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SACMI Packaging & Chocolate will be presenting efficient systems for the primary and secondary packaging of confectionery and baked goods at Fachpack (Hall 1, Stand 239). The newly developed Advance S334 cartoning system, for example, impresses with high productivity and maximum flexibility in format changeover for processing different products and configurations. Retailers today demand display cartons in a variety of formats. And it's not just the dimensions of the cartons that vary, but also the number of products filled into them. There is also an increasing demand for mixed cartons with several product types. Advance S334 flexibly produces display packaging for sweets and snacks in bar form. The linear motor allows the process steps of erecting, filling and sealing to be carried out independently of each other, which is particularly useful for frequent product changeovers. Users can achieve an output of up to 800 products or 150 closed carton boxes per minute.

The German food machinery and packaging machinery industry increased its exports by 4 % in the first half of 2024; in 2023, exports rose by 9 % to 9.9 billion euros - a new record. Whether this level will be reached in the current year depends heavily on the further development of incoming orders. In July, incoming orders in the food processing and packaging machinery sector increased by 9 % in real terms compared to the same month last year. Domestic demand rose by 73 %, while foreign orders remained stable. Orders from euro partner countries increased by 5 %, while orders from non-euro countries fell by 3 %. In the period from January to July 2024, incoming orders for the food processing and packaging machinery sector fell by 7 %.

“Incoming orders in our heterogeneous industry are split in two this year. For packaging machines (excluding beverage filling machines), we can report a stable growth of 13 % in real terms in the first seven months, while order intake in the food machinery sector in the period from January to July is 9 % below the previous year's level,” says Beatrix Fraese, expert for markets and the economy and Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association.

With its new online configurator, the company simplifies the creation of customised, digitally printed labels for many different industries, applications and products. Herma's new online label configurator, which will be presented for the first time at this year's Fachpacl in Nuremberg, Germany, raises the bar: It offers commercial users a high degree of format freedom for their digitally printed roll labels – without additional costs for die-cutting tools and without shipping costs within the EU. Each time a parameter is changed, the price is calculated in real time, without first having to go through the laborious process of logging in or registering (www.herma.com/label/label-configurator, www.herma.fr/etiquette/configurateur, www.herma.nl/etiket/etiketten-configurator). "The customised configuration and ordering of rectangular or round labels is completely intuitive," explains Marc Trapp, Team Leader for Industrial Labels Sales at Herma. "Thanks to the configurator's compact design, the user is immediately able to see all parameters at a glance without being confronted with unpleasant surprises in the form of unexpected costs at the end, e.g. shipping fees. The user completes the entire ordering process with just a few clicks." The label configurator is of particular interest in the case of small and medium-sized label volumes, i.e. for quantities ranging from 2,000 to 250,000 labels. It is also possible to combine different varieties and print motifs in a single order. The Herma label configurator is therefore not only of interest for large production industries, but also for small companies that sell products via their own online shops. These include, for example, manufacturers of foodstuffs, cosmetics and healthcare products. The possibility of placing complete orders consisting of several different print motifs is particularly advantageous for products with many variants that require different labelling, e.g. chemicals, paints and dyes or consumer goods. Uploading the print data is quick and easy. A technical print data check is included in the price. As an optional extra, Herma conducts a premium check, carries out the necessary adjustments and creates a print approval PDF.

Hall 3C, Stand 3C-322

Olaf Starken joins VGP after 5 years at Stora Enso Packaging Material, where he most recently held the role of VP Strategic Packaging Innovation. Prior to Stora Enso, Starken spent 17 years at PacProject, where he served as Managing Director, successfully leading commercial and strategic initiatives for multinational brand owners. Starken brings a wealth of customer engagement, team leadership and innovation management experience to the role. Frank Ohle, Chief Executive Officer, said of the partnership: “As we aim to accelerate our growth strategy and expand our customer base, Olaf joins us at an ideal time in our journey. His industry knowledge and broad experience will be instrumental as we strive to achieve our ambitious goals, both in Europe and beyond.” Olaf Starken added: “I am really looking forward to my new role. The opportunity to develop and implement innovative, sustainable packaging solutions alongside inspiring customers, experienced partners, and the great VGP team is very exciting. I am confident that we can achieve a lot together and look forward to working with you.” The appointment of a new CCO comes just months after VGP announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares of DOT2DOT Group, further strengthening the Belgian company’s European market position in premium packaging and significantly extending its multinational customer base.

Valeo Foods Group has acquired I.D.C. Holding, a major independent producer of quality wafers, biscuits, confectionary and chocolate in Central and Eastern Europe.  

According to the press release, the acquisition accelerates Valeo Foods Group’s ambition to be the major sweet treats player of Europe. Producing a wide range of branded wafer, biscuit, sugar confectionary and seasonal chocolate products, I.D.C. Holding is a natural fit with Valeo Foods Group’s sweet snacking platform and would form the cornerstone for its operations in the fast-growing Eastern European market. I.D.C. Holding produces some of the most prestigious and recognisable sweet snack brands across Slovakia, Czech, Poland and Hungary.

In 2023, I.D.C. Holding had net sales of almost €200 million. They currently employ approximately 1,150 people people across three production sites located in Slovakia and three subsidiaries in Czech, Hungary and Poland. I.D.C. Holding’s highly branded product portfolio offers the opportunity for significant expansion of Valeo Foods Group. This includes its CandyPlus operation in the Czech Republic, Balconi business in Italy, Schluckwerder business in Germany among other markets and products.

The acquisition will deliver synergies across the value-chain and leverage Valeo Foods Group’s international sales platform. These efforts will substantially enhance the business's global performance, representing a pivotal step in Valeo Foods ambition to become a truly international enterprise.

Ronald Kers, Chief Executive Officer of Valeo Foods Group, said “This is a transformative acquisition for Valeo Foods Group. The inclusion of I.D.C. Holding within Valeo Foods Group will enhance our industry position, drive further growth in our portfolio and international footprint and allow us to meet growing consumer demand in this segment. We are delighted that the team at I.D.C. Holding share our confidence and ambition to be the major sweet treats player in Europe.”

Pavol Jakubec, Owner of I.D.C. Holding added “After 32 years of developing I.D.C. Holding from a local, traditional confectionary business into a major regional player in the category, operating from best-in-class manufacturing facilities, it is the right time for a new chapter in the development of this company. I am very excited to transition the business to Valeo Foods Group, who have a great track record of acquiring and successfully growing businesses in this space and are the best partner to work with our employees and business partners to support I.D.C. Holding in further growth and expansion.”

Unique collaboration brings together 14 food-tech start-ups and 8 leading global food companies to innovate and co-create for the future of food MISTA, a food innovation platform, and a Givaudan entity, has announced that Biomass Fermentation will be the theme of the 2024 MISTA Growth Hack. Alongside this, 14 early-stage food-tech companies that were selected to participate have also been unveiled. The hands-on programme brings together experts from across the corporate global food system to develop integrated solutions to deliver more nutritious, affordable and sustainable foods. Accenture, the Good Food Institute (GFI) and SOSV are presenting partners of the MISTA Growth Hack 2024. “The food system needs new solutions to feed the 8.5 billion people that will populate the Earth in 2030,” said Céline Schiff-Deb, Chief Science Officer for MISTA. “Fermentation biomass is an approach that grows microbial cells (think microalgae, fungi, yeast or bacteria) that are packed with healthy nutrients, including proteins, fibres, vitamins and minerals. These cells are fed simple nutrients and multiply in the controlled environment of a fermenter (for example, brewing beer). By leveraging this millennia-old technology, we can produce vast amounts of nutritious, affordable and sustainable ingredients that can improve the nutritional and sensory performance of foods, beverages and snacks.”

Hebenstreit GmbH, a provier in industrial wafer and snack machinery manufacturing, is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcel Monti Fackert as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective September 2, 2024. Marcel Monti Fackert brings a wealth of experience to Hebenstreit as well as a proven track record in executive leadership roles within the machinery and manufacturing sector. Known for his strategic foresight, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of industrial technology, Mr. Fackert is well-positioned to guide Hebenstreit into its next phase of growth. The company said: "We are delighted to welcome Marcel Monti Fackert to Hebenstreit. His extensive industry knowledge and proven leadership will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand our global footprint. Mr. Fackert is a visionary leader with a strong track record of delivering results and fostering collaboration. We are confident that he will build on our successes and lead Hebenstreit to new heights." Prior to joining Hebenstreit, Mr. Fackert held leadership positions at several prominent engineering companies, where he focused on driving growth through technological innovation and operational excellence. His deep understanding of manufacturing processes, coupled with a commitment to sustainability, aligns closely with Hebenstreit’s mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions for its customers worldwide.

Südpack receives the award for responsible behavior and high transparency in communication with its employees, business partners, and customers. This seal is awarded by diind GmbH to distinguish companies whose products and processes reflect their own ethical principles and values and who are also committed to compliance with ecological, economic, and social standards. The awards ceremony took place on September 11 and 12, 2024 during the BIG BANG FESTIVAL of the DUP Unternehmertag in Berlin. The Fairness First seal confirms that responsibility, appreciation, and fairness are always top priorities for Südpack. With sustainable innovations and initia-tives as well as the implementation of recyclable material loops, the family-owned company sees itself as a trailblazer for sustainability in the film and packaging industry. At the same time, the company is committed to the well-being of the people along its supply chains and generates added value for its stakeholders. In order to achieve its ambitious goals, Südpack pools targeted actions in its Sustainability Strategy 2030. The key pillars of the strategy are compliance and corporate governance as a legal and actual regulatory framework, as well as sustainable efficiency. With the SA8000 certification, the declaration of princi-ples on respecting human rights, the implementation of a whistleblower sys-tem, and the new Supplier Code of Conduct, the company has already taken important steps to achieve its goals. Sustainable efficiency along with lean management, digitalization, and responsible production aim to improve efficiency in the value-added processes.