Machine vision solutions for inline inspection in confectionery
A traditional field of application for vision systems is the confectionery industry. Here, many quality features or product characteristics can only be checked visually.
Bi-Ber has been supplying camera systems for confectionery “made in Berlin” for more than 25 years now and has immense experience in this special industry. Examples for Bi-Ber’s solutions are the all-round 2D or 3D inspection of chocolate bars, the quality check of toppings or waffles as well as the product inspection with artificial intelligence (AI).
In this application, the vision system carries out the final inspection of chocolate-coated wafers. While still in the mould, the chocolate wafers are checked for foreign objects and quality defects. Holes, breakage, smeared coatings and leaking fillings must be marked as rejects. Up to 60 moulds per minute with a maximum of 54 products in each can be inspected.
Bi-Ber vision systems are Windows-based and equipped with modern GigE or USB3 color cameras. They have multilingual firmware and modern software interfaces and functionality.
For more information
send an email to: sales@bilderkennung.de
call: +49 30 8103 22260
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Flexible packaging material prices ease from recent highs
Following the first signs of cooling prices for flexible packaging materials seen at the end of 2022, the first quarter of 2023 saw a drop across the basket of materials, with only aluminium foil ticking up further (from 179 % to 187 % v Q4 2020) due to higher conversion costs.
Both LDPE and HDPE recorded much smaller recent price reductions, both at –3 %. They now stand at 161 % (LDPE) and 144 % (HDPE), well above 2020 levels, having been as high as 201 % and 182 % in the middle of last year.
NielsenIQ confectionery monitor: double-digit revenue increase via higher pricing level
According to the NielsenIQ confectionery monitor, revenues grew by 10.1% up to € 5.904 bn, while in contrast sales volume sank by 2.0% down to 610,600 tonnes (basis: food retailers + drug stores). NielsenIQ cites all product groups growing as a result of a “higher pricing level”.
The categories of salty snacks and sweet baked goods each enjoyed increased revenues of 14.2%, making them the strongest drivers of growth. Salty snacks achieved revenues of € 1.505 bn (sales volume - 1.5%; 153,700 t), while sweet baked goods supplier revenues were cited at € 739 m (sales volume - 6.0%; 100,700 t). Sugar confectionery also increased revenues, rising by 12.7% up to € 930.1 m (sales volume - 0.4%; 125,600 t). Chocolate products, the strongest revenues category, achieved an increase in revenues of 6.1% up to € 2.731 bn (sales volume - 1.3%; 230,600 t).
Significant growth in confectionery revenues of 17.3% (+ € 48.7 m) was achieved by drug stores, followed closely by small supermarkets (+ 16.9%; + € 6.7 m). And clear increases were also achieved in the additional sales channels of discounters (+ 10.8%; + € 257.6 m), large consumer markets (+ 8.8%; + € 94.1 m), small consumer markets (+ 8.7%; + € 104.2 m), and large supermarkets (+ 7.5%; + € 28.8 m).
World Packaging Organisation (WPO) welcomes new members
The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) approved three new “Full Members” during its 109th Board Meeting and the first of 2023 held at interpack trade show on 7 May 2023 in Düsseldorf/Germany.
“It is extremely meaningful to WPO to get new members from regions where we are not that active yet,” said WPO President Pierre Pienaar. “This is a way of increasing our presence in other regions and, most important, to contribute to the sustainable development of local and global packaging industries. On the other hand, no doubt these three new countries – Egypt, France and Ireland – will give excellent inputs to WPO new projects and actions.”
Luciana Pellegrino, WPO Senior Vice President of Marketing and President elected, completed: “The more packaging associations that join WPO, more we can have a better approach to the global packaging challenges, especially key ones related to save food, food safety, sustainability, digitalization, packaging innovation and packaging education programmes.”
Advertorial: WDS informed about flexible machine concepts
Under the motto of “WDS – Home of Confectionery Diversity: Production Lines for All Capacity Requirements”, Winkler und Dünnebier Süßwarenmaschinen (WDS) presented at interpack 2023 trade show in Düsseldorf/Germany customized production lines for chocolate, gum and jelly, toffee, fondant and hard candy.
At the booth, visitors could also learn about the WDS “sweetOTC” division, which specializes in the product development and production of innovative OTC confectionery or supplement dosage forms. With new, specially designed WDS production plants, companies can expand their product portfolio and thus open up new growth markets.
Another important topic was “starch-free WDS production technology under GMP conditions”. To this end, the company has developed innovative plant technology for depositing and demoulding with polycarbonate moulds.
Vitafoods Europe 2023: world’s most important nutraceutical event
With over 1,060 global exhibitors from across the nutraceutical industry converge, this year’s show marked the biggest edition of Vitafoods Europe in its 26-year history.
The Vitafoods Europe debut of the Future of Nutrition Summit brought together C-suite nutrition leaders to discuss the future of the industry and network. Meanwhile, the Vitafoods Europe Conference returned in a new format and location on the show floor, spotlighting innovation opportunities and ways to overcome common industry challenges. Delegates reported sessions sparking inspiring conversations and highlighted the value of face-to-face connection over crucial issues.
“As the world’s leading nutraceutical event, Vitafoods Europe has a vital role in driving the industry forward,” Andy Mather, Brand Director of Vitafoods Europe at organizer Informa Markets, emphasized. “With the addition of the new Future of Nutrition Summit and the return of the Vitafoods Europe Conference for 2023, we successfully brought some of the brightest minds our industry has to offer together to inspire the innovation that will shape both today and tomorrow.”
With a range of online and in person events, Vitafoods Insights is a 365 platform for the nutraceutical community. Vitafoods Europe will return in 2024 online (6 to 17 May) and in Geneva (14 to 16 May).
Mondelez International to invest over 30 million euros in Herentals bakery
Mondelez International plans to invest € 30 m in its Herentals bakery factory, where some of Belgian‘s beloved biscuits are made.
The new installations should be operational early 2024 and will enable the site to transform into a more modern, flexible, and competitive factory, while increasing the production capacity. “This significant investment will continue the modernizing of the production installations in our Herentals facility and create a highly efficient and robust supply infrastructure for our iconic biscuits such as Prince, Tuc, and Pim‘s,” said Bart De Geest, Plant Director at Mondelez Herentals. ”In combination with the development of our people expertise, this operation will enable the plant to develop its competitiveness and prepares the ground for future growth of the plant.”
The company plans to install a production line for Tuc crackers, in addition to the two existing cracker lines. According to the press release, the new line will create an additional 6,500 tonnes of capacity for Tuc, available to support up to 40% future growth. Mondelez also plans to add a production hall for Prince biscuits.
Azelis acquires Gillco Ingredients
Azelis has signed an agreement to acquire 100 % of the shares of Gillco Ingredients, a specialty ingredient provider in the food and nutrition market in the US.
Founded in 1982, Gillco has developed long-standing relationships with global blue-chip suppliers, a diverse portfolio of specialty ingredients and applications and strong market expertise across most food industry segments, including bakery and nutraceutical markets. The company has 40 employees serving almost 1,000 customers from its San Marcos/California headquarters.
Dr Hans Joachim Müller, Azelis’ CEO, says the acquisition strengthens its lateral value chain for the US food and nutrition market and broader life sciences segment. “It allows us to offer a compelling proposition to principals and customers. In line with our strategic vision to be the preeminent innovation service provider in all territories where we operate, we welcome Gillco to the Azelis family.”