Packaging and systems innovation expected for ProSweets 2020
Major developments within packaging, ingredients and confectionery production systems will take centre stage at this year’s ProSweets in Cologne, Germany.
Between 2-5 February, the international sweets and snacks trade fair is set to revolve around several key themes of quality, efficiency and sustainability as core elements of its agenda.
In terms of technology, organisers of the event revealed that technology for coating, portioning and artificial intelligence will also form core areas of focus.
Among this year’s exhibitors, Italian business IMA will be present its Gima FTO513, a high-speed wrapping machine devised for a single, or several products. The line can process up to 300 sheets a minute, offering technically advanced solutions for a forgery-proof, high-quality appearance of packing. These include an inline tear-off tape unit, a double roll holder and an automatic adhesive film device. The FTO513 Fin Seal is also available as a model with an airtight sealing option for moisture-sensitive products and for extending their total shelf life.
Furthermore, IMA is presenting intelligent solutions for maximising the efficiency of film and sugar coating processes at ProSweets Cologne in the form of its flexible IMA active coating plants and coating machines. The construction of solid wall and perforated drums guarantees perfect mixing and gentle product handling.
IMA Gima and IMA Active are the reference brands for the planning and production of customer-specific processing and packing machines on the sweets market. In the packing section, IMA produces machines for the primary, secondary and final packing: Wrapping machines, horizontal and vertical case packing/filling machines, blister machines, flowpack packing machines, tray packing machines, packing machines for counter or shelf displays or case packers and palletisers.
The sweet side of artificial intelligence
In the scope of its first major learning project, the exhibitor Bi-Ber implemented visual product testing for a manufacturer of fine chocolate and wafer products. During the final inspection it is checked that no foreign bodies are contained inside the products and that they correspond with the aesthetic standards. Hitherto a visual inspection was necessary to carry out this task, because the conventional rule-based, automatic image processing (machine vision) couldn’t reliably distinguish between irregularly structured surfaces and normal variations. The automatic quality control that is based on artificial intelligence (AI) is now to increase the recognition reliability.
Another innovation is expected from long-term exhibitor Vemag Maschinenbau, will demonstrate solutions for the exact shaping and accurate portioning of fine doughs as well as for paste-like, pumpable masses. Diversity and individuality, paired with fast, often seasonal and trend-oriented product changes.
Whether checkerboard cookies, marzipan hearts or date-based protein bars, healthy food, super-foods or vegan snacks: Reliable, automated and quickly convertible production lines are imperative success factors to deal with the continual changeovers of the demanding customer requirements, both for the trade and for the industry.
At ProSweets Cologne among others the flexibly implementable Robot500 portioner with the cutting device ASV811, a filling machine of the HPE series with integrated MMP223 portioner and the multitray loader MTL280 will be presented for the inserting and depositing of items into packaging. The centrepiece of the Vemag machines are the so-called flow curves, which transport doughs and masses in a particularly gentle manner without squeezing them following the double spindle principle.
- For more details, view www.prosweets.com
