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German packaging machine manufacturers LoeschPack and Hastamat will showcase their extensive range of products at their joint booth located at S-2695. With the LTM-DUO combination line, LoeschPack will present its versatile solution for packaging chocolate bars to trade visitors at PACK EXPO. “LoeschPack and Hastamat’s innovative systems take into account all packaging steps for a wide range of food and non-food products, encompassing everything from feeding to final packaging. In addition to individual machines, our portfolio also includes complete packaging lines,” says Olaf Piepenbrock, Managing Partner of LoeschPack, Hastamat, and the parent company Piepenbrock. Combination line integrates both fold wrapping and cartoning LoeschPack’s combination line provides optimal packaging solutions for machines and features a high degree of automation, minimal staffing requirements, and a small footprint. The flexible fold wrapping machine LTM-DUO packs more than 200 bars of chocolate per minute in a tightly sealed primary wrap. The outer wrap can be executed as a paper envelope from the stack or reel and as a cardboard envelope. The machine is joined by the CMW cartoning module, which fills 30 display cartons per minute. An integrated buffer is utilized between primary packaging and cartoning to minimize product waste during periods of downtime. Only one hot glue device and a controller with the new HMI operated by an operator are required for the entire line. Thanks to its compact design, the combination line occupies much less space than similar layouts. It also can serve as a cost-effective alternative to a configuration with two stand-alone machines.

The company announces today the extension of its Ambiante range of ready-to-whip toppings, with the addition of consumers’ number one patisserie flavor choice: chocolate. A unique topping offering, Ambiante Chocolate Flavor is 100% dairy-free, with no artificial flavors or colors and uses cocoa powder from Puratos’s sustainable Cacao-Trace program. With a smooth, mousse-like texture, Ambiante Chocolate Flavor is ideal for helping customers create consistently high-quality fillings, decorations and toppings for patisserie and desserts in a convenient, cost-efficient way. The new Ambiante Chocolate Flavor contains only 14% fat and boasts an exceptional overrun, gaining up to 3.5 times its original volume during whipping, in comparison to the average overrun of just two times when using a standard dairy cream and cocoa powder combination. Produced using UHT technology, it can be easily stored unopened at room temperature (between 2-20°) for up to nine months. Furthermore, after whipping and applying, patisserie creations are freeze-thaw stable, or they can be stored in a refrigerator for up to five days. Together, these factors mean Ambiante Chocolate Flavor constitutes a long lasting solution with superb visual appeal. Developed using carefully selected cocoa powder sourced through Puratos’s Cacao-Trace program, Ambiante Chocolate Flavor ensures a fine, layered taste, while boosting the finished product’s sustainability credentials. As part of the Cacao-Trace initiative, farmers are paid an annual ‘Chocolate Bonus’: with every 1kg of Ambiante Chocolate Flavor sold, they receive a premium of €0,05 directly or via community funding projects – another step towards creating a truly sustainable cocoa and chocolate supply chain. As Ambiante Chocolate Flavor is 100% plant-based, it also has half the lower environmental footprint of traditional dairy options. This has been verified by GF-impact, using the Product Environmental Footprint Method as part of Puratos’s life-cycle assessment initiative. Ambiante Chocolate Flavor can be used to add visual appeal and a desirable chocolate taste in a wide range of applications, such as traditional truffle cake and creative reinventions of the classic Latin American specialty, tres leches cake, as well as éclair fillings or chocolate mousses. Ideal as a standalone flavor or combined with other types of chocolate, the new ready-to-whip topping has been developed to enhance chocolate desserts.

A synergic collaboration between the two trade fair organisers was announced yesterday in Milan (Italy) to become a single global reference point for processing and packaging companies. Informa Markets and Ipack Ima S.r.l. publicly disclosed the agreement signed a few months ago meant to establish a brand-new strategic alliance. The deal aims to develop joint international promotion and step up cross-selling activities for their trade fair portfolios, including the Propak and Fispal platforms operated by Informa Markets and the trade fairs organised by Ipack Ima. The agreement aims to guarantee a global presence for trade fairs focused on processing and packaging technologies, packaging materials, targeting the key sectors of the Food industry - with a particular focus on grain-based food and liquid food beverages, and pharmaceuticals. As for communication, the teams involved have launched a shared path to strengthen the visibility and value of the partnership. In this context, Ipack Ima will also organize seminars and conferences on industry-related topics, particularly those related to packaging, processing, and materials, which are of strategic interest to Informa. From a commercial standpoint, Informa Markets and Ipack Ima agreed on the creation of an integrated, interconnected platform that is meant to foster visibility in international markets, offer in-depth opportunities for expansion and growth on a global scale. This agreement will allow Ipack Ima to further consolidate its global position as a reference point for the technologies it deals with, thus strengthening key markets. With Informa's support, the presence of exhibitors from strategic markets like India and the United States will be enhanced, in addition to further consolidating its penetration in important European countries like France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, supporting Ipack-Ima's already established sales network. At the same time, Informa will benefit from Ipack Ima's direct presence in the Italian and Turkish markets, facilitating the acquisition of new exhibitors for its exhibition network.

Beneo, a manufacturer of functional ingredients, is pleased to announce the appointment of Imen Ouerdiane as Sales Director EMEA. In her role, which came into effect on 2nd September 2024, Imen will lead the company’s sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from Beneo’s site in Tienen, Belgium, effective from 2nd September 2024. Imen holds an engineering degree in Food Science and has more than 20 years’ experience in the food industry. She started her career at Danone in Research and Development, following which she held roles as Quality Manager at Agrana and various Sales positions at Puratos in France. Most recently, Imen was positioned as Global Account Manager at Frulact SA. At Beneo, Imen will now be responsible for leading and expanding the company’s business in EMEA. This will include Beneo’s ‘home markets’ of Germany and the Benelux region, Northern and Southern Europe, as well as the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Imen Ouerdiane comments: “I am very happy to join the Beneo team. The company is a leading player for plant-based functional ingredients worldwide and I very much look forward to supporting our customers in EMEA and helping them reach their goals by providing them with quality solutions. With the company’s nutritional know-how and technical expertise, I am more than confident that we will be able to grow together, as these markets hold fantastic opportunities for Beneo.”

With its EcoTrace™ LCA service, the company has adopted a holistic and data-driven approach to evaluating the environmental impact of its products throughout the value chain. By means of various scenarios and projections, EcoTrace™ makes it possible to compare different packaging concepts, make objective decisions regarding optimal packaging solutions, achieve ambitious environmental and sustainability goals, and expand and optimize product reporting based on reliable LCA data. According to a study by WWF Germany, the volume of plastic waste could be reduced by around 8% by eliminating unnecessary packaging and introducing improved designs. Up to 365 kilotons, or 9%, of all single-use plastics could be replaced with materials that have a smaller ecological footprint. Furthermore, phasing out multipolymer materials would boost closed-loop mechanical recycling yields by 185 kilotons, or approximately 30%. “By incorporating chemical recycling as a viable recovery option, the potential environmental benefits increase manifold as carbon is retained in the material loop indefinitely,” explains Carolin Grimbacher, Managing Partner of Südpack. 

EcoTrace™ enables Südpack to analyze the entire life cycle of its own products, as well as customer concepts, in terms of their environmental impact. These calculations are based on a cradle-to-grave approach, which takes not only greenhouse gases (CO2e) into account, but also factors like fossil resource consumption, eco- and human-toxicity, as well as various energy sources and end-of-life options, within defined system limits. This is an important approach because around 10% of the environmental impact of Südpack’s flexible films occurs at the end of their life cycle (assuming an average recycling rate of 48% and a thermal recovery rate of 52%). In collaboration with Sphera, Südpack recently conducted an LCA study in accordance with ISO 14040/44 for its Flow Pack PurePP solution – to assess the potential environmental impact of these innovative high-performance films from the company’s Pure-Line range. The materials in question are flexible film laminates used to produce flow packs for various applications, primarily in the food sector. They are made from PP and, due to their mono-material structure, have a recyclability rate of 92% according to the cyclos-HTP institute. For the end-of-life analysis, a current German recycling mix served as the baseline scenario and was compared with the results from an analysis of 100% mechanical recycling, 100% chemical recycling, and 100% thermal recovery. Additionally, the study examined the impact of different energy sources used in production, as well as the incorporation of recycled content into the granules

With a record result, ISM Middle East 2024 underlined its role as the leading industry event for the confectionery and snack industry in the MENA region.
More than 550 exhibiting companies from all over the world showcased their latest products to an international audience of around 19,000 visitors, who were inspired by the diversity and innovative strength of the industry. With a clear focus on innovation and quality as well as the industry's forward-looking trend themes, including healthy indulgence, vegan confectionery, organic flavours and traditional confectionery, this year's edition of ISM Middle East once again provided a strong international platform for making contacts, generating new business and initiating promising partnerships for future projects.

“The decision to organize ISM Middle East 2024 within the new set-up was a strategic move, and it has been proven to be the right one when looking at the remarkable participation we’ve witnessed this year. The event saw an impressive turnout of both exhibitors and visitors, which clearly demonstrates that ISM Middle East is firmly established as the leading trade fair for the sweets and snacks sector in the MENA region. This level of international participation is a strong testament to the trust and value that the global industry places in this platform. We are incredibly proud to offer a space where meaningful connections and impactful business transactions can thrive.” says Gerald Boese, President and CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH.

Mark Napier, Vice President – Portfolio Growth Food & Hospitality, Dubai World Trade Centre, added: “The sweets and snacks industry is constantly evolving, and ISM Middle East 2024 has truly showcased the dynamic and innovative spirit of this sector. This year’s event has also highlighted the increasing demand for healthier and more sustainable products, as well as the growing interest in ethical sourcing and personalised products. The impressive turnout and the quality of contacts made during the event underscore the importance of ISM Middle East as a key platform for industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and discover new business opportunities. We are excited to continue driving innovation and excellence in the sweets and snacks industry and look forward to welcoming even more exhibitors and visitors in 2025”.

Feedback from exhibitors has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing strong satisfaction with the quality of leads made during the event. The strong presence of international visitors—comprised of industry buyers, distributors, and key decision-makers—has led to fruitful networking opportunities. Several exhibitors have already confirmed the signing of first contracts during the show, further underscoring the event’s effectiveness as a critical business platform.The satisfaction among exhibitors was particularly high, as many reported achieving their business objectives and establishing valuable connections with both regional and global partners. The combination of a dynamic marketplace, high-calibre attendees, and targeted networking events ensured that ISM Middle East 2024 continued its tradition of excellence.

The next ISM Middle East will take place from 15-17 September 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Among 4600 nominated medium-sized companies, Somic received this important award for outstanding achievements in innovation, customer proximity and responsible entrepreneurship. The award ceremony took place in a festive setting, where the certificate and a coveted Oskar figurine were presented as a token of appreciation. Somic is proud to be recognized in such a highly competitive category and sees this as confirmation of the outstanding performance of the entire team and the good cooperation with its customers and partners. “This award motivates us to continue to offer the highest quality and innovative solutions in the field of packaging machines. We would like to thank our employees and our customers who have supported us along the way,” explained Patrick Bonetsmüller, Managing Director of Somic. Somic Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH & Co KG, based in Amerang, employs around 550 people and is represented worldwide with subsidiaries in the USA and Thailand. In recent years, the company has not only established itself as a technology leader in the industry, but has also distinguished itself through sustainable corporate practices and social responsibility. This recognition underscores the importance of SMEs to the economy and society.

On September 18 and 19, Südpack, SN Maschinenbau, and Menshen welcomed customers and media representatives to SÜDPACK’s Erolzheim site for an engaging live event. The spotlight was on a cost-efficient and highly sustainable end-to-end solu-tion for the in-house production of spouted pouches for packaging liquid and pasty food products. The unanimous verdict among those present: The new solution is a strong overall concept with real added value. At four different themed stations, Südpack’s customers and members of the media had the chance to explore four key focus areas: economic profitability, logistics, quality, and sustainability. Live demonstrations followed, allowing the guests to experience the new concept’s many advantages firsthand. On both days, experts from all three partners were available for exclusive one-on-one discussions. enables flexible, highly efficient in-house production of spouted pouches in various sizes and shapes, including the processing of different spout types. At its core is the high-performance SPM 50 packaging machine from SN Maschi-nenbau, which works seamlessly with mono-materials. The PP-based – and therefore recyclable – high-performance films for pouch production are pro-vided by Südpack, while the corresponding spouts come from Menshen. The materials and machine settings are perfectly aligned, achieving optimal packag-ing results with maximum tightness and burst-pressure resistance. “Through our development partnership, we have created a turnkey solution that cus-tomers can implement quickly and without complications – and it’s a trailblazer in terms of sustainability and economic profitability,” explains Valeska Haux, Vice President Strategic Marketing & Sustainability at Südpack. Manufacturers and packaging companies that process fruit purees, smoothies, and other liquid or pasty foods requiring thermal treatment after filling will benefit from these advantages. By producing pouches from roll stock material and using spouts delivered in cardboard boxes, material costs can potentially be cut in half, while logistics and handling expenses are also significantly re-duced. As a result, the initial investment in the pouch-making machine can be amortized relatively quickly. Nils Hembach from SN Maschinenbau explains: “Typically, with an output of 4,200 pouches per hour, the film reel only needs to be changed once per shift – a huge advantage compared to handling pre-made pouches. Our customers also benefit from maximum flexibility in terms of pouch formats.”

The company will be on site at Gulfood Manufacturing 2024 from 5 to 7 November Worldwide sales of soft-serve ice cream have grown continuously for the last five years. According to Innova Market Insights, annual growth has been a good 7.3 % and rising. Soft-serve ice cream is a popular and trendy category. Accordingly, at Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai Hydrosol is presenting an established stabilizing system for the production of soft-serve ice cream. What makes it special is its simple handling. The final product can easily be made on site in the desired amount, by simply preparing a few basic ingredients and the functional system in a soft-serve ice cream machine. The result is a high-quality ice cream with creamy texture and authentic vanilla taste. The flexible recipe enables a wide range of soft-serve specialties in many different flavors. Another highlight is a vegetable fat cream that is particularly suitable for warm regions. A new stabilizing system from the Stabimuls ICR series makes it possible. The system and of course the final product store well even in warm temperatures. The whipped vegetable fat cream features a very high 400 % whip volume. Another plus point is the foam stability. On tartes and cakes, the whipped cream keeps its stable consistency for a long time, even without cooling. For hearty indulgence, Hydrosol presents new high-protein chicken chips. The basis is a proven system from the PLUSstabil series that was originally developed for fresh meat preparations like kebab and shawarma. The system has good binding ability and prevents loss of liquid. This increases yield. This new chicken chips application is an attractive snack that can be declared as a high protein product.

R-N11 in Sheik Rashid Hall