Rockwell Automation’s ControlLogix helped a large-scale New Zealand cheese manufacturer automate its cheese-slicing process. [ + ]

Ongoing maintenance issues with vinly and epoxy floor finishes led Coles to conduct a rigorous six-month trial to find a flooring solution. It selected Sikafloor-22N PurCem, a water-based polyurethane screed for its durability, slip resistance, heat resistance and resistance to food acids and fats. [ + ]

Packaging equipment company Ocme recently installed a centralised palletising plant and packing lines for wine cooperative Cavit S.C. in the Trentino region of northern Italy. [ + ]

When Wescobee Honey expanded its product lines, it needed a coder that could print on a variety of substrates and package sizes. Wescobee exports product to the Middle East and Asia, so the printer also needed to be able to code in multiple languages. The WA business turned to Matthews Intelligent Identification for a solution. [ + ]

Fat analysis has come a long way. As well as carrying out their primary function of CL testing to a far higher degree of accuracy, modern solutions offer previously unachievable levels of traceability, multi-functionally in the form of simultaneous contaminant inspection and checkweighing, as well as peerless reliability. To meet current trends in healthy eating, price competitiveness and tightened regulations, and to stay one step ahead of future developments, meat manufacturers can turn to DEXA to meet CL testing needs. [ + ]

As part of its commitment to the ‘five Rs’, Sealed Air Corporation has selected Cardia Bioplastics as its partner to develop its Fill-Air R5 inflatable packaging. Constructed of Cardia’s sustainable Biohybrid resin, the packaging meets Sealed Air’s environmental commitment to renewable and recycled content, and reduced, re-used and recyclable product - the five Rs. [ + ]

There’s a paradox at work in the sweet biscuit market. According to Innova Market Insights, the ‘treat’ image of sweet biscuits is driving the premium sector forward, while consumer focus on health has seen an increase in healthier products. [ + ]

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has expressed disappointment in the Federal Budget, claiming that “there was no appetite for major, bold reform” to improve policy for Australian food and grocery manufacturers. [ + ]

Whether on labels or packaging or in magazines or on billboards, 2D barcodes are ubiquitous. But they don’t always make a stylish impression.Now there are ways to remedy this. [ + ]

Machine vision is often used for barcode inspection in the food and beverage industry, as the appropriate combination of vision sensor hardware, software and lighting can deliver efficient and effective analysis in these applications. [ + ]

Cleaning in place offers many benefits to hygienic plant operators. This beginner’s guide reminds us all of the way the systems operate and how further optimisation of the systems is always possible. [ + ]

Hazeldene’s Chickens has recently upgraded and revitalised its plant on the outskirts of Bendigo, transforming it into one of the most advanced poultry processing facilities in the world. [ + ]

The Winery Engineering Association’s national conference and exhibition will be held in June in the Barossa. It will keep key operational staff up to date with the latest global technological advancements - ensuring that the Australian wine industry retains its competitive edge wherever possible. [ + ]

Consumption of resistant starch leads to positive changes in the bowel and could protect against genetic damage implicated in bowel cancer, according to recent CSIRO research. [ + ]

WNIFT&M reports back from the ‘Closing the Loop on Food Waste’ discussion group at the 2nd National Sustainable Food Summit. [ + ]