP Nestlé Oceania

Stephen Barter MAIP Pro Technical Plastic Manufacturing Solutions

David Edwards Loscam Asia Pacific

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

FIN

Paul Haggett MAIP SCHAWK!

Prof. Dr. Ing. Matthias Niemeyer KHS

PACKAGING

Paul Horn LION

Fergal Barry Arthritis Australia

Ron Mines FAIP Aussie Pack n Ship

+ PROCESSING

30TH ANNIVERSARY

OWNED AND PRESENTED BY THE APPMA

ASIA PACIFIC PACKAGING

new age business

CO.PTY.LTD.

ASIA PACIFIC PACKAGING

MEDIA PARTNERS

Mark Vergauwen NatureWorks

DEU

USA

Doug Kunneman NatureWorks

Marcel Sieira GS1 Australia

THA

DEU

Andreas Schweiger ROFIN-BAASEL Lasertech

Keith Chessell FAIP Sustainable Packaging Design

USA

SGP

Jeremy Peacock CTPM

Geoffrey Annison, Phd. AFGC

Heini Lehti UPM Raflatac

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LATEST AIP ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND ANY EVENTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND To register to attend any of the events simply email info@aipack.com.au or visit the events page on www.aipack.com.au

AIP TECHNICAL DINNER When: Where: Time: Speakers:

VIC

Wednesday the 7th of May Box Hill Golf Club 6.00 pm Markus Leufgens Technical Manager Cardia Bioplastics Starch Based Bioplastics - Global Trends and Novel Applications. With a background in polymer engineering Markus is currently responsible for global application development and technical service for Cardia Bioplastics.

Rowan Williams Business Director (ANZ) BASF Australia Rowan’s presentation will focus on updates and progress within the Bioplastics industries including a local Australasian Bioplastics Association update and the stance taken against oxo-biodegradable plastics in Europe.

AWH SITE VISIT LIMITED SPOTS! When: Where: Time:

QLD

Monday 12th of May AWH, Rocklea 9.00 am Visitors will see how a national logistics company handling in excess of 12 million unique items across 650,000m2 of warehouse space nationally manages the complexity and uncertainty of seasonal conditions with planning and process.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, PACKAGING AND LABELLING (LEGAL) HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE

NSW

When: Wednesday the 14th of May Where: Oatlands Golf Course Club House Time: 10.00 am Presenter: Sharon Givoni Principal Solicitor, Sharon Givoni Consulting

This half-day training course will provide attendees an overview of important considerations relating to packaging, labelling and Intellectual Property laws. It will be an interactive session that will also provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss legal packaging and IP concerns that arise in their own businesses. ‘Do not judge a book by its cover’ is the well-known proverb. But when consumers cannot actually see the product, they often make purchasing decisions based on what is on the packet.

AIP TECHNICAL DINNER

MEET AUTHOR OF PACKAGING A PUNCH

NSW

When: Wednesday the 14th of May Where: Oatlands Golf Course Club House Speakers: Gwen Blake, Managing Director, Boxer & Co Come on a packaging design journey with Gwen as she creates a piece of packaging, taking the necessary legal requirements into account on the way. Insights and industry examples will be used to highlight challenges at each step of the journey.

Sharon Givoni Principal Solicitor, Sharon Givoni Consulting The presentation aims to be interactive to allow for audience participation with take away checklists and goodies so that all attendees can gain first-hand experience as to how this area of law works in practice and how it impacts on their business directly.

WOOLWORTHS SITE VISIT LIMITED SPOTS!

QLD

When: Wednesday 14th of May Where: Woolworths Larapinta Regional

Time:

Distribution Centre

9.45 am This site visit will allow attendees to see ShelfFriendly Packaging (SFP) performance through Woolworth’s Regional Distribution Centre. This site visit is limited to Woolworths Vendors and packaging suppliers.

INTRODUCTION TO EXTRUSION BLOW MOULDING HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE

QLD

When: Wednesday the 28th of May Where: Mt Ommaney Hotel Time: 10.00 am Presenter: Stephen Barter MAIP The course will discuss how to make this an essential component to the delivery of products to the Consumer by adding value to the function and reducing the bottle cost as part of the overall package. Attendee’s will gain an insight into the Extrusion Blow Moulding process and how they can make better packaging decisions that will increase the success rate of new product introduction and how existing products can be refined to improve performance from the Moulding shop, filling through to the Consumer experience.

AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

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DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LATEST AIP ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND ANY EVENTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND To register to attend any of the events simply email info@aipack.com.au or visit the events page on www.aipack.com.au

AIP NATIONAL CONFERENCE 40 SPEAKERS. 7 COUNTRIES When:

Where:

What:

NSW

Tuesday 17th and Wednesday the 18th of June Packaging & Processing Week Sofitel Wentworth 61-101 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000 Designed for everyone, from packaging designers, technologists and engineers to sales and marketing people the biennial AIP National Conference is the largest packaging conference of its kind in Australia and New Zealand.

Run by industry for industry the AIP National Conference has been leading the way in professional and personal development for decades.

LABELLING & MATCHING THE LABEL WITH THE PACKAGE HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE

VIC

When: Wednesday the 23rd of July Where: UPM Raflatac, Braeside, VIC NEW COURSE + SITE VISIT Time: 10.00 am Presenter: Dr Carol Lawrence Phd, MAIP Environment & Sustainability Specialist

UPM Raflatac Oceania This half-day training course is designed to give a comprehensive guide to labelling and how to navigate through the myriad of options available for each style of packaging. The course will provide an understanding of the types of adhesives and their properties, which have been designed with specific selection criteria in mind, is key to the selection of the right label: Permanent, removable, repositionable and wash-off adhesives and chemical composition of adhesives and approvals for use on foods/ pharmaceuticals.

LABELLING & MATCHING THE LABEL WITH THE PACKAGE HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE

NZ

When: Wednesday the 24th of September Where: ASB Showgrounds, Epsom Auckland Time: 10.00 am Presenter: Dr Carol Lawrence Phd, MAIP Environment & Sustainability Specialist

UPM Raflatac Oceania How do you select the right type of label to suit the package and carry the product branding from the filling and labelling line right through to the consumer? Self-adhesive labelling has evolved as the most widely used method of NEW product decoration, being innovative and COURSE versatile for such a wide variety of packages.

This half-day training course is designed to give a comprehensive guide to labelling and how to navigate through the myriad of options available for each style of packaging.

FOODTECH PACKTECH COME & SEE THE AIP ON STAND 2037 When: Where:

Time:

NZ

23rd to 25th of September ASB Showgrounds Auckland, New Zealand 9.00 am

Foodtech Packtech is the most important trade event for the New Zealand Food Technology and Packaging Technology industries.

This biennial event gives you the opportunity to come face-to-face with the experts behind the key innovations entering the New Zealand market.

Foodtech Packtech will showcase the freshest ideas, latest technologies and the newest developments entering the Food Technology and Packaging Technology market. www.foodtechpacktech.co.nz

INDUSTRY EVENTS When: 8th to 14th May 2014 Where: Dusselldorf, Germany

2,700 exhibitors from more than 60 countries will present their latest ideas, innovate concepts and technological visions at interpack. - not only in equipment and machinery for packaging and processing, but also in production tools for packaging materials, materials themselves, and services for the entire industry. www.interpack.com

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AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

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AIP CONGRATULATES DIPLOMA GRADUATE FROM HEINZ

he AIP is pleased to advise that Thanh Hung ( Kevin) Truong MAIP, Packaging Technologist, H.J. Heinz Australia has recently graduated from the Diploma in Packaging Technology. Kevin works at the Golden Circle Northgate Factory in Brisbane, Queensland. His responsibilities include all Packaging NPD, cost savings and improvement matters for the Golden Circle Northgate site, from steel cans and ends, bottles, closures, shrink films, CombiBloc to consumables such as adhesives.

The AIP invited Kevin to talk about his studies and what the Diploma in Packaging Technology means to him...

I recently graduated from the Diploma in Packaging Technology administered by the AIP. The Diploma was a journey that I am now glad, and proud, that I have undertaken. It helped explain why certain materials behave the way they do, or how the same material can turn out to be quite different with improved performance characteristics just by varying the processing conditions.

Kevin Truong MAIP Packaging Technologist H.J. Heinz Australia

As a graduate of the Diploma in Packaging Technology, I do recommend all the packaging related, professionals (direct or indirect), out there to take up the challenge to complete the course. At the very least you can proudly pound your chest and say “Hey, I am qualified!� when it comes to packaging technology!

AIP NEW MEMBER

The AIP would like to welcome Matthew Pugh, AAIP, Director, Hydroflux Industrial as one of our latest members.

Q1. Why did you join the AIP? What benefits do you believe the AIP offers all their members?

Hydroflux Industrial are industrial wastewater treatment experts. We offer our technical and process expertise to all industry to provide education, training, equipment, support and services. As a large portion of industry utilises packaging equipment it is imperative that we have an understanding of packing and packaging equipment, and more significantly the CIP processes of those equipment. I believe the AIP offers members the opportunity to review the different types of packing and packaging equipment, and to keep up to speed with modern improvements.

Matthew Pugh AAIP Director Hydroflux Industrial

Q2. How long have you been in the industry? What are your areas of expertise?

I have been in the wastewater treatment industry for more than twelve years. I have seen a variety of packing and packing equipment throughout this period for a variety of industries.

My expertise lies in appreciating the wastewater flows generated during CIP and wash down processes and determining the best form of treatment.

Q3. What is your current job role and what are your responsibilities?

I am the Director of Hydroflux Industrial I am responsible for the direction and development of the company. For more information on Hydroflux Industrial please email Matthew Pugh on mathew.pugh@hydroflux.com.au

MAKE 2014 THE YEAR YOU INVEST IN YOUR CAREER The Diploma in Packaging Technology is an internationally recognised Level 5 foundation degree-level qualification that prepares students to take responsibility for packaging operations at any level through the supply chain and can also lead to higher level study.

BUILD YOUR PACKAGING CAREER ON FIRM FOUNDATIONS WITH THE AIP. PH: +61 7 3278 4490

educate@aipack.com.au

www.aipack.com.au

AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

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ARE THERE REALLY PEOPLE GOING WITHOUT FOOD IN AUSTRALIA?

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es there are, but hunger is largely a hidden social problem and many victims suffer in silence. Each year two million people rely on food relief – around half of them are children. That’s one in every ten Australians in need.

Despite almost two decades of economic growth nearly a quarter of Australians still live in low economic resource households and 10% live in actual poverty. The prices of essentials like food, health, education, housing, utilities and transport have climbed so much in recent years that people who are already struggling are susceptible to sudden bill shock and financial disadvantage. The current economic climate means people are turning to charity who would never have dreamed of seeking such support in the past. So it’s not just traditionally vulnerable groups such as the homeless seeking food relief, but also the aged, single parents and the working poor.

For the last four years the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), in conjunction with the APPMA, SCLAA and apicsAU have packed 2400 hampers to the value of over $250,000 at Christmas time. Each year the members spends the afternoon hours packing 600 hampers, for Foodbank to distribute to those in need at Christmas; many of whom are without employment, families with young children and living on the poverty line.

The 600 hampers will be distributed to families in crisis at Christmas time with many living on the poverty line. These hampers will brighten up the day for many and we at Foodbank are grateful to the all of the associations and its members for this wonderful initiative each year.

Ken McMillan, General Manager of Foodbank Queensland.

4 YEARS. 2400 HAMPERS. $250,000 OF GOODS. CAN YOUR COMPANY HELP US?

The packing of the hampers is a culmination of twelve months of work, over $70,000 worth of goods raised to go inside the hampers and generous support from many companies across the country. Each hamper is worth over $100 and is made up of food and personal hygiene products. If your company can assist the AIP by donating goods for the hampers please contact Nerida Kelton on +61 7 3278 4490 or nerida@aipack.com.au

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AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

WORLDSTAR STUDENT AWARDS Countdown for the 2014 Awards

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orldStar Student Awards is an international packaging design competition for students undergraduate or graduate - from countries around the world who are involved in projects in the field of packaging - structural design and/or graphic design.

To participate in the competition the packaging project must offer a new solution, irrespective of product, that is innovative, aesthetically appealing, environmentally compliant, easy to manufacture, convenient and relevant, and/or that brings efficiency to the packaging system.

This year the Award will be hosted by the Brazilian Packaging Association (ABRE) and the Award Ceremony will happen during the Brazilian Packaging Congress, scheduled for October 7th and 8th, in Sao Paulo (Brazil).

The 2014 WorldStar Student Award will happen according the following schedule: • Online subscriptions: from April 7th till August 1st 2014 • Award Ceremony: October 7th and 8th, 2014, during the Brazilian Packaging Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information contact: studentaward@abre.org.br

SAFE PACKAGED SEAFOOD

– Hazard Awareness and shelf-life determination of packaged seafood products. A clear and concise reference tool for industry.

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ustralia has a reputation for safe, clean food and consumers expect that the food they purchase is safe to eat and of a quality that they expect. Processing and packaging can help maintain this reputation; however, some techniques can support the growth of certain pathogens that were previously considered to be of low risk.

The Safe Packaged Seafood Guide has been developed as part the Australian Seafood CRC Project 2011/739. The Guide aims to assist Australian seafood processors who are developing new packaged seafood products to better understand potential food safety risks, regulatory requirements, processing and packaging techniques and shelf-life assessment programs.

The Safe Packaged Seafood Guide is available to download from the SafeFish website (www.safefish.com.au) and is backed by a comprehensive technical document – A Guide to the Identification of Food Safety Hazards and Determination of Shelflife of Packaged Seafood.

The Safe Packaged Seafood Guide can be used as a reference tool to meet changing demands for high quality and convenient packaged seafood. Safely packaged seafood can provide the industry with new opportunities for market access and alternative means to supply consumers with wholesome products. Components of the Guide may also have applications in the development of other packaged food commodities.

More information Alison Turnbull, Food Safety and Innovation, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). SARDI is the South Australian Government’s principle research organisation within Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) E: Alison.turnbull@sa.gov.au

AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

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QUALITY CONTROL OF SUBSTITUTE FUELS with Unisort Online Analysis

Plant processes for the production of SRF can be influenced and controlled close to real time with the help of UNISORT online analysis. The permanent and immediate storage of measurements continuously document the quality of the SRF. In this way, the on-line analysis becomes an important instrument for the quality control of solid recovered fuel.

Recording and storage of data (in conjunction with the UNISORT PR): • Calorific value in MJ/kg.

• PVC content in %.

• Chlorine content generated by PVC in %.

• Material composition in %.

• Water content in %.

• Belt load, plant utilisation.

• Valve statistics.

• Plant downtime.

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he UNISORT Analyser as a base for efficient quality management for substitute fuels is used in conjunction with the UNISORT PR. Increasingly, customers are demanding continuous real-time analysis of the materials being used in the production of solid recovered fuel (SRF).

Usually, in a laboratory, analysed samples only reflect the nature of the samples themselves. The analyses of the small test samples do normally not reflect the actual properties of the huge amount of produced solid recovered fuel and quality fluctuations. In addition, the analyses cannot be accessed and utilised within a short time of the samples being taken. The real-time analysis provided by the UNISORT Analyser offers a solution for continuous, real-time quality control using HSI technology.

Moreover, the real-time analysis also detects and continually documents fluctuations in the quality of the SRF. The analysis technology uses near-infrared spectroscopy for material identification and compares it to a materials database for the statistical calculation algorithms. Parameters such as calorific value, PVC content and water content of the SRF are calculated in real time, based on statistical data, then transmitted to a plant control system as a trend value. for more information call

+61 3 8720 0800

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AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

About STEINERT STEINERT has a strong presence wherever the need arises for intelligent technical separation solutions for the primary and secondary raw materials sector. Thanks to the application of an extremely wide spectrum of methods, ranging from sophisticated magnet technology to stateof-the-art sensors, our customers receive materials in the purest form. Important resources are conserved as a result.

Founded in 1889, STEINERT has over time, become a leader in sensor sorting applications-systems based on induction, X-Ray, and near infrared. Today, STEINERT is a full range industry supplier based on product range, expertise, and customer service. STEINERT provides fullservice sales, support, and service world-wide. STEINERT is headquartered Cologne, Germany with offices in Australia, US, Japan, Africa, Europe, and South East Asia.

For further information Contact: STEINERT Australia Simone Lawson on PH: 03 8720 0800 or email: lawson@ steinert.com.au or visit www.steinert.com.au

GET IT SORTED

INSTITUTO DE EMBALAGENS RELEASES BETTER PACKAGING. BETTER WORLD

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he Instituto de Embalagens is pleased to announce the release of its 10th publication, Better Packaging. Better World, which will speak to the following: Design, Materials, Packages, Procedures, Machines and Sustainability, marking a fundamental step in the history of the Institute: its internationalisation.

This book brings in its title Instituto de Embalagens’s belief, “Better Packaging. Better World.” The Authors trust that the packaging knowledge should be spread in Brazil, and, with this new book, they want to extend it to the whole world in order to reach more people.

Knowledge is an important tool for development and it can create a better and comfortable way of life, while packaging is an important instrument of the modern life.

The packaging system needs to be better understood and be recognised for its value, becoming a hero instead of a villain. Little is known about this science, so it is important to show the world the packaging’s importance and why it is so relevant to our lives.

In this book, the authors have put together the entire packaging system, talking about packaging concepts until the responsible end of life, including market, design, materials, processes, equipment and sustainability. The goal was to create a book accessible to everyone, no matter the technical knowledge.

The book was organised by a multidisciplinary team designed to build a complete and organised work. Each chapter was written by invited authors that are specialised in each field and are respected in the Brazilian and world market. They shared their experience and knowledge with the intention to capacitate new professionals and help new minds create and innovate. If you are interested in finding out more about this book please email info@aipack.com.au.

Want the benefits of laboratory  testing to reduce risks and costs? 

Phone : in Australia 1300 486 652 in New Zealand 0800 486 852  e-mail bruce@gunnlab.com.au or read more at www.gunnlab.com.au

 

“Minimising the Guesswork” 

                     

AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

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FOR HUNGRY LITTLE HUMAN BEANS! Written by Michael B Halley FAIP

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igh on sixty years ago my first involvement with SPC and Ardmona fruit canning companies was at Port Melbourne where small fixed wheel rail vans came from Shepparton and Mooroopna.

The wooden cases of tinned fruit were unloaded by wharf labourers and loaded into the hold of ships heading mainly to England.

In the late sixties I was at the private rail siding of SPC when the first of the now common place ISO twenty foot container was loaded with pallets of fibreboard cartons of canned fruit. This was the start of transfer of seaborne cargo from break bulk to containers. (Today around 90% of the world’s consumer goods is transported in containers).

As the knowledge base grew SPC began to experiment with slip sheets to replace heavy wooden pallets and we learned at our site visit to the factory on 2nd April that slip sheets are still used in export containers. But the trade is only around 10% of what it was before the various financial impacts of recent years.

This is not a new phenomenon as back in the earlier 1970s ‘Mother England hoisted her skirts and prostituted herself to the European Community’ and Australian agricultural exports including canned fruit took a massive hit. But as it was realised that other markets existed trade began to grow again and SPC and Ardmona were high on the ladder of exporting companies. The rail sidings at both factories were always filled with containers being packed for export all over the world. It was advised that in 1990 60% of production was exported but today it is down to around 5%.

Politicians like to spout ‘Goulburn Valley Food Bowl’. In the latter part of the 20th century the Goulburn and KY valleys were much bigger than a bowl as every town had a food processing plant and a rail siding. Rail van loads of tinplate were delivered to the local can making plant and other packaging materials were transported to factories.

At the railway general freight depot in Melbourne a rail van was set aside each day for SPC suppliers to send the goods needed at the factory for their operations. Today

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AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

Kyabram Preserving is part of SPC Ardmona but when taken over by Elders IXL fruit canning gave way to jam making and the company was involved in an innovation where sugar in bulk was delivered in containers railed to Shepparton and by road to Kyabram on a tipping skel trailer (Intermodal transfer).

SPC has always been at the leading edge of innovation and this is the future of SPC Ardmona. After being totally a metal can user for possibly 50 years they moved to package cherries in glass jars. This was another packaging innovation as empty glass jars manufactured at Australian Glass Manufactures at Spotswood were palletised on a nonstandard unit using thin divider boards (Masonite for those who remember) and then shrink wrapped.

So much for a short history lesson:- onto today, and the future. A diverse group of packaging professionals visited the factory and had a comprehensive inspection of the operations and a detailed overview of the company with access to senior line managers. Albeit much adverse publicity has been around about the future not one negative comment was made by any employee.

Brett Enders, the Value Stream Manager (Mooroopna Fresh Cut L&P, Operations – SPCA); commenced proceedings and gave a comprehensive present and future statement of company directions. The previous separate cooperative companies were purchased by Coca-Cola Amatil Australia in 2005.

A graphical presentation much like an early pokies (fruit) machine screen showed when each fruit is received for processing. Apricots have a short receivable window and set off the year with peaches and pears coming in up until April, around the same time tomatoes are flowing in from the farms.

As these fruits slacken off apples commence and run until September. Juice and paste made as raw materials arrive, are packaged off all year long.

FOR HUNGRY LITTLE HUMAN BEANS! Cont’d Written by Michael B Halley FAIP

After information about the vagaries of marketing to satisfy consumer needs and wants against the demands of retailers and the competition from imports and home brands we broke off for a walk about.

Fruit is received at the weighbridge and then transported on internal transfer trains across to the factory where the real work commences. The common peach that earlier in the day was in an orchard is now processed. It is skinned and graded for size before being split in half and its stone removed. It then goes on the fruit equivalent of a roller coaster and depending on its size and quality finds a final resting place.

Once it was only in a can but nowadays it is more likely to be safely and hermetically tucked away in a plastic single serve container. The stones are sorted and sent off for a third party that has a use for what has no application at SPC Ardmona. Several secondary processes take place after the premium fruit is packaged off for consumer use and at the “end of the day” very little is wasted.

The small retail packs are enclosed in shipping containers some being fully enclosed and others being trays encapsulated in plastic film. Canned product is not initially prepared for transport but stored away as what is called bright cans.

When orders come in the bright cans are brought to the packaging line and labelled before being packed off as a shipping unit. All of the manufacturing process is computer controlled and every operation is signed off by the person responsible. Back tracking of the product and its processing is possible should any concern be raised.

After the finished shipping packs are palletised they are moved across to the new modern Distribution Centre (DC) managed by David Bassett. The DC is computer controlled and all operations are directed through a visual display screen on the various materials handling machines in operation.

Racking is used for unit loads that cannot be over stacked but where this is possible (cans or jars) pallets are floor stacked and piled high depending on product.

All pallets are barcoded and stored as detailed by the information generated once the unit load is made. Full pallets often need to be broken down by the pickers to make up small unit loads to despatch to the grocery warehouse.

Single layers of slow moving stock are commonly ordered and in the extreme single cartons. As a pallet is broken down new barcode labels are produced for the despatched one, and for the remainder on the original.

Once an order is picked it is placed at a despatch door for loading onto the truck taking it to its ultimate destination.

The major concern of the staff at the DC is to correctly load the trailers so that the axle groupings comply with the road traffic regulations. (Under the Chain of Responsibility law SPC staff could be engaged in legal proceedings if a truck was found to be overloaded).

So with an overload of information delegates reassembled at the starting point and another question and answer session took place. SPC Ardmona’s future will very much focus on innovation and efficiency together with merchandising.

Competition for shelf space was lessened with the amalgamation of the three factories and brands, but has now increased with the burgeoning home brands owned by the major supermarkets that also allocate shelf space and location.

Shelf appeal and advertising will be a major determinant.

Some encouragement can be taken from consumer reaction when it was feared that Australian manufacture of canned fruit was likely to close.

We all know you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Similarly you can get a consumer to the shelf but can’t force the buying decision. Xenophobia only lasts a short time but reminding consumers that SPC Ardmona products are 98% Australian would seem a message worth repeating ad nauseum.

AIP NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

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