More and more people don‘t eat at home but rather while leaving the office, on the way to the day-care center, or before the gym, which means that the demand for healthy food on the go is increasing. Nutritious and tasty cereal or nut bars are particularly popular: “At interpack, we highlight our competence in the area of snacks by presenting our integrated production solutions, from grain or nuts to the finished bar or biscuit,” explains Thomas Bischof, Head of Bühler’s Business Unit Countlines.
Whether it is a substitute for breakfast, a supplement in the daily diet, or an energy boost between meals: cereal bars are a growth market. More and more people are reaching for these healthy and nutritious snacks while at the office, at school, or on the train. “When Bühler took over the chocolate specialist Hosokawa ­Bepex, it was able to close an important gap in its portfolio,” says Thomas Bischof. “Now, we can also offer our customers integrated complete solutions for manufacturing countlines, coated items, or cereal and nut bars.”
No matter which raw materials, shape, taste, or if it‘s coated with choco­late – Bühler‘s solutions cover the complete range of end products. With its comprehensive knowledge of local markets and preferences, the technology leader supports customers in developing innovative new products and recipes so that they can effectively differentiate themselves: “While cereal bars dominate the US market, protein bars lead in Europe, and nut products tend to be preferred in Asia,” analyses Thomas Bischof.

 

20 innovations across the value chain

At Interpack, Bühler will demonstrate its competence in the area of biscuits and cookies. The solutions include all important process steps: from preparing the dough to moulding, cooling and coating of the product. There are big regional differences here, too: in Asia‘s confectionery markets, for example, cookies are increasingly viewed as a substitute for chocolate because cocoa is a limited resource, which means that cookies open up new possibilities for manufacturers.

Bühler will present its complete range of process solutions in an exciting experience world, covering 1,700 sqm. In this unique environment, which includes a bistro and a Solutions Space, the company will display its offerings for making choco­late products, cocoa, nuts, sweets, biscuits, cookies, crackers, cereal and energy bars, breakfast cereals and snacks.
Bühler is a global leader in processing solutions. According the company‘s statement, 60 % of all chocolate products, 40 % of all industrially produced pasta and 35 % of all breakfast cereals are made on the Swiss company‘s technologies. The company group with the business units Commodities, Processed Food, Feed, Grinding & Dispersion, Renewable Energy, Die Casting and Leybold Optics – Thin Film Coatings showed a healthy performance in 2016. While continuing its policy of reinvesting profits to secure future development, the company has con­tinued its growth path.
Order intake in 2016 was up 3 % to CHF 2.54 bn, compared to a decline of 4 % in 2015. Turnover rose by 2 % to CHF 2.45 bn, and profitability remained stable at 7.1 % (EBIT margin). R&D investments were significantly increased. “For a company based in Switzerland, 2016 marked a real proof point considering the Euro/Swiss franc shift a year ago. In this context, we can be satisfied with these results,” says CEO Stefan Scheiber.

 

interpack, Hall 3, Stand D 24/D 46

 

Networking Days at interpack

The Bühler Networking Days 2017 @interpack will feature four core themes that strongly impact the food processing industry: 1. Sustain­ability, 2. Nutrition, 3. Food safety, and 4. The Internet of Things. Among the highlights of this event are some 20 innovations across the value chain, expert presentations, side events and an exclusive networking dinner hosted by Bühler.