Industry News
Key Technology and Visys to merge
Key Technology and Visys NV, a leading provider of chute-fed in-air sorters used by food processors and waste recyclers, have entered into a merger agreement. [ + ]
O-I partners with university to advance R&D
Owens-Illinois Inc has signed a three-year agreement with the University of Toledo’s Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering to support research at O-I’s new R&D Innovation Center. [ + ]
Bakery exhibition postponed to 2014
The SIAB International Techno-Bake Exhibition, which was due to be held in Verona in May 2013, has been postponed to 2014. [ + ]
Workforce Development Service will help SMEs improve their competitive edge
A Manufacturing Workforce Development Service (MWDS) has been formed to work with manufacturing SMEs to support them and assist them to access the government’s National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF). [ + ]
Scholarship program attracts new talent to dairy processing industry
Leading Australian dairy manufacturers are opening their doors to develop the skills of talented graduates as part of Dairy Australia’s 2013 Manufacturing Scholarship program. [ + ]
Carbon price helps food processer cut emissions and energy costs
A $1.17 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program grant, funded from carbon-price revenue, will help Primo Smallgoods to reduce emissions and slash energy costs. [ + ]
Marketing and sustainable packaging round table
RMIT University and the Sustainable Packaging Alliance will host a one-day round table to explore the marketing advantages of packaging for sustainability. [ + ]
Produce exporter to open Asian export division
Perfection Fresh Australia has appointed experienced fresh produce and retail executive Malcolm McLean to lead its Singapore operations as General Manager Exports (Asia). [ + ]
Testing laboratory partnership to offer package and permeation testing
Inspection Systems has announced a testing laboratory partnership with MOCON. The laboratory, known as IS Laboratories, will commence operations in late February 2013. [ + ]
Cask wine sales falling, imports increasing
When it comes to wine, Australians are opting for bottle rather than cask - but less money is making its way into Australian wine producers’ pockets. [ + ]
CHOICE launches Pack Attack
CHOICE has launched Pack Attack - a campaign calling on manufacturers to adopt packaging that is not difficult or dangerous to open. The consumer watchdog is asking consumers to submit photos of difficult-to-open packaging. [ + ]
AMA calls for tighter alcohol regulation
The alcohol industry’s self-regulation has failed, the AMA has said, with the industry involved pushing to “lure young people into early and potentially harmful drinking patterns”. [ + ]
Milk just got lighter: world’s lightest HDPE milk bottle created
UK plastic milk bottle producer Nampak claims to have created the world’s lightest four-pint high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle, weighing just 32 grams. [ + ]
Evergreen by name, evergreen by nature
University of South Carolina scientists are working to give the term ‘evergreen’ a new meaning, developing new plastics that are based on polymers from pine trees, firs and other conifers. [ + ]
Sustainable vanilla sourcing program announced
General Mills and Häagen-Dazs have announced a sustainable vanilla sourcing program designed to support smallholder vanilla farmers in Madagascar. [ + ]