When a food manufacturing firm in Sydney had a requirement to feed bulk crumbs mixed with oils out of pallecons and into a process line, they knew they had a challenge on their hands. The product compacts under its own weight causing it to bridge and rat hole, making it hard to deliver into conveyors.

Having suffered repeated failures using conventional impeller pumps for the transfer of liquid egg in glazing processes operated at Cornish food manufacturer Rowe’s the bakers, the company turned to peristaltic pump technology from Watson-Marlow Pumps Group.

Bakers Delight’s move towards sustainability began five years ago, and the first initiative was to develop ‘green’ ovens that were more fuel efficient than their predecessors, based on the historical oven from the 1950s.

Carapelli is one of Italy’s leading suppliers of edible oils and its Extra Virgin Olive Oil is exported globally. The company chose the OCME Libra R5 30 P125 automatic rotary weight filler for its new vegetable oil production line.

Gage Roads Brewing Co has partnered with glass packaging maker O-I to launch the first application of internal embossing in Australia. The product has shown good results in the US already, where Miller Light has used the unique packaging technique to boost the market share, by around 6%, of it’s previously declining sales brand beer. Gage Roads Brewing Co is hoping for the same type of success for its award-winning beer and to help secure its place as a strong contender in the Australian beer market.

Norway is cooperating with Canada and Chile to sequence the salmon genome. The knowledge generated could provide the answers to several problematic issues involving Norwegian farmed salmon - and lead to major competitive advantages for companies taking part in the project.

Scientists are working on bitter blockers to take the bitterness out of drug compliance and nutrition.

In its Scientific Opinion on Quantification of the risk posed by broiler meat to human campylobacteriosis in the EU, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) BIOHAZ Panel concluded that the handling, preparation and consumption of broiler meat may directly account for 20 to 30% of human cases of campylobacteriosis in the European Union (EU).

A fluorescent test system has been developed that finds specific pathogens by tracking their spoor.

Australia’s largest producer of labelled organic wines - Tamburlaine Wines - has been pushing the boundaries of innovation since it was established in 1966 by then local Cessnock doctor Lance Allen. Not realised by Dr Allen at the time, the establishment of a new winery using new oak barrels brought local success to some of his early wines compared to the predominantly old oak maturation wines which were then commercially available from other winemakers. The advantages of new and better oak handling have become part of the Australian wine revolution since that time.

Some people react to certain foods the same way an alcoholic or addict gets hooked on their substance of choice. Now some researchers are claiming that some processed food manufacturers know this and create their formulas and recipes so consumers will become addicted to their product.

For microbiologically demanding packaged goods such as foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, hygienic packaging is vital to ensure that the goods maintain their quality. These packaging materials can be disinfected using a variety of methods. Compared with chemical and thermal processes, UV irradiation is an environmentally friendly and economical method.

In the US state of Pennsylvania, Snyder’s of Hanover has begun construction on a solar farm that will include 15,000 panels spanning 10.5 hectares. The system is projected to produce 4.2 million kW hours of electricity per year, supplying approximately 27% of the company’s energy needs.

Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) have always had one clear advantage over steel drums - volume. An IBC on a pallet holds 1000 L, whereas in the same space, four steel drums only hold a total of 820 L. Now Schutz’s new KEB blow moulder and clean room facility are increasing the advantages offered by plastic-based IBCs.

With more than 5000 employees and the takeover of the Steggles brand, Baiada Steggles is now Australia’s leading poultry company. The company has recently upgraded the evisceration rooms at its Mareeba plant in Far North Queensland and at its largest production plant in Beresfield on the outskirts of Newcastle in NSW.