The produce packaging industry is similar to the national rail timetable ñ not poorly organised but subject to change at short notice. This fast-paced industry is constantly developing and the companies involved are busy jostling with each other for position in a bid to stay at the top of the tree.
Israel Ben-Tzur, StePac's general manager, believes that in the world of packaging it is important to listen to customers as it brings value to the business. “We have to respond to what our clients require, and we have a core technology team in place working on a variety of programmes ñ this is essential to our success,” he says.
A company equally prepared to respond to the market, while keen to drive it forwards at the same time, is Long Life Solutions. Chief executive Andrew Wright is focused on continuing to grow the business and to ensure the demands of his customers are met. He explains: “In the last two years the company has risen to the status of a global entity. We now have five operating plants in the US, 12 global distributors, and 18 agents in 52 countries. The industry has seen sweeping changes in the last year and changes are happening at a pace.”
Kappa Packaging, a company strictly focused on produce, is pleased with its successes in the market this year. Account executive, Tony Roome feels that the hot weather has been perfect for business. “Demand has been high this year, and we are pleased with our results,” he says. “Also our in-depth knowledge of the market ensures we understand our customers.”
Wright feels that relationships are the key to success. The group has formed a number of key relationships with retailers and businesses worldwide. There have also been developments in a number of countries such as Turkey, Morocco and Hungary. “The key issue is that people are finally understanding how important innovation is in this field,” he says. “In the past there was a lot of lip-service paid to new technology in the industry. The retailers we work with are now keen to be involved in our new developments.”
Premier Packaging is busy innovating and putting in place new ideas. Sales manager Nicky Lloyd-Yates feels the company is in a good position for future success. “We are working on a new range of packaging with a major UK retailer, we are also looking to develop expanded polypropylene products,” she says. “It really is an important time for the industry.”
Wright has noted that, at last, retailers have begun to understand the importance of the role that technology has in the industry. “Three years ago when we became involved in technology the industry wasn't ready,” he says. “However, there has been a gradual migration towards our way of thinking. We have formed a number of development programmes and these are key.”
Wright feels that previously, importers were not thinking about the consumers enough, or the end product, but merely getting the produce in to stores as quick as possible. “Importers would order their produce on a Monday, air-freight the produce in on the Tuesday and have it in stores by Tuesday afternoon,” he says. “They would give little consideration to either quality or wastage. But in the last 12 months the attitude of the supermarkets has been inspiring. They, more than any other sector, understand the benefits of cost and quality and the changing consumer.
“One expression I have heard a lot lately when dealing with retailers is ëhome-life'. Consumers are making fewer trips to the supermarket and want to have as much time at home as possible. We have developed packaging that keep broccoli fresh for longer periods, and more importantly the nutritional value is maintained over this longer time.”
Ulma Packaging, part of a group which has its headquarters in the Basque region of northern Spain, is responsible for a large range of packaging solutions, many of which are specifically designed for fresh produce.
The company has launched a campaign targeting the UK and director Derek Paterson explains: “Versatility is the keynote of Ulma's range with machines capable of packaging virtually any shape and size of product. We have equipment which can even successfully tackle a bunch of fresh flowers.”
Ulma's PV350 machine now has the benefit of upgraded electronics which have improved efficiency and made it more operator friendly. The secret of the PV350's continued appeal lies in the fact that it is extremely versatile. It is an ideal machine for produce wrapping and with four machine formats available ñ shrinkwrapping, flow-wrapping, a round product machine and a combination machine ñ there is a variant to suit all needs. Intermittent functioning, combined with flexibility and reliability make the PV350 ideal for wrapping a wide range of produce, with or without MAP.
“As a company we believe that the best can get better. With advancing technology, constant improvements are possible ñ even to machines which are already hugely successful ñ and we are committed to keeping up with these advances to ensure our customers get the best,” Paterson says. “We believe the PV350 is the best machine of its type on the market, and this has been borne out by the fact that we've just had a record year for sales.”
One of the latest machines from the Spanish stable is the Super Chik A200, a revolutionary stretch film wrapper that is primarily aimed at producers of fresh vegetables. This variant of the Super Chik is designed to wrap cauliflowers, and has already enjoyed great success in the UK market. The Super Chik, which comes in two variants in addition to the A200, had its first major public airing at the spring Vegetable and Salads Focus event this year and attracted a lot of attention and praise from those who saw it in action.
ë'We believe it to be one of the most versatile pieces of equipment of its kind, ideal for packaging trays of vegetables from potatoes to chicory and from carrots to aubergines. And when you add to this the capacity to pack trays of tomatoes and other salad items like radishes and spring onions, it really is a workhorse of our range,'' says Paterson.
Fruit and vegetables are the main beneficiaries of the Taurus machine that comes in a modified atmosphere packing (MAP) version as well as a standard one. Tests have shown that its use, particularly in the MAP option, prolongs product life without affecting appearance.
Another Ulma machine which is being used for the fresh produce packaging campaign is the ETNA which has been designed to handle a wide range of products outside the ëfresh' sphere but which has been shown to be equally at home when set to work packing potatoes and carrots.
Another company focused on leading the way is Protos Packaging. Managing director Philip Fussell feels that with packaging waste regulations biting evermore into the pockets of multiples and manufacturing companies, there will be a transition away from plastic towards biodegradable and compostable products.
He says: “More and more sticks of French bread are packed in paper with clear polypropylene windows. With this in mind it is likely that horticultural products will follow the same pattern. There are already compostable materials that have come on the market made from timber and also from corn starch.”
Following on from this, Fussell thinks that paper with clear windows, and probably compostable, will be the next step. “These new materials can run on existing flow wrapping machines. They can be perforated to produce the correct breatheability levels that already exist in oil-based packaging materials,” he says. “I believe this combination of paper and compostable clear windows will take over from conventional plastic packaging. A further advantage is these new materials will enable the consumer to twist the packaging closed once opened.”
Any of these new developments and ideas come at a considerable cost and many companies feel this is a stumbling block. Fussell says: “At the moment these materials are demanding high premiums. This is due to the fact that they have not yet reached the volumes to turn it into a commodity. Although certain products such as organic grown vegetables, have found their way into these new materials.”
Lloyd-Yates agrees that cost is an issue, but believes that the consumer needs to be educated to understand differences, otherwise their efforts will become worthless. She says: “This could be achieved by improved labelling. On a recent visit to Italy, the supermarkets had areas for customers to return their recyclable packaging. So they were encouraged to bring their used packaging back before they began their next shop ñ making it part of their weekly shop. This shows the retailer is taking responsibility as well. This is the kind of work required for the future.”
Wright believes that although a number of retailers are keen to embrace new types of packaging doubters still remain and the consumers have a vital role to play. He says: “There are still a number of retailers not buying into packaging developments as well as areas of the food service industry. The top retailers can initialise the drive but then it is over to the consumers to maintain the momentum.”
Kappa feels that it holds a strong hand because of its dedication to servicing the produce sector. Roome says: “We have noticed environmental issues becoming more prevalent in the industry, as we deal only with produce packaging we feel we hold a strong market position.” Don Murfitt, Kappa's sales and marketing manager agrees. “We have an in-depth knowledge of the market place and have to work closely with retailers. We recognise that changes made can be heavily influenced by the retailer,” he says.
Arca Systems is busy making the most of packaging opportunities at an earlier stage ñ in the field. The company has a range of bulk and hand-held containers designed to maintain product quality and reduce costs from harvesting through processing, packing and distribution.
The company has teamed up with Roger J Brown Horticultural Packaging to market its products to the fresh produce industry.
The plastic containers developed are suitable for packing wet and chilled produce, transporting to the pack house and for high humidity storage. They also provide an alternative to corrugated and board packaging for multi-trip use in the field and plastic is a far more efficient option.
Jim Noble, a partner at Roger J Brown, believes that growers and processors, particularly in the soft-fruit sector, will benefit from switching to plastic picking trays.
He says: “They last much longer than trays made from other materials and in the long-term, the farmers can make considerable savings by using crates specifically designed to multi-trip. It is critical in a time sensitive industry such as fresh produce that products are available when they are needed.”
One thing's for certain, it's worth regular checks of the timetable ñ because the last thing anyone in the produce world wants to do is watch the train pull out of the station.
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