Food and Beverage Industry News Mar/Apr 2018

APR/MAY 2018

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APR/MAY 2018

Natural, healthy & profitable Organics industry comes of age

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WELCOME

Managing Director: John Murphy Managing Editor: Syed Shah Ph: (02) 9439 7227

Organics go mainstream

M

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Editor: Matt McDonald Ph: (02) 9439 7227 matthew.mcdonald@primecreative.com.au

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Editor: Matthew McDonald

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Copyright Food & Beverage Industry News is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. All material in Food & Beverage Industry News is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.

The opinions expressed in Food & Beverage Industry News are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated. © Copyright Prime Creative Media, 2018 Articles All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

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Industry Endorsement

any years ago, a friend and I found ourselves in the south of France looking for fruit picking work.

We befriended an American who was looking for similar employment. I remember only two things about this fellow. One, he had long hair and a beard. And two, he was adamant that he would only work on an organic farm.

As we searched for work, the three of us bumped into a couple of English lads who told us about a job they had recently finished on a tomato farm. “It was excellent. The boss was a great bloke, the pay was really good and we got free bread and cheese,” one of them enthused.

“Was it organic?” the American asked.

“Ah…it was bread and cheese,” replied the Englishman, without a clue what question he had just been asked.

Organic food was very much on the fringe back then but that is no longer the case. As featured on the cover, organic has joined the mainstream. Big food has jumped on-board and, for the first time, the Australian organic sector has come together to form its own peak body. In this issue, we hear from

Australian Organic’s Quentin Kennedy about the growing sector.

Also, we examine the once-dead Trans Pacific Partnership which has been reborn as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The new deal which was signed in Chile in March includes Australia and 10 other nations, but significantly does not include the United States.

Then we hear from Simon Coburn, MEGATRANS2018 show director about the supply chain and logistics trade expo which will take over the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in May. We hear all the latest on this event, which is poised to be the biggest event of its kind in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.

On top of that, we have all our regular features – Market Watch, Total Tips, Efficiency & Downtime, Food Safety, New Products and more.

Matthew McDonald, Editor

INSIDE 32

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Average Net Distribution Period ending Sept ’17

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Printed by: Manark Printing 28 Dingley Ave Dandenong VIC 3175

8 MARKET WATCH

20 PACKAGING

38 FOOD SAFETY

10 COMMENT

24 TRADE & EXPORTS

44 TEST & MEASUREMENT

12 NEWS

26 EFFICIENCY & DOWNTIME

48 E-COMMERCE

16 F&B REGULATIONS

32 MEGATRANS2018

49 FLOOR SCRUBBERS

18 TOTAL TIPS

36 F&B INDUSTRY AWARDS

50 NEW PRODUCTS

Ph: (03) 9794 8337

www.foodmag.com.au | April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 5

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MARKET WATCH

Deal activity takes a breather F ollowing a frenetic end to 2017, corporate activity in the food and beverage industry slowed down in January and February, with six transactions announced during this period.

In2Food Group, a supplier of freshly prepared meals to David Jones, Target Name

Acquirer

Sector

31 Dec 17

Date

T&F Allstates

In2Food Group

Fresh Produce

31 Dec 17

Yarra Valley Farms

In2Food Group

Fresh Produce

31 Dec 17

Briz Fresh

In2Food Group

Fresh Produce

Noisette Bakery

Next Capital

Baked Goods

11 Jan 18

Violet Crumble confectionery brand

Robern Menz

Confectionery

15 Jan 18

Darrell Lea (85%)

Quadrant Private Equity

Confectionery

Jan 18

announced the acquisition of three state-based fruit and vegetable providore businesses: Yarra Valley Farms, T&F All States and Briz Fresh. The combined value of the three acquisitions is estimated to be $50 million.

Private equity firm, Next Capital, completed the acquisition of Noisette Bakery. Noisette is a Melbourne-based artisanal commercial bakery that sells a range of breads, cakes and pastries. The business distributes to the

foodservice market in Melbourne and also distributes from two retail sites in Melbourne.

Acquisitions announced

As reported in our previous article, Quadrant Private Equity acquired an 85 per cent shareholding in confectionery maker, Darrell Lea, in what is considered a standout transaction. The transaction values the Darrell Lea business at approximately $200 million.

Grocery delivery business Aussie Farmers Direct entered voluntary administration on 5 March 2018, with the closure of the business described as “hugely disappointing”. Aussie Farmers Direct had approximately 100 franchisees, 260 employees and 100,000 customers and was started 13 years ago. Korda Mentha was appointed as administrator.

The outlook for 2018 remains positive with strong investor interest in the food and beverage industry and a pipeline of exciting investment opportunities.

Ben van der Westhuizen (left) and David Baveystock are directors of Comet Line Consulting, an advisory business that specialises in acquisitions and divestments within the Australian food and beverage industry.

For more information visit www.cometlineconsulting.com.au.

Commodity Outlook WHEAT – World wheat prices to recover slightly, from low levels due to lower tradeable supplies.

COARSE GRAINS – World barley prices to rise due to low stocks and strong demand for feed and industrial-use coarse grains.

OILSEEDS – World canola prices to fall due to abundant oilseed supplies.

SUGAR – World sugar prices to fall due to world sugar supply growing faster than demand.

8 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

BEEF AND VEAL – Australian cattle prices to fall due to higher production and strong competition in export markets SHEEP MEAT – Strong competition from processors and restockers to drive lamb prices higher.

DAIRY – Milk prices to rise due to a falling Australian dollar and increased competition for milk.

Source: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (ABARES), Agricultural commodities March quarter, 2018.

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COMMENT

Code of Conduct The Food and Grocery Code of Conduct aims to deliver contractual certainty in trading relations between suppliers and supermarkets. While it has been largely successful, businesses are encouraged to let the AFGC know their opinions about the Code. James Mathews explains.

T

he establishment of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct has been one of the most significant achievements in delivering a meaningful and enforceable regulation that will drive behavioural change and encourage fair and effective competition across the supply chain.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has been instrumental in taking the code from concept to legal reality. Every step of the way we have worked with our major retailer customers, the regulators and the Government to get this done.

Since its establishment in 2015 the AFGC, in conjunction with its nominated training provider NextGen, has provided comprehensive training to over 3,000 people to ensure suppliers understand retailer obligations, legal requirements and how to benefit from them. We continue to support members in maximising the benefits from this significant achievement through the provision of member services, training and advice.

Anecdotal evidence suggests the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct has established a clear set of principles relating to key aspects of trading relationships between retailers and suppliers; and is providing greater certainty and clarity about dealings in the industry without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.

The Code has been especially effective in applying: • Tough restrictions on retrospective and unilateral variations to grocery supply agreements; • Rigour to payment times, eliminating “shrink” payments, ceasing automatic deductions off remittance (unless agreed); • Recognition of the importance of intellectual property rights and confidentiality in driving innovation and investment in new products; and • A low cost and fast track dispute resolution mechanism.

Consistent with any best practice regulatory process, the Government initiated a review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. The

Fair and effective business relationships are crucial to industry success. assistant minister to the Treasurer, Michael Sukkar released the terms of reference for the review and announced that Professor Graeme Samuel AC has been selected as the independent expert to lead the review.

Samuel has extensive experience in economic policy and competition law roles including as former chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and President of the National Competition Council.

The review aims to ensure the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct is working effectively as the first prescribed voluntary code under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The code regulates the conduct of those supermarket retailers and wholesalers who have agreed to be bound by the code in their dealings with suppliers. Signatories

10 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

“The AFGC has been instrumental in taking the Code from concept to legal reality. Every step of the way we have worked with our major retailer customers, the regulators and the Government to get this done.” include About Life, Aldi, Coles and Woolworths.

While the review is a major point of focus for the AFGC, we encourage the FMCG industry to inform the review of your experiences with your dealings with the signatory retailers.

The terms of reference are outlined on the Treasury website.

Hearing directly from the source provides an invaluable testimony for the review to understand what is and is not working in the code. Alternatively those in the industry can contact the

AFGC to discuss their experiences with the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (afgc@afgc.org.au) – with a view to enhancing commercial negotiations in this most dynamic and competitive market.

James Mathews is the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s communications director.

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NEWS

Australian online sales to China thriving T

he 2017 Tmall Global Annual Consumers Report has revealed Australia has moved into third spot on the list of importer countries into China, on Alibaba’s business-to-consumer (B2C) platform. This is up from fourth spot in 2016.

Led by strong demand from Chinese consumers for Australia’s health and nutrition supplements, baby products and milk powder, Australia ranked behind Japan and the United States, and ahead of Germany and South Korea.

“Since opening our ANZ headquarters in Melbourne last year, we have worked harder than ever to support the success of Australian businesses in China. These incredible results for Australian merchants demonstrate that we are succeeding in our mission to make it easier for local businesses to do business anywhere,” said managing

The demand from China is led by things like health products and baby formula.

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12 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

“The report highlighted that people born in the 1990s have now become the biggest spenders on imported products.” director of Alibaba Group, Australia and New Zealand, Maggie Zhou.

“With 515 million annual active consumers now using our China retail marketplaces the opportunity for Australian businesses remains enormous, and we are excited to be part of the China journey for even more local brands in 2018.”

The report was jointly published

by Tmall Global and CBNData, a big data-based business research and integrated marketing communications strategy platform.

Elsewhere, it found that Chinese post-millennials have become the main purchasing power for imported products, with content and emotional interaction becoming a major factor in driving consumers’ decisions when buying imported products.

The report highlighted that people born in the 1990s have now become the biggest spenders on imported products, which come from

a more diverse range of countries and are consumed more frequently throughout the year.

Tmall Global sustained its position as the largest B2C e-commerce platform for imported products in China, with a market share of 27.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017.

There is still significant untapped potential in this sector, with the report estimating that there will be annual growth of 20 per cent in transaction volume and a market scale of RMB620 billion ($127 billion) by 2019.

The report also found that Tmall Global hosted more than 16,400 brands from 68 countries on its platform in 2017. Its penetration rate, calculated as a ratio of Tmall Global users to Alibaba’s total number of users, increased across the country, showing that more people can now afford imported products.

NEWS

Johnnie, meet Jane Walker J

ohnnie Walker has unveiled Jane Walker, the first-ever female iteration of the brand’s Striding Man logo.

The new image will debut in the US on a special-edition offering of the scotch whiskey’s Black Label blend.

The product became available in March to coincide with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day celebrations.

“Important conversations about gender continue to be at the forefront of culture and we strongly believe there is no better time than now to introduce our Jane Walker icon and contribute to pioneering organisations that share our mission,” said Stephanie Jacoby, vice president of Johnnie Walker. “We are proud to toast the many achievements of women and everyone on the journey towards progress in gender equality.”

To support this effort as part of Keep Walking America, Johnnie Walker will be donating US$1 for every bottle of the Jane Walker Edition made to organisations championing women’s causes.

One organisation Johnnie Walker will be supporting is Monumental Women, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a monument honouring America’s women suffragists in New York City’s Central Park, where there are already 23 statues of other historical figures.

In addition to celebrating historic female figures through the Monumental Women partnership, Johnnie Walker will also celebrate the next generation of female leaders by donating a portion of Jane Walker Edition proceeds to She Should Run, an organisation dedicated to inspiring women to enter politics.

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www.heatandcontrol.com | info@heatandcontrol.com Jane Walker is the first-ever female iteration of the Striding Man logo. www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 13

NEWS

$10.3m upgrade for iconic Cascade Brewery C Asia-Pacific region. This is good news for Tasmania’s local economy and jobs.

The expansion will secure Cascade’s existing jobs, while also creating jobs in the construction phase and five new ongoing fulltime jobs.

“We are thrilled that Cascade will become CUB’s craft brewing hub for the Asia Pacific region.

It is testimony to our long-term confidence in Cascade, Hobart and Tasmania,” said Jan Craps, CEO of CUB. CUB selected Cascade to lead its growth in craft beer for a number of reasons. “We love Tasmania’s vibrancy and confidence and its world-renowned reputation for clean food and drink. We’re also backing our team of experienced brewers at Cascade to take us to the next level.

We’re going to build on a heritage that commenced when Cascade first

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14 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

"We’re going to build on a heritage that commenced when Cascade first brewed for Tasmanians in 1832."

brewed for Tasmanians in 1832,” said Craps.

Anita Holdsworth will be Cascade’s new brewery manager. “I Photo credit: shutterstock.com

arlton & United Breweries (CUB) is making a $10.3 million capital investment to increase Cascade’s brewing capability and launch Cascade as one of Australia’s leading craft breweries. The brewing upgrade will result in a 65 per cent increase in production at the Hobart facility.

According to the company, the upgrade is intended to secure its future and realise its plans for Cascade and Tasmania to become a craft brewing hub for the Asia Pacific region.

Cascade will expand its craft brewing options, including brewing experimental beers for its Australian and Asia Pacific region operations.

It will also brew a number of beers from some of the world’s leading craft brands.

The beers brewed at Cascade will be distributed to all Australian states, with some exported to the

can’t wait to start on this exciting transformation of Cascade. We’re going to do great things building on Cascade’s heritage,” she said.

CUB wants the Cascade facility in Hobart to become a leading craft brewery.

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F&B REGULATIONS

Organics industry coming of age The organic food and beverage sector has announced that Australian Organic is set to become its peak representative body. Matthew McDonald spoke to Quentin Kennedy, a director of that organisation, about where the industry is heading.

T

hings have changed for the organic food indutry. It has entered the mainstream.

According to the 2017 Australian Organic Market Report, a survey conducted by Australian Organic (AO), more than two out of three Australian households purchased organic products in the previous year.

And it’s not just consumers who are attracted to organics. The survey showed that Australia has more certified organically managed agricultural land than any other country. In addition, the 27 millionplus hectares used for certified organic farming in this country account for about 7 per cent of our total farmland.

16 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

These figures have translated into more organisation. In February, the industry came together for the Love Organic Symposium, an event in Canberra which was attended not only by growers and manufacturers, but also Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David

Littleproud, and others. Out of the symposium it was agreed that, for the first time in Australia, a peak organics body will be formed. Over the coming months a permanent structure of the organisation, to retain the name Australian Organic, will be finalised.

According to Quentin Kennedy, a director of AO and managing director

F&B REGULATIONS

of organic cereal grain processor Kialla Pure Foods, most Australians (76 per cent) are already aware of this organisation and its “bud logo”.

“Originally we began as Biological Farmers of Australia which was both a member-owned body and a certification body. But some years ago we split off the clinical certifier

Australian Certified Organic (ACO) as a subsidiary,” he said. “Then we also changed our name and moved from a member-based co-op to a not for profit and renamed ourselves Australian Organic.”

He explained that AO has a license agreement with ACO to approve the use of the logo on all certified products. “We’re separating ACO and opening up use of the bud logo to anyone that has certified with other certification bodies. In return, they will pay a fee which will go towards industry development,” he said.

So AO will now stand alone as the peak industry body. Asked why this step has taken so long, Kennedy nominated diversity and the relative youth of the industry as two important factors.

“The term organic covers all sectors of food and beverage production and agriculture, so having a single voice previously had been a challenge for us. It’s not until an industry starts maturing and getting a critical mass behind certain opinions that you’re able to get consensus.”

Australian Organic’s “bud logo” is already well-recognised by consumers.

Growth, regulation and export potential Large food manufacturers are now introducing organic food products.

The organic food and beverage sector is growing. According to Kennedy, manufacturers of all sizes are now interested in producing

organic products. “The bigger corporate players are looking at it now, just from the point of view of differentiating their product,” he said.

According to the 2017 Australian Organic Market Report, in 2016 Australian exports of organic products increased by 17 per cent (in terms of overall tonnage) as compared to the previous year.

While this growth was to all continents, according to Kennedy, much of the future growth is likely to be to Asian markets.

The Government responded to this potential by commissioning professional services network Deloitte Australia to conduct an Organic Export Orders Review.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, the aim of the review is to improve access for Australian organic products into premium markets and increase the competitiveness of the sector. Submissions ended in late February and the results of the review are due for release in the second half of this year.

Kennedy pointed out that any subsequent regulation is likely to centre around establishing and proving that “organic” products destined for exports are, in fact, organic.

“It’s a regulatory impact statement so they’re assessing the impact of legislation. We want a level of legislation to stay because we need authenticity for our organic exporters,” he said.

In addition, Kennedy said one of the key aims should be to establish equivalence with the national standards of various other nations.

Pointing to personal experience, he said, “One big challenge is we have to be certified to, for example, US standards and Korean standards.

Not only is there a lot of lost opportunity but also it adds spend to our systems. We’ve got to store grain in individual silos depending on the certification and we can lose opportunity if we haven’t got product

Quentin Kennedy, a director of Australian Organic and managing director of organic cereal grain processor Kialla Pure Foods. that is certified for Korea.”

Kennedy said that there is still no domestic regulation around organics and said that, though it is not within the scope of the Deloitte review, the industry is hoping this situation will be addressed some time down the track.

“There’s no domestic regulation and it’s a big challenge for us,” he said. “Having domestic regulation around the term ‘organic’ would assist the industry and prevent the players who choose to short cut and not do the right thing.”

But overall he is positive about the industry. He welcomes the establishment of AO as the peak body for the Australian organics industry and is looking forward to the future, both from the point of view of his own business and that of the broader sector.

“The industry’s matured. It’s coming together and it’s a force to be reckoned with. We’ve moved on from being on the hippy fringe, so to speak, and we’re here to stay,” he said.

www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 17

TOTAL TIPS

Total Tips – design and building advice Welcome to Total Tips, a regular column by plant building and design provider, Total Construction about how businesses can ensure they have well-designed, well-functioning manufacturing facilities that give them the best chance to prosper. This issue we hear from Tom Franks, a design engineer at the company.

TIP 2

BUILDING TO HYGIENE STANDARDS HELPS ENSURE A CLEAN WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND DECREASE THE RISK OF FUTURE FOOD SAFETY ISSUES.

Food safety is priority number one for food and beverage manufacturers. As the recent Australian listeria outbreak illustrates, failure to properly address the issue can lead to illness or even death of the people who matter the most, consumers. On top of that are the business costs. Food safety scares can shut down operations and, worse, significantly damage the reputations of food manufacturers.

Maintaining a clean and safe environment all starts with the design and building of the manufacturing facility.

Designing the facility When it comes to design, there are many rules to follow. Facilities in this sector must not only conform to the National Construction Code, but also to food and beverage design and hygiene standards. On top of that some buyers, such as Woolworths, have their own standards above and beyond the national standards.

Many factors – including bacteria and microbial growth, disease, vermin, and bugs – need to be considered when designing a facility. A good fit out methodology can help reduce the risk of contamination. Employing smooth and impervious surfaces allows for ease of clean down in operations.

Areas where this can help include food grade stainless steel; epoxy resin flooring, sandwich panel walls and ceilings; coved and sealed junctions between floors, walls and ceilings; sealed concrete; and so on.

The presence of a food literate process engineer and a food hygienist can help businesses determine what design features will be required and where.

For example, it is important to ensure there are hand wash basins for employees to use after touching food, sneezing, or coughing. Also, there should be sanitation stations at all entries into production areas; male and female change rooms should be provided, with boot scrubbers or boot change areas with swing over benches if required; and colour coded clothing and tools can be used to identify employees working in high or low risk hygiene areas The pooling of water where dirt and grime are present can help listeria breed and grow. Good facility design which ensures all floors have appropriate falls to drains can prevent this. However, it is not only pooling on the floors that can cause problems. Drain

pipes themselves can also play a big part in bacteria growth. Thankfully, the use of backflow prevention valves in pipes helps prevent this from happening.

Understanding how the client wants to run the facility from entry to exit, knowing the number of employees, and so forth all help to design a safe facility with appropriate hygiene systems.

Building the facility From time to time, Total hears people describe food factories as “just boxes”. This is, of course, incorrect and, anyway, it’s what is inside the box that matters.

If good hygiene practices are not in place, kitchens

Food safety should be priority number one for food and beverage manufacturers.

18 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

and food preparation areas can provide optimal environments for bacteria to breed. Minimising the risk of cross-contamination and spread of bacteria and ensuring proper hygiene are critical elements in ensuring the well-being of staff and consumers.

Total has vast experience in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. The company’s deep understanding of hygiene requirements means that they can be relied upon to deliver not only well-functioning, hygienic facilities, but also peace of mind.

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PACKAGING

How smart is smart packaging?

Smart packaging can help extend food shelf-life, enhance product quality, ensure safety, and monitor product performance through the supply chain. Professor Pierre Pienaar outlines the variations of these products and what they can do.

T

here are two varieties of smart packaging. The first, active packaging, is designed to extend the shelf life of products.

It can do this in a number of ways, such as by releasing or absorbing substances which extend the duration of product quality.

The second type, intelligent packaging, is an extension of active packaging. It can monitor the product’s condition and communicate any changes to the consumer. It should provide more reliable information than just the expiry date printed on the packaging; and should monitor certain aspects of a food product (for example shelf life) and report information to the consumer.

Some of the chief purposes of intelligent packaging systems are improving the quality or value of a product, increasing convenience, and providing tamper or theft resistance.

There are currently three major types of intelligent packaging technologies available, namely sensors (biosensors, gas sensors),

indicators (temperature, freshness), and data carriers (barcode, RFID).

There is a great variety of indicators in each of these types, as well as much opportunity for further development of this technology.

For example time-temperature indicators (TTI), which are among the most commonly used types, can be classified as biological, physicochemical, chemical, enzymatic, diffusion-based, or polymer-based.

Physical TTI

Diffusion-based TTI is a widely used physical TTI. Fick’s law allows the application of diffusion in TTI. The diffusion rate of a liquid material would be higher at higher temperatures, and its distance of diffusion shows the total influence of environmental temperature.

This is the working principle of diffusion-based TTI.

Chemical TTI

The applied principle of chemical TTI is a temperature-dependent chemical reaction. This type of TTI

Smart packaginp can increase the shelf life or a range of food products.

20 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

includes polymerisation-based and photochromic-based redox reactionbased TTI, depending on the different reactions it utilises.

Biological

This relates to biological reactions referring to enzymes or microorganisms. Enzyme based indicators present colour change caused by the reaction between enzymes and substrate with a pH change. One part includes lipolytic enzyme solution, lipase and a dye with pH indication. The other part is a substrate, predominantly triglyceride. The indicator will be activated when the gap between enzyme and substrate is broken so that two parts are mixed.

Photochemical

This type of intelligent packaging contains thermochromic ink consisting of dye, reagent and solvent. UV light activates the indicator because the ink absorbs photons with certain wavelengths, and activates them to excited states and forms free radicals or ions.

Controlled permeability packaging

Controlled permeability packaging (CPP) is a less expensive alternative to Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). In this type of packaging, no gas is flushed out or injected, but rather the produce is packaged within a film that controls the quantity of oxygen and carbon dioxide flowing into and out of the package. This type of packaging is suitable for small scale suppliers in developing countries, where pure MAP might result in the product cost being too high for the average consumer. This packaging produces shelf life results close to, but not as high as pure MAP. CPP could be a good solution to food waste, especially in developing countries where suppliers may not be able to afford MAP machinery and processes, and where consumers may not be able to afford MAP produce.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is a form of active packaging that utilises bio-nanocomposites consisting of nanoparticles embedded into a

PACKAGING

excellent barrier properties due to their high rigidity, aspect ratio and affinity as a result of the interfacial interaction between the matrices of the polymer and the dispersed nanoclay.

Modified atmosphere packaging containing sausages.

Nanosensors

Nanosensors are excellent microorganism detectors as they are able to monitor the safety and quality of food products at various stages of the food supply chain. These sensor systems have the ability to accurately detect food spoilage or

microbial contamination in food by interacting with the external and/ or internal environment of the food, thus producing a response in the form of a visual signal such as colour indicators on nanosensor labels which correlate with the current state of the food product.

Professor Pierre Pienaar is education director at The Australian Institute of Packaging and President of The World Packaging Organisation.

AIP National Conference set for Gold Coast biopolymer matrix – with dimensions less than 100 nm.

deformation, inactivation of metabolic processes and cell death.

Antimicrobial nanoparticles

Nanoclay

The antimicrobial action of silver nanoparticles is attributable to their high surface area-to-volume ratios which favour their interactions with microbial cells. These silver nanoparticles cause direct damage to the cell membranes of harmful microorganisms, by interacting with negatively charged bio macromolecular compounds with disulphide or sulfhydryl groups and nucleic acids. This results in cell membrane

Nanoclays consist of montmorillonite silicate layers also known as nanoplatelets which are in a stacked arrangement with a nanometric thickness of 1 nm and a structural dimension of 100 nm.

These nanoclays are incorporated into the matrices of a polymer to delay the flow of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide from the external environment to the internal environment. Nanoclays exhibit

The 2018 Australian Institute of Packaging National Conference takes place at Marriott Resort, Surfers Paradise on 2-3 May, 2018.

Designed for packaging designers, technologists, engineers, sales and marketing people the biennial conference is the largest packaging and processing conference of its kind in Australia and New Zealand.

Run by industry for industry the conference has been leading the way in professional and personal development for decades and is a part of the annual Packaging & Processing Week.

In 2018, member countries from the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) will be heading to Australia to speak and participate in the week.

The AIP is also hosting the prestigious international WorldStar Packaging Awards and the 2018 PIDA Awards as the gala dinner for the conference, as well as a Women in Industry Breakfast Forum. In addition, five international editors from the International Packaging Press Organisation (IPPO) will be guest speakers during the two days.

It is anticipated that over 30 countries will be heading to Australia; making it a truly international must-attend educational event.

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“There is no doubt that stainless steel electric motors are the way to go. Stainless steel motors are better than aluminium and cast iron motors when it comes to the environment for our machines because of the ingredients used in food production and the sanitisers used in every day pressure washing of the machines.” Geoff Walker, Senior Project Engineer, Kerry Ingredients.

“Due to the corrosive nature of cleaning chemicals used in the food industry, I would expect the S/S motor and gearbox with Viton seals to have a 200-300% increase in reliability resulting in the equivalent percentage saved in downtime and productivity losses, therefore freeing up valuable maintenance labour.” Robert Canuti, Maintenance Supervisor, Inghams Group Limited.

When you're looking at your next motors and drive investment, look to Lafert for a custom solution. Visit:

www.lafertaust.com.au or call (03) 9702 3707 for details. www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 21

PACKAGING

Harvey Beef’s Premiun Range of steaks.

Quality packaging opens doors for WA beef producer When Harvey Beef was looking to improve the packaging for its new range of premium steaks, it turned to Sealed Air’s Cryovac Darfresh. As a result, the beef producer was able to not only reduce waste, but also increase exports.

F

ounded in 1919, Harvey Beef is owned by a sixth generation Western Australian farming family. Working with a handpicked group of local cattle farmers, Harvey Beef is committed to quality, taste and sustainability in the cattle industry.

In 2017, Harvey Beef identified an opportunity to introduce a premium range of beef cuts into WA with a major retailer. Meeting the demands of retailers and consumers was critical to achieving success.

Product quality, eating experience and less waste through supply chain and retail were key challenges that

the business needed to address.

“When we decided to introduce the Premium Range of steaks, we knew what we wanted to achieve with our customers and retailers.

We had to ensure the product would drive minimal waste at retail level while ensuring the product looked high quality and delivers a great eating experience for the consumer.

We recognised the potential this range could have for expanding our business if we could meet these key requirements with the right packaging solution,” said Len Rae, Harvey Beef’s executive manager – sales and marketing.

22 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

Important considerations

Based in the south west of WA, Harvey Beef’s location is a key consideration for the business. It supplies retail products as far north as Broome and as far south as Albany.

This distance (approx. 2580km) means it is a challenge for the business to get the freshest possible product to customers across the state.

The geographic challenge coupled with existing Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) solutions which achieved on average a shelf life of 10 – 12 days, had been a significant limitation to further product development and expansion.

“Our cattle farmers are part of our family and we know how hard they work to create a quality product, so we always strive to give our customers the highest quality products. Our business processes stretch from the paddock to the plate, so we need every element of our supply chain to be as efficient and sustainable as possible,” said Rae. With the new Premium Range, Harvey Beef required a packaging solution that addressed best on shelf product presentation and eating experience to drive consumer appeal as well as product protection and extended shelf life to drive less supply

PACKAGING

waste, both in the supply chain and at the retail level.

Given that, in the case of red meat, this is reported to erode store profits by 4.5 per cent*, addressing retail waste was high on priority list.

A packaging solution

Trials with Cryovac Darfresh vacuum skin packaging, gave rise to a remarkable shelf life of 35 days. The packing not only extended freshness, but also created a product that was visually appealing.

The total vacuum skin seal and barrier properties attributed to Cryovac Darfresh packaging is key to extending shelf life, which leads to less mark downs and less waste.

The total vacuum skin seal allows retailers to vertically display the products and the shallow profile allows greater logistic efficiencies.

These factors combine to create a sustainable solution that drives efficiency and less waste across the entire food supply chain.

“The customer experience is a huge focus of our business. We want our product to eat well on day one or day 35. It’s about giving our customers a consistent eating

experience and we can achieve this through Darfresh in conjunction with Harvey Beef’s best in class cold chain processing,” said Daniel Briggs, Harvey Beef’s retail operations manager.

“Darfresh is a robust and innovative form of packaging and we have the confidence knowing that it can sustain the thousands of kilometres that we have to transport our stock.”

The results

Harvey Beef launched the Premium steak range in Cryovac Darfresh skin in March 2017. The product has exceeded budgeted sales expectations and resulted in increased distribution to all stores across WA with a major retailer.

“One of the key outcomes we’ve seen by using Darfresh has been the shelf life performance. The percentage of mark downs are certainly low (at 0.15 per cent of sales) compared to sales and our premium steaks are performing incredibly well in this category,” said Rae. The additional shelf life has enabled Harvey Beef to forward plan

"We want our product to eat well on day one or day 35." their production with confidence, knowing specifically how much time they had to sell stock. By doing this they have been able to balance production lines on a weekly basis, reducing production cost and streamlining production processes.

Darfresh skin has also allowed the business to look beyond its borders and propelled business expansion domestically and internationally.

“Once we had proven that we could extend shelf life over and above standard MAP solutions we saw we had an opportunity to sell these lines domestically and overseas in both fresh and frozen options in Darfresh.

We can now look east to expand our domestic business and we have just confirmed our beef will be available in retail outlets in Hong Kong,” said Rae. “Shelf life limitations often mean whole cuts are exported and then wholesalers and food service operators portion the product as required. While this

seems satisfactory, food safety and traceability then becomes a risk.

Extended shelf life allows processors to offer a product that is processed and packed in Australia, which is a key priority for the Asian market.

“Harvey Beef, above all else, is committed to quality and leveraging innovative products to support sustainable practice, and with Cryovac Darfresh and Sealed Air we are able to grow effectively and have the capabilities to move with the market changes.”

Harvey Beef were winners at the 2017 Food & Beverage Industry Awards with their Premium beef range taking out both the ‘Best of the Best’ and the ‘Meat, Poultry and Smallgoods’ awards. The latter category, which recognises an outstanding meat product, considers unique processing techniques, innovation in packaging and why the product was introduced to the market. *Sealed Air Food Waste Study 2017.

www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 23

TRADE & EXPORTS

Reborn TPP good news for Australian wine and cheese makers The Trans Pacific Partnership has been reborn as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Matthew McDonald examines the new agreement and what it means for our food and beverage industry.

Australian wine makers are among the main winners from the CPTPP.

T

he Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which originally was to include 12 Pacific nations, seemed dead in the water early last year when the then newly elected President Donald Trump declared that the US would not be involved in the deal.

However, at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in January, the 11 remaining nations - Japan, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, Chile, Peru, Vietnam, New Zealand and Brunei - agreed to a new deal known as the Comprehensive and Progressive

Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Then in March, all parties signed the deal (which is also being called TPP-11). Broadly, it cuts tariffs and puts in place common laws and regulations. It is a framework under which separate 18 new bilateral deals between participating countries will sit. Australia, for example, has made new deals with Canada and Mexico.

What's in it for Australia

From an Australian perspective, farmers and the service sector are the big winners.

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In terms of agriculture, our beef exports to Japan (which were worth $2 billion in 2016-17) will be boosted by tariff reductions; and there will be new access for dairy products into Japan, Canada and Mexico.

In addition, Australia will have new access into the Japanese, Canadian and Mexican sugar markets; and there will be an elimination of all tariffs on sheep meat, as well as an elimination of many tariffs on seafood and horticulture.

Also, our cereals and grain exporters will gain new access into Japan. Significantly, for the first time

in 20 years, this will include rice products.

However, agriculture isn’t the only winner. The CPTPP will eliminate more than 98 per cent of tariffs in the free trade area. Australian cheese makers, for example, can look forward to the scrapping of a range of tariffs into Japan which currently cover over $100 million of trade.

Also, Australian wine makers, who were already on a high following the recent release of record-breaking export figures for 2017, will further benefit from the news that the CPTPP will see the

elimination of tariffs on wine. CEO of Wine Australia, Andreas Clark told Food & Beverage Industry News that the two core benefits for the sector are reduced tariffs and a specific annex for wine and spirits.

“The annex is an exciting part of the partnership as it provides an opportunity to remove a range of technical barriers that can impact our exports. All the parties involved in the CPTPP have agreed on a cooperative framework to remove some of these barriers, which will help streamline trade,” he said.

“The Australian grape and wine community has seen many benefits from our existing free trade agreements with the USA, Japan, Korea and China – among many others – and the CPTPP may allow additional benefits to flow back to grape and wine businesses across the country.”

Clark’s positive reaction was echoed across Australian industry.

“The deal covers 11 nations that together constitute around 30 per cent of the global economy, and four of Australia’s top 10 export markets for food and beverages.

The economic weight of the TPP and common set of rules established among 11 countries will greatly

support Australian food exporters, providing Australian jobs and economic growth,” said Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) CEO Tanya Barden.

She pointed out that the deal will result in greater alignment and harmonisation across the region on regulation and behind-the-border trade issues and added that this is particularly relevant to the food industry, which generally face onerous import controls that differ from one nation to another.

“The parliamentary process for reviewing international trade agreements will provide an opportunity to review the TPP agreement in great detail. At the forefront of that review must be the promotion of jobs, investment and growth for Australia’s economic prosperity,” said Barden.

What are the negatives?

While the Opposition has been mostly positive about the deal, sections of the Labor Party claim some Australian workers could suffer as a result of the CPTPP. They say the establishment of labour market testing for any foreign workers are crucial. Opposition leader Bill Shorten has called for the

Photo credit: shutterstock.com

TRADE & EXPORTS

The TPP, minus the US, has come to be known as the TPP-11.

Productivity Commission to conduct an independent analysis of the deal first. He said that if modelling shows the deal is good for the nation and Australian jobs, Labor would back it.

One important feature of trade deals not often noted by the lay person is the fact that they aren’t all about free trade. They are also investor rights agreements. As such, the deal includes an investorstatement-dispute-settlement mechanism (ISDS). This has raised

fears that, as the result of the CPTPP, corporations could sue the Australian Government if Australian laws adversely affect their performance.

Many point to Philip Morris suing the Australian Government for introducing plain cigarette packaging as an example of what could happen.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo responded to the fears by saying Australia will retain the right to make its own legislation and that the fears were unfounded.

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enquiry@bestech.com.au | (03)9540 5100 www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 25

EFFICIENCY & DOWNTIME

Packaging solutions for the meat & poultry industries Signode has 40 years’ experience in supplying innovative, fast, hygienic and reliable strapping machines to the meat and poultry industries. The company’s packaging equipment is manufactured and designed to improve businesses’ bottom lines.

S

ignode manufactures load containment and protective packaging systems that have been engineered to specific applications; systems that protect products, streamline production and improve profits.

The company knows the meat and poultry industry and understands that, for businesses operating in this sector, the hygiene imperative extends beyond their actual products. By law, for example, packaging machinery used in this sector must be made (internally and externally) with stainless steel.

On top of this important consideration, much like any manufacturer, these businesses are looking for packaging machinery that delivers them speed, accuracy and reliability, while minimising downtime. They want machines that will cut their labour costs and provide good returns on investment.

Signode has become a one stop shop for its customers’ strapping and wrapping needs. The company’s extensive range of equipment, strapping and consumables, backed up with onsite national service and parts supply, suit any application no matter how challenging or demanding.

steel body, it also comes with safety switches on each door (including the tabletop cover).

The next step up in terms of speed is the Predator 12 Stainless Steel Automatic. An automatic strapping machine manufactured with safety in mind, it is suitable for use in the corrosive environments found in food and meat processing industries, and can apply up to 30 straps per minute.

Features of the Predator 12 Stainless Steel include safety switches on all doors, automatic strap loading, and electronic tension adjustment up to 70kg. It also has an automatic strap eject feature for coil changes and it operates in three modes – manual, tabletop sensor and foot pedal.

Any mis-fed straps are easily and quickly corrected with the Signode Predator’s automatic cut and re-feed feature.

Then there is the top-of-the-line strapping machine, the MOD GPX, which can apply up to 65 straps per minute. Available in automatic and fully automatic inline options, this machine features an entirely modular design that provides unparalleled flexibility and longevity for general purpose strapping machines.

Each module can be quickly replaced by operators for desired upgrades or maintenance without disrupting production.

Available in stainless steel for hand presented cartons or fully automated

Strapping machines

Signode makes stainless steel strapping machines to suit low to high volume users, who perform a range of applications and have varying budgets.

The company offers everything from entry level semi-automatic machines, right up to fully automated inline strapping machines that can apply as many as 65 straps per minute.

The Signode MST, a semiautomatic, low-cost option for low to moderate volume strapping applications is ready to use in minutes.

The machine features an easy-touch LED display control panel and electronic tension adjustment up to 50kg. Available with a full stainless

The Signode MST is a semi-automatic, low cost option for low to moderate volume strapping applications.

26 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

applications, the MOD GPX is ideal for cold, damp environments where corrosion resistance is necessary.

Further features include safety switches, adjustable strap tension up to 90kg, and self-diagnostics.

Given the importance of food safety and the increasing prevalence of food fraud, it is important for food and poultry producers to be able to clearly identify their products.

This imperative makes strapping – rather than say taping or gluing – of boxes a wise choice for these businesses. Signode offers printed strap to compliment export users to identify products for security purposes. This type of identification is particularly valuable for exporters

EFFICIENCY & DOWNTIME

"Further features include safety switches, adjustable strap tension up to 90kg, and self-diagnostics” who need to identify themselves in the global supply chain.

Nation-wide support & services

Signode offers more than just quality products. The company’s service, maintenance, engineering and spare parts support help achieve year-on-year uptime for businesses and ultimately reduce their cost of ownership on their machinery.

Before any sales take place, the company works with clients to choose the best machinery for each job. It also conducts audits in order to identify, and then fix operational bottlenecks.

In terms of after sales support, Signode keeps standard equipment in stock to cover maintenance requests and also offers training to enable businesses to fix their own machines, as well as safety training. Service

agreements along with preventative maintenance help ensure mechanical issues are fixed before they result in costly downtime.

While the company offers over-thephone technical support, it realises that this cannot be relied upon in all circumstances. Its field sales and service representation is nation-wide.

Importantly, this means that customers in regional areas of Australia are not left out of the service equation.

The company offers flexible buying options for all strapping machines, meaning that customers can either buy outright or take advantage of a rental program.

The Signode package allows customers the peace of mind that they are using safe, reliable, fast, new equipment technology available in full stainless steel or painted finish.

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The Predator 12 Stainless Steel Automatic can apply up to 30 straps per minute.

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www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 27

EFFICIENCY & DOWNTIME

Bridging the gap Food & Beverage Industry News talks to MHE-Demag Australia’s Paul Clarke about how dock levellers help businesses improve their bottom lines by ensuring their logistics operations are safe and efficient. being carried over the dock leveller, while having the same dimensions as most existing dock pits. This design enables fitting Gators into existing dock pits as well as consideration for current projects that work on standard pit dimensions.

On top of that, MHE-Demag Australia offers a range of industrial door products as well as number of after-market safety and environmental products such as “vehicle restraint systems”, traffic control/communication systems, lights and fans for safety and comfort as well as “dock seals and shelters” that are designed to provide an environmental enclosure in and around loading docks.

The task of transferring goods from plant to truck can be tricky.

Pre and after-sales support

F

or manufacturers, the gap between the plant floor and the delivery truck is tricky.

It not only poses a potential safety risk, but also can be a source of inefficiency. For food and beverage makers, there is an added concern.

Because these businesses deal with perishable products, speed and temperature control are important considerations. They have to be able to ensure their goods arrive fresh to their destinations.

MHE-Demag Australia offers a range of solutions to help businesses deal with these concerns.

“The products and solutions we offer within the industrial product market, provide entrance controls that assist with the environmental integrity within food and beverage temperature-controlled storage and manufacturing facilities,” Paul Clarke, MHE-Demag Australia’s national sales manager told Food & Beverage Industry News.

“Our low-maintenance/highstrength docking products, along

with our range of industrial doors, assist with improving productivity through longevity and durability and cost reduction through environmental controls.”

How to choose the right dock leveller

There are many dock levellers on the market that are sold with promises of heavy-duty capacity or high quality.

However, according to Clarke, those making such claims often overlook some important considerations.

Choosing the right product for each individual application is one such concern. “The correct size and duty of the dock leveller will not only greatly affect the transition between the factory or warehouse floor and the floor, or bed of the trailer or truck being loaded, but also improve the life cycle of the products and maintain safe operational integrity,” he said.

He said that, where floor heights and load averages are known, MHE-Demag Australia can use a

28 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

formula to identify the most suitable product for the application.

“Our products not only satisfy any concerns surrounding quality, strength and integrity but can also reduce the internal footprint normally taken up by dock leveller equipment,” he said. “This can increase the valuable floor space within manufacturing or storage facilities by taking the loading process outside the buildings with external dock design options.”

The company offers a variety of docking solutions, from the hydraulically operated “Gator” pit or frame mounted dock leveller range, through to “Edge of Dock” and “Scissor Lift” dock platforms in all sizes and configurations.

According to Clarke, the Gator dock leveller is worth highlighting.

Research, conducted by the company showed that one of the most critical parts for loading docks is the capacity they can carry. As a result, MHE-Demag Australia designed the Gator from scratch to allow up to 20t

As national sales manager, Clarke is predominantly concerned with building new business and customer relationships by penetrating into a targeted market and territories.

“I also oversee the establishment or addition of vendor and sub-contract specialist resources to accompany our technical abilities to install and service all products within our holistic product portfolio,” he said.

He pointed out that the company is not just about supplying the highest quality products. Making sure customers choose the right solution for their application is the most important concern.

“That’s why we offer a free, no obligation dock survey and site inspection prior to any business engagement, to assist with identifying any potential issues or hazards that can often be overlooked,” he said. “We also focus on constant improvements to provide high standard after-sales service and planned maintenance options to protect our customers’ best investments and provide ‘peace of mind’.”

MHE-Demag Australia has established a strong presence in the Australian food and beverage

EFFICIENCY & DOWNTIME

"We also focus on constant improvements to provide high standard after-sales service and planned maintenance options to protect our customers” manufacturing sector. For example, the company is currently in the final stage of completion within the expansion project at the Coca Cola Amatil site in Brisbane. For this project, it has provided a docking solution package incorporating dock levellers, restraint systems and loading lights through F K Gardener & Sons Constructions.

In addition, the company also has docks installed with RED Trucks Logistics & Storage and Style Ergonomics in Sydney. There have also been further successful projects undertaken at various sites through resellers in Victoria, along with the use of industrial door

products within DTZ Auburn rail maintenance facility.

The future of logistics

According to Clarke, the importance of logistics has never been greater.

“I believe that with the growing demands of an increasing population within Australia there will always be a need for greater logistical presence and efficiency,” he said.

“With the arrival and expansion of global retail giants like Amazon, Costco, Lidl and many more making their way into our growing market, the need for viable and reliable products that assist with the productivity of this sector will

MHE-Demag Australia designed the Gator from scratch to allow up to 20t being carried over the dock leveller. be in high demand. Quality is now the growing focus and presence within this modern market and MHE-Demag is renowned for being at the forefront of quality and safety

with cranes and lifting equipment.

This experience in delivering highest quality solutions now dwells into docking solutions to serve the food and beverage industry.”

www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 29

EFFICIENCY & DOWNTIME

Green machines delivering sustainability and growth Heat and Control, a maker of equipment for processing, product handling, packaging and inspection, helps food businesses achieve sustainability through innovative manufacturing.

G

lobal population growth combined with demand for a more diverse range of products has seen an increase in the levels of pollution and waste levels resulting from food manufacturing.

This provides food makers with a number of challenges, including the need to adopt more efficient and sustainable production methods to meet legislative changes around climate change, or to suit company culture and ethics.

Reducing carbon emissions is driving Heat and Control’s commitment to green manufacturing.

The company’s R&D teams are constantly looking at ways to create innovative solutions around water and energy reduction technology, waste treatment/reductions and reclaiming or reusing material. The challenge in green manufacturing is being able to reduce waste and pollution while finding ways to improve equipment design to see higher production efficiencies both in equipment and processes.

“This investment into green manufacturing technologies is something we have long prided ourselves on, and we are continuously looking for ways to develop new processes and enhance the existing methods of use” said Jim Strang, CEO - Heat and Control Asia Pacific and Europe.

“When we design our equipment, sustainability is front of mind. We not only ask ourselves how we can increase yield and efficiencies through automation for our customers, but also how we can reduce emissions and waste.”

Energy savings and pollution reduction

Heat and Control offers complete snack systems for producers of natural potato chips, corn and tortilla chips, and other snacks, plus taco

The E-FLO system reduces the need to blanch potatoes before cooking them. shells, corn tortillas, and tostadas.

Many of these now feature energy saving and pollution control systems, with the company developing a number of heat exchangers that combine the incineration of fryer exhaust pollutants with high-efficiency oil heating to help processors meet emission control regulations.

The Kleenheat pollution control heat exchanger incinerates and removes virtually all odours, oil and other particulates from fryer stack exhaust that would normally pollute the air and area around your plant.

Heat and Control’s latest graduated density oil heating tube bundle provides 10 per cent greater thermal efficiency than existing models, and is fully compliant with US, EC, and Australian regulations.

Designing innovative ways to reuse previously exhausted waste gases can

30 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

increase production efficiency and save energy, while reducing carbon emissions. The Heat and Control heat exchanger with combustion air pre-heater (and booster heater) can preheat cooking oil to boost fryer production by up to 11 – 15 per cent with no extra fuel consumption.

Managing oil use

Frying oil can be an expensive part of food processing and any steps the processor can use to reduce loss or wastage of oil are always welcome. Oil recovery during production not only reduces energy usage, but also sees higher yields through cost savings.

Where cooking oil is used during production of the finished food product, Heat and Control has sought solutions to increase oil life.

Using the Oil Sweep System, manufacturing operations can

recover oil used in French fry production through a bank of cyclones and return it to the fryer oil recovery system. In addition, they can remove solid fines and transfer reusable oil by pump back into the frying system.

Heat exchangers can help manage the use of oil, with low oil volume promoting fast oil turnover and inhibiting the formation of free fatty acids. Rapid, uniform heat transfer allows fryers to respond more quickly to changes in product load, and protects oil quality by maintaining a low oil film temperature.

Water conservation

Heat and Control has increased its use of recycled water for product and equipment cleaning. High levels of water usage can be costly for food manufacturers, so the company has

EFFICIENCY & DOWNTIME

Using the Oil Sweep System, manufacturing operations can recover oil used in French fry production. developed a Water Cleanup System (WCS) for its slice washing system, which reduces fresh water usage up to 50 per cent, compared to conventional slice washing systems.

WCS cleans and reuses wash water,

concentrates starch and fines for more efficient removal, and reduces sewer loading and the burden on a starch recovery system.

Heat and Control has also developed an oil mist eliminator that

removes oil mist from fryer exhaust without the need for water or highhorsepower fans and a heat recovery system which recovers normally lost heat from the fryer exhaust stack.

This system condenses otherwise

wasted steam to make hot water for blanching, sanitation, or even building heat.

The company offers four standard sizes of Stack Heat Recovery Units (SHRS), and can also tailor design applications to individual needs.

Absorption chiller technology is becoming more common in hotter areas for building air conditioning and the company’s SHRS acts as an ideal heat source.

Blanching potatoes before cooking is a necessary but costly part of the potato production process.

The Heat and Control E-FLO system uses Pulse Electric Field Processing (PEF) technology to perforate the cell walls of the potatoes, creating micro holes that allow asparagine and reducing sugars to be removed in a cold water wash. The tissue of the potatoes becomes more permeable, which can eliminate or reduce the need to blanch them before cooking.

E-FLO can also increase yield which, in turn, reduces energy use.

All these innovations are intended to help Heat and Control’s customers reduce their pollution and waste levels while increasing operational cost savings through improved manufacturing design.

Reducing the environmental impacts of processing can lower energy use and overall costs, while providing food manufacturers with innovative technology that will provide a significant return on investment in the years to come.

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For more information on Gates synchronous belt range contact your local CBC location. Our sales and service specialists are experts in application and technical support providing the parts and the expertise for successful roller chain drive conversions. conbear.com.au www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 31

MEGATRANS2018

Facilitating the future of supply chain and logistics MEGATRANS2018 Show Director Simon Coburn talks to Food & Beverage Industry News about who will be attending the inaugural supply chain trade expo this May and what they can expect to see.

T

he movement of goods from A to B may seem a simple process on paper for the average consumer. But it has taken years of development, progress and innovation to reach this level of streamlining, and that process is only becoming faster and more efficient.

For the industrial supply chain, this can be an intricate process, involving a variety of stakeholders with countless variables to consider along the way when moving goods

from one place to another. Road, rail, air and sea transport, warehousing, packaging services – there are many different facets involved in the process and adding value to every step of the supply chain.

Giving the freight and logistics providers, and their customers – manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers – the opportunity to see the businesses, technology and innovation leading the cutting edge of progress within the Australian and

32 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

international supply chain firsthand is one way to help the industry grow and reach a new level of supply chain safety, connectivity and efficiency.

The future of supply chain and logistics

MEGATRANS2018, a new multimodal supply chain trade expo, aims to provide this unique platform and bring industry together under one roof. The event, delivered in partnership with the Victorian

Government, is designed to bring together those who plan, implement and control the efficient and effective forward flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and point of consumption.

In the grand scheme of things, this supply chain covers all facets of Australia’s industrial transport and logistics sectors. These specific industries comprise the main features of the trade show, which

MEGATRANS2018

WHO WILL ATTEND? CEO | COO | CIO | OPERATIONS MANAGERS | WAREHOUSE MANAGERS | LOGISTICS MANAGERS DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS | ENGINEERING MANAGERS | FLEET MANAGERS

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The show is designed around the needs of the logistics firms, freight companies and various technology innovators and service providers involved in the supply chain, those coming to the event will be the retailers, manufacturers and third and fourth-party logistics providers (3PLs and 4PLs) utilising the supply chain and looking for new ways to increase efficiency and security in the movement of goods.

“Those who need to move goods by sea, air, rail, road, are those who will benefit the most from hearing about the latest in telematics, data optimisation, freight forwarding, Industry 4.0 and future developments in the industry,” said Coburn. “Those are the people – the business leaders and decision markers – who will be making their way to Melbourne for the show, and we can’t wait to hear about all of the successful partnerships, business meetings and engagement coming off the back of this event.”

FMC G

makes its debut 10 to 12 May this year at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, based in the heart of the world’s most liveable city – Melbourne.

But just who will be attending the trade expo? Simon Coburn, MEGATRANS2018 Show Director talks to Food & Beverage Industry News about who will be making their way to Melbourne for the major industry event.

“MEGATRANS2018 is poised to be the biggest supply chain and logistics trade event in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. By spreading the expo across all 30,000 square metres of exhibition space at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, we’re trying to include every business, service provider and leader within the supply chain,” he said.

“From warehousing to road transport, infrastructure, telematics businesses, manufacturing companies and packaging specialists – the show is including everything and everyone involved in the movement of goods from one place to another, with significant focus on the technology driving this process.”

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MEGATRANS2018

aimed at drawing even more national and international leaders from across different facets of the supply chain.

MEGATRANS2018 brings together a variety of international and domestic conferences, including the Australian Logistics Council’s (ALC) inaugural Supply Chain Technology Summit 2018, Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) Global Leaders’ Summit, the Logistics & Materials Handling Mercury Awards, a Ministerial Breakfast delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government, Transport Certification Australia’s (TCA) Technology Hub and the 2018 Global Shippers Forum Conference (GSF2018).

The ALC Supply Chain Technology Summit, for instance, will gather key industry leaders and businesses and will take place on 10 May, onsite and in partnership with MEGATRANS2018.

“Technology is a major component of the logistics supply chain and will play a dominant role in the exhibitions at MEGATRANS2018,” said

MEGATRANS2018 will bring transport operators, freight forwarders, customs officials, cargo owners and policymakers together in the one place.

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34 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

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MEGATRANS2018

"MEGATRANS2018 is poised to be the biggest supply chain and logistics trade event in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere" Michael Kilgariff, Managing Director at ALC. “The Supply Chain Technology Summit 2018 will align well with the technology theme and ensure that those who attend the integrated event can maximise their time and investment.

“The dedicated Supply Chain Technology Summit will focus on the policy priorities articulated by ALC in Freight Doesn’t Vote – our submission to the Inquiry into National Freight and Supply Chain Priorities. This includes collecting greater data on freight movements, adapting to automated technologies and global labelling standards.”

Peter Hart, Chairman at ARTSA, said MEGATRANS2018, and the industry players it will draw, is a good fit for the association’s annual summit.

“We see this event as an opportunity to bring together international thought leaders in

a world-class conference and exhibition hosted in Melbourne,” Dr Hart said. ARTSA will be holding its 2018 Leaders Summit as part of the scheduled events, featuring industry authorities from around the globe debating the business models, systems and equipment that will continue to deliver for the customer.”

The GSF2018 likewise, will host its conference and AGM in Australia for the first time.

The Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), the peak body for Australia’s containerised exporters, will host the GSF2018 in coordination with the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), the Freight & Trade Alliance and MEGATRANS2018.

Paul Zalai, Director and Founder at the FTA, the Secretariat for the APSA, said the GSF2018 is set to host policy makers and international

trade practitioners from around the world, people whose decisions have a lasting effect on the way cargo is moved in Australia.

As the event is run in conjunction with MEGATRANS2018, which covers all facets of the supply chain, Zalai said it will attract representatives from across the sector. “It’s quite unique to have transport operators, freight forwarders, customs officials, cargo owners and policymakers, all in the one room discussing logistics and trade issues,” he said.

GSF2018 takes place alongside MEGATRANS2018 and a range of other events either running concurrently or book-ending the show. As a result, Coburn expects Melbourne will be the place to be for leaders and stakeholders in the global and national supply-chain sectors come May. “We envisage the week of MEGATRANS2018 will set a few milestones for the national and international supply chains,” he said.

“With so many industry leaders and decision makers from around the globe heading to the events, I’m confident

we’ll see some positive outcomes for the future of the industry.”

Coburn explained that as the borders between industries blur, new multi-dimensional concepts have to rise to the challenge and facilitate conversation between the key stakeholders in these areas, and MEGATRANS2018 is leading the way.

He said a trade event with the same scope as MEGATRANS2018 hasn’t been done before in Australia, and it will be an exciting hub for representatives across the entire supply chain.

“We’re inviting everyone to be a part of this game-changing expo format and we anticipate that everybody, from hands-on decision makers in the supply chain and logistics industry to CEOs, COOs, regulatory bodies, urban planners and government on all levels, will be out in force,” he added.

“Watch this space for more developments – MEGATRANS2018 will facilitate the topics of discussion, networking and decisions around the future of Australia’s supply chain process.”

www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 35

FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY AWARDS

Introducing this year’s sponsors The 15th annual Food & Beverage Industry Awards take place in Sydney in August. With nominations already rolling in, now is the perfect time to introduce this year’s sponsors.

T

he Awards are a once a year opportunity for food and beverage manufacturers to come together to not only celebrate the excellence of the industry’s high achievers, but also to meet old friends and make new contacts.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the support we receive from our valued sponsors, some of whom join the program for the first time this year. We thank them all for their support.

2018 WHERE: Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney.

WHEN: Thursday 16 August, 2018 To nominate, simply go to foodmagazineawards.com.au

This year, to accurately reflect the industry as it now stands, we have made some changes to the award categories. There are nine categories as well as the Best of the Best Award, which is contested by all category winners.

The full list of awards: • Beverage of the Year • Ingredient Innovation • Food Safety Equipment & Materials • Packaging Innovation • Innovative Technology of the Year • Health Foods • Best in Design • Meat, Poultry & Smallgoods • Paddock to Plate • Best of the Best

36 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

Flavour Makers PLATINUM SPONSOR, PROUDLY SPONSORING BEST OF THE BEST Flavour Makers has returned as Platinum Sponsor of the Best of the Best Award.

Since its formation in 1992, the Australian owned and operated company has been on the cutting edge of food innovation, inspiring people to discover food that actually tastes great. With a mission to “Create amazing. Always”, Flavour Makers’ commitment to excellence extends to encouraging other food and beverage manufacturers to continually strive for innovation, quality and improvement.

Consultel Cloud PROUDLY SPONSORING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR Consultel Cloud’s cloud platform is built on NetApp’s hyper converged infrastructure (HCI) technology. HCI simplifies IT infrastructure by bringing together separate storage, separate switches and separate compute all into the one system. The company believes in investing in robust technology for its cloud platform that its customers can depend on.

FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY AWARDS

Jet Technologies PROUDLY SPONSORING PACKAGING INNOVATION Jet Technologies is a specialist importer and distributor of products to the rigid and flexible packaging industry, the industrial manufacturing industry and the print and finishing industry. The company’s staff are industry experts, with the knowledge and practical know-how to provide premium quality products, along with outstanding customer service.

Wiley PROUDLY SPONSORING BEST IN DESIGN Wiley believes in making a difference and creating a better future. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that by engaging Wiley at the design phase of a project, food and beverage manufacturers will discover future focused solutions to their own industry challenges.

VEGA Australia PROUDLY SPONSORING BEVERAGE OF THE YEAR VEGA was founded in the Black Forest of Germany in 1959 by Bruno Grieshaber.

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FOOD SAFETY

Drainage design and food safety Cleanliness isn’t only about what’s visible. Behind seemingly clean food preparation environments, there lies a potential hygiene risk. Drainage maker ACO can be part of the solution to this problem.

U

ltimately, food safety is about ensuring the food we eat is free from contamination. To do this, food preparation areas must be as clean as possible. The aim must be to prevent work areas from becoming breeding grounds for pathogens such as listeria and salmonella and to limit their spread into other areas of the business.

In food processing plants, the possibility for bacteria to grow exists everywhere from tea towels, utensils and appliances to the floor below.

For consumers, the consequence of not addressing this problem can extend to food poisoning, allergies, severe illness and even death. With an increased demand for fresh, ready to eat food and specific dietary and allergen requirements, the pressure is on for food manufacturers to provide safe products.

Every food production and retail facility should understand the need for hygienic practices, identify potential hygiene weaknesses and have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan in place. HACCP is a process designed to mitigate risk and ensure the highest level of cleanliness for maximum food safety.

How do drainage systems contribute to hygienic practice?

Food processing facilities need to be mindful of floor and grate drainage design.

38 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

More often than not, after benchtops, appliances, equipment, cupboards and walls have been cleaned, cleaning water and products are swept or washed into the drainage system via grates and then into the floor gully. Therefore, it is crucial that grates and drain systems are thoroughly cleaned.

In many systems, the design of grates, floor gullies and drainage channels makes them difficult to clean thoroughly. This creates potential sites for the growth of bacteria, which can subsequently spread via foot traffic or washdown spray.

ACO is committed to hygienic drainage systems. Under its Hygienefirst philosophy, the

FOOD SAFETY "Regular maintenance and inspection is often overlooked and must be part of the overall cleaning procedure for the floor and drainage system." company designs grates, gullies and channels for performance, safety and “cleanability”. Ensuring products are completely clean allows for high hygiene levels for food production facilities.

“The drains primary objective is to remove wastewater, be easily cleaned and subsequently be kept clean. If drainage is designed and installed correctly, it will reduce the bacteria that can harbour in joins, corners or crevices that occur with poor designs, thereby reducing the overall risk of contamination and food spoilage,” said Kate Jennings, product manager, ACO Australia.

Some of the key elements in the ACO design include the absence of joins and crevices where bacteria can build up; as well as sharp corners which can be difficult for brooms, mops and cleaning fluids to adequately reach and clean. In addition, drainable design ensures residual contaminated wastewater will not pool or stagnate.

Made of stainless steel for

corrosion resistance and easy cleaning, ACO’s grates, floor gullies and channels are constructed with round edges for safe and easy handling, and smooth contours that won’t trap contaminants.

In addition, the grates are slip resistant and minimise the risk of workplace injury. ACO recommends a standardised cleaning procedure for their stainless steel channels, drains and floor gullies. (See

accompanying box).

For the most part, the level and frequency of cleaning is determined for the most part by the room’s hygienic risk profile. For example, in areas where food preparation is carried out for ready to eat meals, the moisture level of the food is high and therefore more likely to encourage bacteria growth.

“Assessing the risk with HACCP will determine the frequency and depth of the clean,” said Jennings. “Regular maintenance and inspection is often overlooked and must be part of the overall cleaning procedure for the floor and drainage system to ensure a safe food preparation environment.”

Drainage systems with corners and crevices make it difficult for cleaning with brooms and mops as the bristles cannot reach to remove waste products.

ACO’s guide to cleaning stainless steel channels, drains and floor gullies • Clear away any excess material sitting on top of the grate • Remove the grate • Remove strainer basket and any traps • Give the grate, trap and strainer a rinse • Apply the cleaning foam (or cleaning fluid) on all components • Leave it to soak • Scrub if needed • Rinse • Check for any visual signs of buildup and clean it again if needed • Return the trap, strainer and grate to its correct position • Perform one final rinse.

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Smart Media makes it easy for retailers and suppliers to produce, manage and share: • Professional product photography • Essential product content including all on-pack data • Video and multimedia files T +61 2 9695 2227 E smartmediacontent@gs1au.org www.gs1au.org/smart-media

The new home of DLibrary www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 39

FOOD SAFETY

Setting the standard right It is crucial we have a global set of standards across the food and beverage industry to support the rise of the digital era which is all about quality data and accuracy of information. Syed Shah interviewed Maria Palazzolo, executive director and CEO of GS1 Australia, about this goal.

M

aria Palazzolo has seen the gradual evolution of business over the last 35 years. Through this period, she has worked with businesses of all sizes and in a range of sectors – always towards a vision of the future. A vision where all companies and their supply chains have full visibility of the products they are trading. Where recalls can be affected in minutes, not weeks. Where everyone can share in the benefits of the greater efficiencies created, including consumers.

The vision is possible today. It’s possible through the adoption of the standards and solutions provided by the GS1 system. Palazzolo’s goal now is to see those standards implemented at a whole of industry level, and her vision become reality.

For over 40 years, GS1 Australia has dedicated itself to the design and implementation of global standards for efficient business communication

and to build smarter supply chains.

Today, the GS1 system of standards is the global language of business to identify, capture and share information about products moving efficiently and securely up and down supply chains all over the world.

Efficient standards ensure effective exchanges between companies, facilitate interoperability and provide structure to the exchange of data in many industries.

Using GS1 standards brings together companies representing all parts of the supply chain – manufacturers, distributors, retailers, hospitals, transporters, customs organisations, software developers, regulatory authorities and more.

The generic blueprint of GS1 standards

Palazzolo explained that standards form the core business of the GS1 philosophy. And users of GS1

standards make it possible for the right product to be in the right place at the right time.

“We sometimes need to go back to where it all began to put things into perspective about GS1. In 1973, industry leaders in the US selected a single standard for product identification that is still used today and known as the GS1 barcode, named recently by the BBC as one of the 50 things that made the world economy,” she said.

Five years later, GS1 Australia became the Australian member of the global GS1 organisation and major Australian retailers began to adopt the GS1 system of barcoding and numbering as their preferred standard for trade. GS1 began to roll out value-added services to support the implementation of these standards by its members.

“Nearly 40 years have passed since the GS1 barcode revolutionised

The Australian food and beverage industry is one of the most advanced industries in its adoption of GS1 standards.

the way we do business in Australia but on many occasions, I still have people ask me, ‘Who is GS1 and what do you do?’. In many ways, we are the world’s best kept secret because when you think about what GS1 does to help businesses get their products from the manufacturer to the retailer and consumer, the GS1 system touches pretty much everyone around the world almost every single day,” said Palazzolo.

“Chances are, if you’re a consumer of something, you would have most likely come across and been a part of the GS1 system in action. Shoppers at major supermarket stores in Australia will hear the familiar beep of the GS1 barcode at the checkout, although it is unlikely that many of them will realise that each of those beeps is GS1 standards at work. The GS1 barcode still remains the most widely used identification system and supply chain standard in the world.”

Global standards for identification

Palazzolo explained that the food and beverage industry in Australia is one of the most advanced industries in its adoption of GS1 standards to ensure best practice within its supply chains.

The GS1 system is a common foundation for businesses that enables unique identification, accurate data capture and automatic sharing of vital information about products, locations, shipments assets and more. Within the GS1 system, barcodes are just one part of the technology available to carry the unique GS1 identifiers.

Simply, the GS1 system provides a common language for all local and global businesses to communicate with each other and exchange information. This builds efficiency and accuracy, reducing the need to exchange data in multiple different ways with multiple trading partners.

40 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

FOOD SAFETY

Standards for traceability and food safety The humble barcode, seen today on every consumer product, has served us well for a long time.

But it must support today’s world where information needs to be more readily available, and consumers expect to know more about what they are buying. Food and beverage companies need the ability to track and trace their products and have full visibility throughout their supply chains.

Traceability is an important part of an organisation’s product recall management plan. Without an effective traceability process in place, delays in actioning a product recall can escalate into a crisis.

The speed and effectiveness with which a product recall is communicated to retailers and government authorities has implications for not only the consumer, but a business’s reputation.

To protect the security of the Australian food chain and the safety of consumers, the implementation of GS1 standards allows visibility

of product, up and down the supply chain. By using GS1 standards, recalled products can to be traced quickly and efficiently back to the source of origin.

Issuing a recall or withdrawal with GS1 Australia’s Recall service is simple, fast and inexpensive.

Based on global GS1 standards, Recall is a centralised online portal designed to streamline the management of product recall and withdrawal notifications.

“All food and beverage companies have different kinds of traceability systems within their organisations.

The common denominator across all of those systems is that they have to identify the product they want to trace. For instance, a certain bag of sugar or wheat among thousands of bags – each uniquely identified so that it can be traced back to its source. The use of GS1 standards allows for this complete traceability, not only within an organisation, but also across all organisations within their supply chains,” said Palazzolo.

“So, put simply, if everyone used one single global standard they would have the ability to have total

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FOOD SAFETY

"Chances are, as a consumer, you would have come across and been a part of the GS1 system in action" traceability of their products from raw material through to the end customer, the consumer.”

Palazzolo explained that with the GS1 system, every bag could have a serial number containing, among other things, data on location, manufacturing process, product ingredients, handling and where the raw materials were sourced.

For GS1, food safety and reducing errors are of utmost importance.

“Avoiding these errors and protecting consumers from any harm is a responsibility that all manufacturers take very seriously and by having robust traceability systems in place they can avoid irreversible damages,” said Palazzolo.

GS1 standards exist today that can encode data such as batch/lot numbers, use-by and best-before dates and other product attributes at all levels of packaging from bulk materials to single produce items and finished goods.

GS1 Australia recently introduced a new type of barcode called the GS1 Databar for loose produce to complement existing barcodes.

This barcode not only increases the number of products that can be automatically identified at retail point of sale, but also creates new opportunities to solve today’s retail business problems such as enhanced and wider category management,

The GS1 Databar is currently being rolled out in Australia for loose produce such as apples, citrus and pears.

product authentication, traceability, stock control, product replenishment, variable measure product identification and shrink control.

The GS1 Databar is currently being rolled out in Australia for loose “produce only”, such as apples, citrus and pears in this first implementation.

Soon, it will be applied to other fresh items including meat and cheese to better manage stock rotations and sales accuracy.

Getting the ball rolling towards a standardised industry

Palazzolo explained that, globally and locally, the food and beverage industry still has some way to go in terms of the use of a single standard that will assist in traceability. She explained that the industry needs to get connected along different supply chains. She believes that all suppliers and manufacturers (raw materials, packaging, transport, logistics, etc.) need to be aligned in order to make this happen.

“I think that the industry needs to ask questions like ‘How do we create a completely seamless supply chain without information barriers that stop products from being accurately identified because they are not using global standards?’,” said Palazzolo.

She said that this should be done not only for the purpose of traceability and to create food safety, but also, to make a business smarter and more efficient.

42 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

“The potential for what the GS1 standards can do within an organisation, in my view, in Australia, still has a long way to go but I remain hopeful because it is the logical way to go, especially as the world becomes more digital and more reliant on accurate shared data. At the moment, there are still many companies that are using their proprietary manual systems that have been in place for a long time.

They don’t feel the need to change because they don’t fully understand the benefits of automating their

processes and using a common global standard,” said Palazzolo.

She said that GS1 provides education and training for member companies as well as consultancy on how to implement the GS1 system.

“The food and beverage industry has led the way in the adoption of GS1 standards and we are looking forward to continuing to work in close partnership with the industry to shape the future of traceability and food safety initiatives for the benefit of the business, the brand and the consumer,” she said.

, D E E N U .

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TEST AND MEASUREMENT

The new standard in level measurement Since its introduction about 30 years ago, radar level measurement has continued to change and improve.

VEGA Australia offers two 80 GHz units which represent the cutting edge in this field.

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p until the late 1980s, manufacturers used technologies such as capacitance and ultrasonic pressure to measure the levels of liquids and solids inside vessels. However, as is the case with most old technologies, these devices have now been largely superseded.

“Radar technology now is becoming an accepted form of level measurement. Radar has completely replaced traditional methods because of advantages to the client,” John

Leadbetter, managing director of VEGA Australia, told Food & Beverage Industry News.

These advantages include better hygiene, efficiency, simplicity, speed, accuracy, and more.

VEGA Australia offers two products which provide all these benefits - the Vegapuls 69 which is mainly used to measure solid materials like grains, flours, and solid mixtures; and the Vegapuls 64, which is suitable for use with liquid and paste materials, such as sauces,

The Vegapuls 64 is suitable for use with liquid and paste materials.

dairy products, blends of mixtures, and oils.

80GHz level measurement

These level sensors are the first to use a frequency of 80 GHz. This means they have a narrow beam angle of 3 degrees which provides better focus. In addition, they have an increased power range and can measure up to 120m.

According to Leadbetter, the small size of the sensors is another important factor. “The smaller size in both models allows a lower beam angle. The other thing it does is help with the cost of installation. The customer doesn’t have to go out and modify vessels to larger diameter units. In most cases, existing sockets on the vessels can be utilised for the transmitter. Installation’s a lot simpler and easier,” he said.

While the sensors are suitable for use in many industries, including energy, oil, chemical, building and elsewhere, the models used by food makers have all the necessary industry approvals.

“The Vegapuls 64 carries all the food approvals and the Vegapuls 69 carries what they call the dust approval. This is necessary because things like grain and white sugar are highly explosive,” said Leadbetter.

The importance of hygiene

Hygiene is a crucial consideration for food and beverage makers.

The advantage of radar level measurement, in this context, is that the sensor used never come into contact with the material being measured.

Apart from that, operations which use the technology should simply follow normal industry procedures.

“Most applications in the food industry use cleaning in place with caustics, so we’re all fully approved, we have temperature ratings and everything for that. Realistically in the food industry you’re going to 44 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

have no little gaps or anything like that so it’s going to be a smooth finish,” Leadbetter said.

Connectivity and simplicity

According to Leadbetter, another advantage of the sensors is that they are Bluetooth compatible.

“With both units you have a variety of fittings so they are adaptable to the needs of specific clients. They also have built-in asset management which means that, if there has been a problem in the middle of the night, they can go back through the memory and pick out what the problem was,” he said.

“Asset management’s a big part of it.”

The sensors are used with an industry standard software called Pactware which is commonly used for instrumentation. Users log into their units through a laptop (or Bluetooth via a smart phone or iPad) and they are able to set the unit up either remotely or connect to it directly.

“The major feedback we get from customers is how easy they are to program. We’ve made it a lot simpler for the customer,” said Leadbetter.

According to Leadbetter, the two units have been very well received by industry. “Three major grain companies in Australia have now standardised on the Vegapuls 69.

Also, in the case of the Vegapulse 64 we have food manufacturers that have standardised on the product.

This means they are very happy with the performance,” he said.

On top of that, they have proved popular. Combined, they have sold in excess of 80,000 units, across all industries, worldwide.

Leadbetter said that VEGA Australia has all the level measurement bases covered. “We’ve covered the dry and processed food with the same technology. It’s one technology to cover both sides of operations,” he said.

TEST AND MEASUREMENT

How leak testing devices enhance product reliability The possibility of product contamination is a major concern for food and beverage manufacturers.

Bestech Australia offers a product that, in a matter of seconds, allows them to test the integrity of their packaging and put their fears of costly recalls to rest.

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hen consumers open packaged food products, they expect to see something that is fresh and tastylooking. The last thing they expect or want is food that has gone off.

This is most commonly caused by the penetration of organic matters or leaks that accelerate food decomposition. For this reason, it is critically important that food and beverage manufacturers maintain packaging integrity.

“A quality regime of leak testing allows manufacturer to greatly reduce wasted product due to sealing problems. It means that issues can be detected much more quickly in the production cycle, and faulty equipment fixed,” Bestech Australia’s leak tester product specialist, Daniel Isbister told Food & Beverage Industry News.

“The use of quality control devices helps avoid costly product recalls due to mouldy or stale product, where often the greatest cost is damage to the customers’ impression of the brand name.”

The TSE6086b package integrity tester from Bestech Australia is such a device. According to Isbister, it allows food manufacturers to be confident about the shelf life and integrity of their products, while adding to their system of quality traceability.

“Many products need to be checked to ensure that their packages are sealed against moisture, oxygen or biological contamination. The Sealtick TSE6086b allows the manufacturer to test for leaks in an objective, easy to use and reliable manner,” said Isbister.

Requiring only air and power, the instrument is easy to use. Operators simply need switch it on, place a package inside it, and close the chamber to initiate the test. A display light panel will indicate whether the product gets a pass or fail. This whole process takes just 5-15 seconds for most standard packages.

“A fairly unique feature is the test

being dry and non-destructive. In other words, the ‘pass’ packages can be returned to the production line and be sent to customers with confidence, something that a conventional underwater leak tester is unable to offer,” said Isbister.

Another advantage over the conventional bubble leak testing is the removal of dependence on operators’ attention levels. The tester measures a vacuum decay and compares it with a pre-determined pass/fail leak rate, and the operator simply reacts to the pass/ fail lamp.

The tester can cope with a wide range of package shapes and sizes.

It is typically used with products such as biscuits, milk powder, tortillas, wraps, snack foods, salad packs and dog food. The unit, itself, is portable and has a footprint of roughly 500mm x 500mm. It can fit comfortably into the quality control area or beside a production line of a food manufacturing operation, which makes it suitable for medium to large businesses.

Isbister explained that the tester can play an important role in

traceability, a hot topic in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.

“Leak test results are continually logged into the tester’s memory and available for extraction by Ethernet.

This allows an organisation to attach results to product batches, providing traceability back to incoming ingredients,” he explained, adding that “a newly available option is to add a barcode scanner so that the serial number of an individual product may be scanned and logged in the same dataset with its test result.”

The TSE6086b package integrity tester produces results in a matter of seconds. www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 45

Product Identification Do you have a product or service that can help food and beverage manufacturers improve factory practices? Let us know and be featured in the next edition of this magazine.

Quality control is of critical importance for food and beverage makers. They need to be able to quickly identify product that doesn’t meet specifications. In the July/August issue of Food & Beverage Industry News, we will focus on Product Identification.

We will have everything you need to single out items that aren’t packaged correctly, don’t meet food safety standards, aren’t correctly labelled and more.

Booking deadling: 14th May

JUN/JUL 2018 APR/MAY 2018

Natural, healthy & profitable Organics industry comes of age

PLUS: TPP-11 | Floor scrubbers | Test & measurement

To book in Food & Beverage Contact Sonia Bonner now SONIA.BONNER@PRIMECREATIVE.COM.AU | 0432 574 669

TEST AND MEASUREMENT

A new generation of photoelectric sensors SICK has streamlined its portfolio of object detection sensors and equipped them with new technologies for improved performance. These new smart devices represent a significant improvement, both in terms of usability and reliability.

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y focusing on the essentials, SICK has made its photoelectric sensors fit to face future challenges. The new W16 and W26 product families are the result of a consistent simplification and streamlining of the company’s product portfolio. These devices are technically optimized and equipped with new features, intended to make work easier and processes safer.

In addition, as smart components within networked production and control processes in complex machine environments, the sensors are equipped for the industrial future and Industry 4.0. They are not only consistent in terms of housing size, but also in terms of their equipment.

Because all features are consistent across both product families, users can rely on these product families for seamless, reliable production in all situations.

The new technologies

Twineye Technology offers operational safety for high-gloss, reflective, and high-contrast objects, such as food packaging. This technology uses one sender and two receivers. Should the light beam be deflected by an uneven or high-gloss surface, the sensor maintains its status until the second receiver can no longer detect the object either. This prevent switching errors.

Linespot technology ensures that perforated, textured, and uneven objects can be reliably detected. The light spot, which has been extended to form a line, allows optical information to be provided about irregularities, such as gaps or rough surfaces.

Clearsens technology ensures transparent objects such as bottles can be accurately detected. The operating element can rotate to set the required mode depending on the object characteristics, and then pressed to carry out the sensor teach-in for the

reflector. Where dirt reduces the light emitted by the reflector, Autoadapt technology compensates by adjusting the switching thresholds. This allows cleaning intervals to be extended and the availability of the sensors to be increased.

Depolarizing objects such as foil-wrapped containers also place high demands on sensors. These devices filter the received signal geometrically and can therefore differentiate between reflectors and depolarizing objects, and thus avoid switching errors.

Importantly, the new sensors also provide the input required on the route toward Industry 4.0. They are all equipped as standard with IO-Link and, as smart sensors, can play an active role in end-to-end automation networks.

No further setup is required. In live operation, the LEDs in these device classes also offer a diagnostic function: should detection quality change as a result of contamination and/or vibration, the LEDs indicate the degree of impairment by slowly increasing or decreasing dimming. In this way, operators can detect faults at a glance early on before they result in production failures.

Setting up the new photoelectric proximity sensors with Bluepilot is just as intuitive. To this end, the advantages of the teach-in button and potentiometer have been combined in

one operating element. This allows the sensing distance – which is in turn visualized by the blue LED ring – to be configured in a matter of seconds.

With the help of a new smart production system, SICK has been manufacturing W16 and W26 sensors since July 2017 in Germany. Production cells enable the manufacture of bespoke product variants within the context of a modular system under the same conditions as serial products – in a traceable manner, with a serial number for indexing and cross linking.

The sensors can accurately detect high-gloss, reflective, and high-contrast objects, such as food packaging.

Optically and mechanically rugged

Until now, ambient light in the form of direct sunlight, LED illumination, and so on has sometimes led to switching errors. The new product families feature an Optofilter which ensures they only see what is there.

They are also more mechanically rugged than predecessors. Their “Vistal” housing is made from a glass-fibre reinforced plastic and is resistant to extreme loads caused by thermal, chemical, or mechanical influences. Also, the sensors’ laser inscription allows clear identification of the device type, even after years of operation. The printed QR code takes the user directly to more product information.

Usability a priority

The usability of the new sensor ranges is intended to create a “cockpit feeling” in the machine room. BluePilot, a blue LED alignment aid which enables faster alignment of sensors and reflectors as well as senders and receivers, helps ensure this. www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 47

E-COMMERCE

Chain reaction E-commerce has made international commerce easier, and brought manufacturers and consumers closer than ever. With these modern supply chains and relationships, however, comes a need for more sophisticated, more intuitive order management.

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n recent years, e-commerce has carved itself a significant piece of the retail pie, in Australia and around the world. Research carried out by enterprise management software firm Sage in 2016 found that 65,000 Australians shop online – a trend that is on the up. “Bricksand-mortar retailers are realising they can’t afford to ignore the rise of e-commerce,” said Ettore Alterisio, product director, Sage Australia and Asia. “In recent years the market has grown by 20-plus per cent.”

Ettore noted that in the years since the dawn of e-commerce, it has heavily impacted the traditional supply chain. “E-commerce exploded in 2008 through traditional retailers, and that was rapidly followed by other industries as they started to consider it’s potential,” he said. “It is only recently that the manufacturing sector has dipped its foot in – and there is so much opportunity there.”

Manufacturers, and to a certain extent distribution companies, are looking to connect directly with the consumers seeking out products on their smartphones and computers, cutting out the bricksand-mortar middleman, he noted “Nowadays, there is a growing number of consumers that want to browse and purchase products using mobile devices, so much so that companies across many industries including manufacturers no longer need to rely on traditional retailers for sales, through the power of the digital economy, they now have the capability to engage directly with consumers not only across Australia but all parts of the globe,” he said.

and accuracy of order fulfilment, and relationships with suppliers, but methods to achieve cost reduction must be constantly revised and improved,” said Ettore.

Tracking and accounting for variations in the cost of utilities and raw materials can cause major headaches for warehousing and distribution companies, he noted.

“In 2017, when electricity prices leapt up in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, it was a strong pain point for those in distribution, it had a major impact on costs and margins” said Ettore.

“That’s just one of the many business variables eroding distributor margins. With most businesses now capable of operating globally they face currency value fluctuations, additional packaging and rising warehousing costs, all effecting price, cost forecasting and in turn quality of their offering across their entire supply chain.”

Ettore Alterisio, product director, Sage Australia and Asia.

Company values

Though the nature of distribution is evolving, the fundamentals of business remain the same. “For any company dealing in distribution, whether to retailers or direct to consumers, there are two key priorities – customer experience and managing costs,” he said. “Customer experience is managed through speed 48 Food&Beverage Industry News | April/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

Full visibility

The use of a warehouse management systems will help companies cope with the challenges encountered when engaging in e-commerce, Ettore noted, but to be truly effective it is crucial that it is integrated with other systems used within the business. “A sophisticated, integrated warehouse management system will help companies track and predict costs across territories, forecast spikes and troughs in demand and provide enhanced visibility of orders,” said Ettore. “Inventory management is a huge benefit – companies can initiate promotions at the press of a button, and the customer gets real-time information on how much product is in stock.” It is possible to link inventory data with e-commerce systems, he explained, but the need to sync the information stored in each can result in latency.

“If the e-commerce solution is integrated into the company’s ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution,

it means instantaneous answers on questions relating to inventory levels and costing for everything from customs taxes and packaging to courier services and delivery by plane or ship,” said Ettore.

The Sage Business Cloud Enterprise Management solution provides key functionality to enable companies to operate internationally, with high visibility of processes, Ettore explains. “With the ongoing disruption happening due to digital transformation, paper-based processes are being replaced by automated workflows – that means that companies are collecting a massive amount of data but they’re not necessarily compiling that information into a form that can benefit them.

“In the coming years, even more businesses will choose to send or source materials and goods overseas,” he said. “It is important to build a strong foundation, so that companies, suppliers and customers have access to one single source of truth.”

FLOOR SCRUBBERS

A new and different stand-on scrubber Maker of floor cleaning machines and technologies, Tennant Australia has released a scrubber with the right features to deliver speed, agility and performance to food and beverage makers.

The T350 stand-on scrubber in action.

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he latest addition to the company’s line-up of scrubberdryers, the T350 is available with Tennant innovations like touch screen ProPanel, ec-H20 NanoClean, Smart-Fill (Automatic Battery Watering) and IRIS asset manager software to help businesses drive down the rising cost of cleaning.

“The T350 is a new and different stand-on scrubber that delivers category-leading productivity by combining the agility of a walk behind unit with the speed of a ride-on for F&B manufacturers who need the best of both worlds,” Josh Hastings, Tennant ANZ marketing manager told Food & Beverage Industry News.

“High productivity rates and great manoeuvrability make this stand-on scrubber an ideal choice for large or obstructed spaces across manufacturing.”

The unit has a cleaning path of up to 600mm (disk) which means it can deliver productivity rates exceeding 2,795 square meters per hour. It easily handles tight turning circles in small spaces while offering speed

over larger sized production areas.

What’s more, its turning circle has been designed to easily navigate tight spaces with minimal disturbance.

“As with all Tennant equipment, maintenance of health and safety is a key commitment. Food ingredients, oils, grease, debris and spills are specific challenges to food and beverage makers so maintaining cleaning standards with equipment solutions that not only remove dirt and soil, but also leave surfaces safe, dry, and ready for traffic is paramount to safety,” said Hastings.

The T350’s optimised squeegee design and advanced recovery system are designed to reduce the risk of slipand-fall accidents and ensure soils are removed from the floor quickly and efficiently in fast paced manufacturing environments. New Smart Fill automatic battery watering technology (automatically) fills batteries to proper levels with (distilled) water which helps increase battery life, extend battery run-time and easily optimises long-term battery performance with a nearly maintenance-free battery watering system.

"High productivity rates and great maneuverability make this stand-on scrubber an ideal choice for large or obstructed spaces across manufacturing."

With excellent down pressure (up to 41kg), the T350 is suitable for a variety of floor surfaces found in food manufacturing, including textured and grouted floors with multiple cleaning pad and brush combinations available from the company’s partner, 3M. “T350 has been designed with latest technology, operator comfort and safety in mind with ergonomic and easy-to-use machine controls including LCD touch panel with on-board (ProPanel) tutorial videos available,” said Hastings. “For safety, before engaging motion, the forward and reverse light will blink until you tell the unit which direction you want to go. An intuitive and ergonomic green control knob gives the operator an easy (and safe) way to adjust speed while in motion.”

While cleaning, users can choose between four cleaning modes: Standard Conventional Cleaning,

Quiet Mode (for sensitive areas), available Severe Environment Mode (for harder to clean areas) and ec-H2O NanoClean (exclusive to Tennant company).

Ec-H20 (pronounced ec-water) is a detergent-free “green” cleaning technology that uses millions of electrically charged nano bubbles. It not only reduces water consumption (by up to 70 per cent when compared to conventional cleaning), but is also ideal for use in food production areas.

Additionally, it voids the disposal of conventional cleaning detergents into the waste stream environment.

“Maintaining sanitary environments is critical for food and beverage facilities,” said Hastings.

“Tennant’s total floor care solutions help provide clean, hygienic environments where food or beverages are prepared, processed, packaged, bottled, stored or transported.”

www.foodmag.com.au April/May 2018 | Food&Beverage Industry News 49

NEW PRODUCTS

Plastic pillow block bearings LUBRICATION-free xiros pillow block bearings replace metallic solutions and are designed to help maintain clean conditions in the food and packaging sectors. The units, which are developed by igus, are made of the FDA-compliant high-performance plastic xirodur B180.

Compared to metallic solutions, the user can save 83 per cent of weight with the new smooth-running compact xiros bearing. Thanks to the same dimensions of the hole spacing, a 1:1 replacement is quick and easy.

Used on roller conveyors or conveyor belts, pillow block bearings play a central role in the food industry. They ensure that shafts rotate smoothly even under heavy loads.

Metallic pillow block bearings, in contrast, have high friction due to their shield and grease filling. This means that, for example, the rollers of a conveyor belt no longer rotate and the conveyor wears out.

The ball-mounted xiros pillow block bearing is flushable and suitable for application environments of up to 80 degrees C. Due to its special material and the built-in stainless steel balls, the bearing is very smooth and also corrosion-resistant.

High-performance cleaning systems CRC'S patented Smartwasher systems deliver high-performance cleaning while maintaining a non-hazardous and non-flammable environment.

The systems use a natural process called bioremediation to degrade and remove contaminants from its cleaning fluid, allowing re-use. There is no need to change out the cleaning solution which means no liquid waste.

Recommended for the removal of animal fat, grease, burnt on carbon and much more, the systems benefit industrial kitchens and food processing plants by removing the reliance on expensive, polluting and potentially dangerous solvents.

With the systems, organic microbes (known as Ozzy microbes) do all the hard work in cleaning and renewing the solution so it re-circulates ready for re-use every time.

The Smartwasher has two main components to its system: OzzyJuice, the aqueous cleaning/degreasing solution that cleans the parts; and OzzyMat, which introduces the microbes that remove the contaminants from the cleaning fluid.

The cleaning process is non-hazardous, non-flammable, pH neutral, non-toxic and non-irritating.

By eliminating skin and respiratory irritants of solvent based parts washers, worker safety is considerably enhanced and PPE requirements are significantly reduced, allowing for simpler workplace compliance.

CRC Industries Australia 1800 111 556 www.crcindustries.com.au

50 Food&Beverage Industry News | Apr/May 2018 | www.foodmag.com.au

Capable of coping with high stress, the bearing withstands up to 50kg with up to 850 revolutions per minute. The new pillow block bearing is currently used by igus for shafts with a diameter of 25mm. Other sizes are available upon request.

Treotham Automation 1300 65 75 64 www.treotham.com.au

Intelligent motor management system IN process plant applications, the ability for operators to monitor motor performance and further create opportunities to enhance overall energy efficiency is paramount. With energy consumption forming one of the largest operating expenses in process plants, optimising motor energy consumption is a profitable starting point for any kind of energy cost reduction initiative.

Simocode pro from Siemens is a flexible and modular motor control system for low voltage motors that not only enables dynamic monitoring of motor performance to improve energy efficiency, but also aids in the prevention of costly downtimes by providing smart insights for early detection.

Offering easy and direct connection to automation systems such as the Simatic PCS7 from Siemens via Profibus, Profinet, Modbus RTU or Ethernet IP, the Simocode pro implements all motor protection and control functions, provides operational, diagnostic and statistical data and organises the communication between automation system and motor feeder.

From planning and installation, through to ongoing operation and service of your plant or system, the Simocode pro is a solution to increase process control quality and reduce costs at the same time.

APS Industrial 1300 309 303 www.apsindustrial.com.au

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Contact Sonia Bonner sonia.bonner@primecreative.com.au