Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2010 3:08 pm

Total Processing & Packaging 2010 opened its doors to thousands of visitors at the NEC, Birmingham. This is the third edition of the UK’s largest integrated processing and packaging exhibition and visitors enjoyed the most comprehensive insight into the latest developments across the entire processing and packaging industries.

The exhibition showcases complete production line solutions, covering everysector including packaging materials, containers, pack design and marketing, intelligent packaging, raw materials, solids and fluids handling, control and instrumentation, FMCG processing equipment, contract packing and manufacturing, and packaging machinery.

In addition to the array of working machinery and equipment that was demonstrated live, the popular Packaging Innovation Hub provided a focal point for areas such as packaging materials, containers and pack design.At the heart of the Packaging Innovation Hub was the 2010 Design Challenge. First held at Total Processing & Packaging 2007, where it attracted a huge amount of interest, the Challenge invites major pack and machinery manufacturers, and leading design houses to explore opportunities for the creation of new products, market applications and consumer experiences. The results of the challenge were on show at the event.

With the changing economic landscape, businesses are continuing to seek out efficiency savings whilst increasing productivity. Responding to these needs, the Robotics & Industrial Vision Pavilion in association with BARA and UKIVA was a brand new show feature that provided the perfect opportunity for visitors to find out more about the benefits of incorporating automation technologies into their businesses, while at the same time allowing them to view the latest solutions.

The Technology Innovations Theatre, meanwhile, presented the very latest processing and packaging technologies which can help to set a business apart from its competition. A revolutionary microwave sterilisation processfor low acid foods, developed at Washington State University (WSU), was the keynote presentation. Other leading names that took part include OCS Checkweighers, Bosch Rexroth, Wieland Electric, PFM Packaging Machinery and K-Tron.

The pharmaceutical sector was also well catered for through the Interphex Hub. This area enabled visitors from pharma manufacturing companies to easily find all the latest innovations and developments and discuss current issues and regulatory requirements in this fast-developing and constantly evolving industry.

A key element of Total Processing & Packaging is to stimulate and encouragediscussion and debate with two wide-ranging seminar programmes taking place over the three days of the exhibition, focusing on the very latestindustry issues. Topics discussed and debated in the Packaging Innovations Hub included the Future of Packaging, Resource Efficient Products and Packaging, the emergence of social media as a marketing tool, Nanotechnology, and RFID and brand protection. Top names that took partin the programme, which was sponsored by Linx, organised by Faraday and supported by the BRC, The Packaging Society and WRAP, include B&Q, PZ Cussons, GlaxoSmithKline, Hotel Chocolat, Euromonitor International, Reckitt Benckiser, Reach Further, Plastique, Holmes & Marchant, MPMA and the Packaging Federation.

The Interphex Hub seminars, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, addressed the particular trends and challenges for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Subjects covered included anticounterfeiting and mass serialisation, Track & Trace technologies, and new technologies for formulation development and GMP manufacture. Companies that took part included R5 Pharmaceuticals, Atacama Labs, Upperton, Oystar Manesty, Cognex, Hapa and Performance PharmaTech.

Other visitor attractions included the Packaging Clinic in association with the Packaging Society, which enabled visitors to get free expert advice on particular packaging challenges and design issues in order to help them create superior results.

An Energy Advice Clinic in association with the Energy Cost Advisors also offered free strategic advice. With expert knowledge on a vast array of topics such as risk managed procurement of all energies, conservation, The Carbon Reduction Commitment, latest legislation and company obligations, and renewables, the solutions that were offered were tailored to individual businesses.

Total Processing & Packaging, which takes place every three years, attracts key professionals from major sectors including food & drink, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, household products and chemicals.

Comment:

Darren Pratt, UK instrumentation product specialist, SICK (UK)

"This year wasn’t our first time exhibiting at Total, however, it was the first time we’ve demonstrated our new pressure and level sensor ranges at the show and the new product areas generated a great deal of interest. This highlighted the importance of continuing to invest in product development, even during a difficult economic climate. Process engineers are undoubtedlyunder pressure to increase production efficiency, particularly during times of economic uncertainty, and are in need of innovative new solutions to enable this. Only by investing in product development are we able to meet the growing needs of our customers. We had a number of strong leads from Total and our growing range is undoubtedly one of the reasons for this. It was promising to see such innovative new solutions on display at the show and this is vital for the future of the industry.