PPMA-Group-News-Autumn-2018

Group Members’ Magazine
roupNEWS
Thinking
outside
the box
Issue 7 / Autumn 2018
High class coding
Meeting the
packaging demands
of luxury
manufacturers
Jonathan Warburton
talks shop

Members’ Magazine
The Innovation issue
Editorial
Autumn 2018 / Issue 7
3 View from the top
Jonathan Warburton explains why business must never stand still. Plus, PPMA
Group CEO, Dr Andrew Mint, on what’s in store for PPMA members over the
next few months.
4-5 Business intelligence
With today’s customers becoming more discerning, packaging is now more
than just a means to protect a product. How is the demand for sustainable,
intelligent and luxury packaging affecting the industry?
6-7 Success stories
How thermal inkjet printing is maintaining packaging quality for high-end
manufacturers. And the demanding brief that proved no barrier to the delivery
of an end-of-line packaging solution for Unilever.
8-9 Industry events
Last call for Gulfood Manufacturing, and how to book your place at the first
ever ProPak Philippines.
10 Seminars, training and networking
Find out about our new Quick Learning courses, plus details of social media,
robotic safety and other training events.
Editor
Kate O’Reilly
+44 (0)7894 039609
kate.oreilly@ppma.co.uk
Managing Editor
Kirsty Sharpe
+44 (0)1920 821873
kirsty.sharpe@glohouse.co.uk
Editorial Assistant
Lucy Benbow
+44 (0)7971 987761
lucy.benbow@glohouse.co.uk
2018 editorial schedule
To contribute to any of our
forthcoming issues, contact our
editorial team via the details
above.
Winter
The efficiency issue
(copy deadline 19 October)
11-13 Membership benefits
Intellectual property advice from PPMA partner Sutton Winson; about PPMA’s
driving day, and the latest from our new Membership Executive.
14 PPMA BEST
End of term report from BEST’s Danny Reed.
15 Industry news
Don’t miss the innovation highlights at the PPMA Show 2018. Plus, download
your free packaging trends report.
16-17 Linked up
Tips, news and opinions from PPMA members.
18-19 New members
Meet the newest additions to the PPMA family.
19 Get in touch
Contact the PPMA team.
© 2018 PPMA Ltd
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints
expressed by the various authors and
forum participants on this publication do not
necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and
views of the PPMA Group of Associations.
2 www.ppma.co.uk

History in the making
By Andrew Mint, Chief Executive
Officer of the PPMA Group
September is the busiest
month for the PPMA Group
and this year it brings
the largest PPMA Show
since records began. Innovation
is at the heart of our industry and
the show will reflect this, featuring
350 exhibitors (comprising over
1,500 brands) showcasing the latest
products and services throughout
11,000m 2 at the NEC, Birmingham
(25-27 September).
Combined with two high-end
keynote speakers – Lord Mark Price
(former Minister of State for Trade and
Investment and former Managing
Director of Waitrose) and Jonathan
Warburton (Chairman of Warburtons)
– the new Enterprise Zone and the
Bright Ideas Ambassador Programme,
the event clearly underlines what
great shape both the industry and
the Association are in. However, it’s
important to be forward-thinking
and we are continuing to look at
new ways to attract more quality
visitors through the door from various
industry sectors.
Aside from the show, we’re also
delivering important training in areas
such as GDPR, cyber security and
mental health and wellbeing – see
p10 for details of how to register if
you haven’t done so already. We are
also pleased to welcome three new
staff members: Andy Fitzsimons
(Communications Manager), Sharon
Mason (Membership Executive) and
Alex Pengelly (IT Support Engineer),
who will help to drive the Association
through a period of fiscal change in
the advent of Brexit.
With over 530 members, we’re
as big, strong and supportive of our
membership as we’ve ever been.
So, whether you’re exhibiting at
this year’s show for the first or 30th
occasion, make time to walk around
the hall, as there will undoubtedly be
business for you.
www.ppmashow.co.uk
View from
the top
Authenticity and innovation,
the bread and butter of
sustainable business
By Jonathan Warburton – Chairman, Warburtons
When my shopkeeping forefathers,
Thomas and Ellen Warburton, first started
baking bread during a slump in the
grocery market, they had no idea their
business would eventually become the
nation’s favourite bakery brand. That was
over 140 years ago and today we are
actively managed by the fifth generation
of Warburtons, so we must be doing
something right!
I’m frequently asked how we have
maintained this success over such a
long period, and the answer is simple:
it’s because we instil an authentic
culture and clear set of values across
our entire operation. Warburtons is a
family business, and family values sit at
the heart of everything we do. From the
products we make, to the way we treat
our people and the role we play in our
local communities, our understanding of
the British family guides the way we do
business.
Secondly, we have a laser-like focus
on doing one thing and doing it really
well. Above everything else, we make the
best quality, freshest, baked products that
consumers enjoy. It’s simple really.
But how do we safeguard the
business in the coming years and not
just rely on our past? Consumer tastes
are changing at an ever faster rate and
we need to stay ahead of them. One of
the luxuries of being a family business is
our ability to make decisions for the long
term; meaning we’ve been able invest
significantly over the past 15 years in
new technologies that allow us to adapt
to these changes. This investment has
given us a reputation for driving growth
through constant innovation and it’s
something of which I’m extremely proud.
After all, diversification is crucial to our
future success.
We know, however, that businesses
are never stationary; they either go
backwards or forwards. Successes of the
past are great, but we are acutely aware of
the dangers of complacency. If Warburtons
wants to be around for the next 140 years,
we need to continue to be brave by driving
category growth with game-changing new
products, while continuing to deliver the
staple classics that families up and down
the country know and love. We can only do
that if we keep the needs of British families
at our heart.
Hear Jonathan’s keynote
speech at the PPMA Show 2018
Don’t miss Jonathan Warburton’s
keynote address on ‘How to build a long
term sustainable business and be the
best of the best’.
2pm, Wednesday 26 September,
PPMA Show – NEC, Birmingham.
3 www.ppma.co.uk

usiness intelligence
The growth of the global packaging
industry is being driven by a
number of key trends. Increasing
urbanisation, the development
of retail chains and the booming
health care and cosmetics sectors
are driving packaging demand
in China, India, Brazil, Russia and
other emerging economies. A hike
in living standards and the rise
of e-commerce are also fuelling
worldwide consumption across
a broad range of products, with
subsequent growth in demand for
the packaging of these goods.
However, today’s discerning consumers
want packaging to be more than just
a means to protect their product.
How a product is presented offers
brand awareness, key information
and messaging, which can help a
company stand out from its competitors.
Therefore, brands are striving to provide
product differentiation at the point
of purchase. Nowhere is this more
important than in the luxury packaging
sector where shelf-appeal and instant
brand recognition are vital.
As we move towards a circular economy,
there is also a demand for more
environmentally friendly packaging,
using less plastic and providing
biodegradable solutions. Here, we crunch
the numbers to see how these trends
translate into the real world…
Innovate to
accelerate
Going green
12
Percentage of annual growth in the
biodegradable plastic packaging market
until 2023
(Statistica)
71
Percentage of UK packaging waste that’s
either recycled or recovered
(Defra, UK Statistics on Waste 2018)
$10bn
The estimated total market size of
biodegradable packaging by 2023,
doubled from 2017
(Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Market 2018,
Industry Today)
Money talks
$227bn
The global worth of food packaging
printing
(Statistica – E-commerce worldwide report)
$975bn
The expected value of the global
packaging market by the end of 2018
(Smithers Pira: The Future of Global Packaging
to 2018)
$284bn
The current value of food packaging,
which has an annual growth rate of 3.4
per cent
(Smithers Pira: The Future of Global
Packaging to 2018)
4 www.ppma.co.uk

“Consumers have become increasingly hostile towards wasteful,
misleading and hard-to-use packaging, and the packaging
sector is under pressure to take action.”
David Honcoop – Managing Director, Clarity Environmental
E-commerce
Plastic population
New technologies
$2.3trn
The value of global e-commerce sales
in 2017
(Statistica – E-commerce worldwide report)
1.66bn
The number of people worldwide who
purchase goods online
(Statistica – E-commerce worldwide report)
$4.48trn
The estimated growth of global e-retail
sales by 2021
(Statistica – Retail e-commerce sales to 2021)
42
The number of companies to sign the UK
Plastic Pledge, which aims to cut plastic
and eliminate unnecessary single-use
packaging by 2025
(The Future of Packaging, Raconteur)
79
Percentage increase in volume of
the amount of plastic waste sent for
recycling over the period 2006-2016
(The Future of Packaging, Raconteur)
700,000
The number of plastic bottles littered
every day in the UK
(Environmental Audit Committee)
$28bn
Estimated worth of the global active and
intelligent (A&I) packaging sector by 2023
(Mordor Intelligence, Active & Intelligent
Packging Market)
4.6
Percentage annual projected growth in
flexible packaging
(Smithers Pira, The Future of Pouch Packaging)
$19bn
The projected reach of the stand-up
pouch packaging market by 2021
(Smithers Pira, The Future of Pouch Packaging)
5 www.ppma.co.uk

Luxury brands sitting
pretty with codes
TIJ systems can print at a resolution of
up to 600dpi to match fonts used on
elaborate packaging
TIJ printing maintains
quality for high-end
manufacturers
success stories
At a glance
Challenge: How to reliably
and stylishly print important
information onto unusual,
luxury or limited edition
packaging
Solution: An alternative
to CIJ and hand stamping,
TIJ offline coding systems
enable novel packages to
be discreetly and accurately
coded
Luxury goods rely on beautiful, carefully
crafted packaging to deliver that vital
on-shelf ‘wow factor’, favouring
minimalism over cluttered, confusing
branding. However, novel package
designs, unusual shapes or elaborate
embellishments can make it difficult
for traditional online coding systems
to reliably overprint important batch
numbers, barcodes and expiry date
information.
As a result, some artisan companies
are reluctant to switch from hand
stamping for fear of undermining the
design integrity of their all-important
brand. The downside is that many can
then struggle to meet consumer demand,
limiting the growth of their business.
Demand vs brand
This was the situation in which artisan
dessert producer Pots & Co found itself.
As a supplier to top tier retailers such
as Selfridges, Waitrose and Booths, it
was faced with a difficult choice when
its production rates grew from several
hundred to over ten thousand a day. As
demand increased, it was clear that hand
stamping was no longer viable, but the
company was fearful of affecting the
quality of its packaging design with inferior
coding methods. It found a solution in the
form of a high precision, thermal inkjet (TIJ)
printing and offline coding system from
Rotech, with coding quality and speed
underpinning the firm’s decision to make
the change.
“Over the past couple of years, we
have rapidly expanded and the Rotech
RF2 coding system has enabled us to keep
up to speed with production levels to
meet our customer demands,” says Fraser
Thomson, Operations Director at Pots & Co.
“The RF2 prints date and batch codes
with ease in the correct position each and
every time. We are delighted with the
system and no longer have the worry of
poorly printed and illegible codes, which
can be the result of hand stamping.”
Meanwhile, Richard Pether, Director
at Rotech, says: “Coding packaging such as
cartons, sleeves or pouches offline before
they are filled enables them to be brought
to the production line ready printed.
This presents considerable advantages
for code quality, as coding the pack in its
flat form results in a consistently clear,
perfectly positioned code.”
Outcome: Artisan firm has
kept up with consumer
demand while maintaining
brand integrity
Premium artisan dessert producer Pots & Co is
realising the benefits of offline coding
6 www.ppma.co.uk

Hair-raising challenge
for shampoo line
A demanding brief proved no barrier to the delivery of
an end-of-line packaging solution for Unilever in Dubai
When Unilever decided to build two high
speed packaging lines (350 products per
minute) for its shampoo and conditioner
products at its new state of the art
personal care factory in Dubai, it was a
challenging brief, not least because of the
complex shapes and unstable design of
the bottles. The solution would need to
be able to handle eight different container
formats with a large scope of sizes (from
100 to 900ml), yet meet a maximum
10-minute line changeover multiple times
per day.
The company turned to Gebo Cermex,
who took a robotic approach at the
product collation stage. The designers
removed many mechanical parts typically
used, ensuring easy access to the heart
of the machine. They opted for a product
management solution through six robots,
using FlowDesigner® (Gebo Cermex’s
flow management and product tracking
intelligence) for gentle bottle handling
and continuous batch preparation. This
enabled precise product positioning on
the shrink-wrapper infeed conveyor, as
well as fast changeovers. Changeovers
were further simplified by integrating a
single universal gripping head for all eight
bottle formats.
Embracing change
A thermosealing shrink-wrapping solution
was implemented to ensure that the
pack was of a high quality; that a limited
number of product transfers would need
to be adapted for shaped or unstable
bottles; and that it would be possible
to switch from one to three product
lanes. For case erecting and packing,
as well as case sealing and palletising,
changeover needs were met with either
universal systems or fully automatic/
auto-adjustment processes. The packer
is a secured pick and place solution with
a gantry case packer that allows for fast
and simple changeovers.
“We can meet the very demanding
requirements of the food, home and
The Unilever Dubai
factory produces
500 million hair and
skincare products
under the Dove, Fair
& Lovely, Lifebuoy,
Vaseline, Clear,
TRESemme and
Sunsilk brands
At a glance
Challenge: How to implement
two high speed packaging
lines handling complex and
unstable bottle designs
Solution: A robotic approach
ensures gentle handling of
eight different container
formats
Outcome: High quality
packing, continuous batch
preparation and fast
changeovers are now the norm
personal care sectors; such as care
handling of sophisticated containers,
ultra-flexibility, and the high demand
for line speed increases,” states
Jean-Philippe Beduneau, Strategic Key
Account Director for Unilever at Gebo
Cermex. “Our existing portfolio is also
able to respect the specifications typically
linked to shaped, unstable bottles.
Nevertheless, in the case of Unilever, their
expectations of line speed and maximum
time for changeovers challenged our
design department to stretch the
boundaries of the current range and
merge modules and technologies like
never before.”
www.gebocermex.com
Unilever now has
two high speed lines
capable of handling
eight different
container formats
Luxe-loving solutions
Short production runs often associated
with exclusive or limited edition luxuries
are another reason for manufacturers
to consider adopting offline coding.
Rather than installing a printer on each
production line, a single offline system
can cater to different packaging types
and product ranges. Furthermore, thanks
to solvent-based technology, today’s TIJ
printers can also apply code directly onto
glossy surfaces prevalent in the luxury
brand market, often with greater clarity
than continuous inkjet (CIJ). And because
TIJ systems print at a resolution of up
to 600dpi, the font of any overprinted
information can be adapted to match
the carefully designed branding on the
package. Likewise, if brand owners prefer
coded information to be clear but not
too eye-catching, TIJ print density can
be lightened. In addition, the cost per
character using TIJ can be four times less
expensive than CIJ.
During the next few years, the luxury
packaging market in Western Europe
is predicted to grow twice as fast as
packaging overall. Therefore, premium
brand owners need to consider how
they will continue to catch the eye of
luxe-loving consumers, without damaging
brand reputation with poorly placed
codes.
As Rotech’s Richard Pether says:
“Premium packaging is the single
touchpoint for consumers and the quality
should speak for itself. This applies as
much to the packaging container itself as
the codes on it.”
www.rotechmachines.com
7 www.ppma.co.uk

Key industry events
Forthcoming
Later on
10-11
oct
Photonex Europe 2018
Ricoh Arena, Coventry
The UK’s showcase event dedicated to photonics and
light technologies.
www.photonex.org
26-29 Nov 2018
ALL4PACK Paris
Paris, France
www.all4pack.com
24-26 Jan 2019
ProPak Philippines
Manila, Philippines
www.propakphilippines.com
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
PPMA
UK pavilion
bookings now
being taken
11-14
oct
14-17
oct
23-26
oct
6-8
nov
6-8
nov
Pacprocess Tehran
Tehran, Iran
The new platform in Iran for suppliers of packaging
technology and related process industries.
www.pacprocess-tehran.com
Pack Expo International 2018
Chicago, USA
For more than 40 vertical industries, a leading global
event for packaging innovation, attracting 50,000
attendees and 2,500 exhibitors.
www.packexpointernational.com
Scanpack 2018
Gothenburg, Sweden
Northern Europe’s packaging event, featuring 500
exhibitors and 200 seminars.
www.scanpack.se
Vision
Stuttgart, Germany
Leading trade fair for machine vision, where the
industry’s key players meet to present an incomparable
range of products and services.
www.messe-stuttgart.de/vision/en/
Gulfood Manufacturing 2018
Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE
Attracting 35,000 visitors and 1,600
exhibitors, this event showcases solutions
for the complete spectrum of food and
drink manufacturing.
www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
Last chance
for PPMA UK
pavilion
bookings
29 Jan-1 Feb 2019
Upakovka 2019
Moscow, Russia
www.upakovka-tradefair.com
12-15 Mar 2019
ProPak Africa 2019
Johannesburg, South Africa
www.propakafrica.co.za
19-21 Mar 2019
ProPak Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
www.propakvietnam.com
26-29 Mar 2019
Auspack 2019
Melbourne, Australia
www.auspack.com.au
23 May 2019
NEW PPMA Conference
National Conference Centre & National
Motorcycle Museum, Solihull
christine.jordan@ppma.co.uk
12-15 Jun 2019
ProPak Asia 2019
Bangkok, Thailand
www.propakasia.com
1-3 Oct 2019
PPMA Total Show 2019
NEC, Birmingham
www.ppmashow.co.uk/ppma-total-show
8 www.ppma.co.uk

Feature events
Grab a place at Gulfood
Time is running out to secure your
place at the PPMA UK pavilion at
Gulfood Manufacturing 2018, the
region’s biggest food and beverage
processing and packaging event.
Taking place at the Dubai World Trade
Centre on 6-8 November, there is limited space available at this
fast-growing event, which last year attracted 35,000 visitors
from 60 countries, each with an average budget of US$3m.
Last year’s pavilion exhibitors enjoyed a highly successful show,
with 90% of exhibitors rating Gulfood Manufacturing as the first
entry point to generate sales revenues and leads. Attendees
gave it a 97% importance ranking to their overall business.
This year’s event features 41 official country pavilions across
80,000m 2 of exhibition surface.
To secure one of the few remaining PPMA UK
pavilion stands, contact Janette Lane today for
your booking form.
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com
Final call
DIT grant
funding
available
Opportunity knocks in
the Philippines
With the UK pavilion recently
expanded due to overwhelming
demand, the first ProPak
Philippines event (24-26 January 2019, Manila) is gearing
up to be a huge success. The Philippines is enjoying
strong economic growth – the country’s GDP is set
to grow by 6% in 2017-18, making it a leading Asian
growth performer – and this international processing
and packaging trade show is set to be one of ProPak’s
hottest debut events of recent times. Make sure your
business is at the forefront of this exciting new market by
securing a place on the PPMA UK pavilion.
For more information, contact Janette Lane.
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
www.propakphilippines.com
Join the UK pavilion
at ProPak Asia
As the
continent’s
largest industry
event of its kind, ProPak Asia has long
been renowned as the best platform
to connect to the region’s rapidly
expanding processing and packaging
industries. With a proven 25-year track
record of delivering huge numbers of
quality trade buyers, key international
suppliers and the most innovative
technology, the 2019 exhibition is set to
be bigger and better than ever as the
event once again increases in size to
keep up with demand.
Places are available at the PPMA UK pavilion for UK suppliers
who want to take advantage of the thriving Asian market,
which is continuing to expand due to growing consumer
demand, new trends, strong growth rates, increasing exports
and intra-ASEAN trade. Don’t miss your chance to join this
important event in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
Book your space today; contact Janette Lane.
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com
9 www.ppma.co.uk

Seminars, training and networking
Forthcoming
Later on
19
sept
11
oct
16
oct
25
oct
Robotic Safety for Integrators
Hilton Hotel, Northampton
This seminar is aimed at companies using, purchasing,
designing and manufacturing machines incorporating
industrial robots. It will discuss some of the issues
regarding CE marking of complex assemblies and the
requirements of the various standards.
PPMA member rate £195 +VAT
Project Management
Doubletree by Hilton, Nottingham
This introductory level course will cover the reasons that
projects are different from routine tasks, the importance
of planning, and the key techniques to maximise success.
Attendees will explore how to define the purpose of a
project; identify and communicate with stakeholders;
creatively generate solutions to problems; manage risk;
and much more.
PPMA member rate £95 +VAT
Social Media for B2B Organisations
Marriott Hotel, Northampton
Social media has changed from a ‘nice to have’ to a
vital business tool. To understand and work with this
relatively new medium it is vital to have a clear strategy.
This workshop will provide an overview of what social
media can do for your business, covering platforms from
LinkedIn and YouTube to Twitter and blog writing.
PPMA member rate £95 +VAT
PPMA Driving Safety Day
Heyford Park, Upper Heyford, Bicester
Our safety and awareness driving days,
brought to you by Ultimate Car Control, are
both educational and fun.
Free for PPMA members
See p12
for event
review
Details of further sessions and courses can be found at
www.ppma.co.uk/educ/info.htm
Coming soon…Quick Learning
New from the PPMA, our Quick Learning courses are
face-to-face learning sessions, lasting between 90
minutes and half a day. Offering a snapshot of a full
day’s training session, each course focuses on one
subject and is designed to be interactive, fast and fun.
PPMA member rate £95 +VAT
Seminars for 2018-19:
• Machinery Risk Assessment
• Machine Guarding
• Machinery Directive
• Functional Safety
• PUWER
• Introduction to Operational Excellence
• CE Audit
Training courses for 2018-19:
• Better Communication Skills at Work
• Dealing with Difficult People
• Effective Sales Skills for Non-Sales People
• HR for Non-HR Managers
• Introduction to Project Management
• Managing Workplace Performance
Stay up to date
To book your place on any of these events, or for
questions or comments, contact our Head of Events
& Training, Christine Jordan. These courses can also
be presented exclusively for your organisation on an
in-company basis, tailored to suit your specific needs.
T +44 (0)20 8773 8111
M +44 (0)7810 540946
christine.jordan@ppma.co.uk
10 www.ppma.co.uk

How safe
is your
intellectual
property?
Member benefits
By Roger Midgley – Client Manager for
Sutton Winson, one of the UK’s leading
independent insurance brokers and risk
management providers
Innovation of new products
is not easy and often comes
as a result of a lot of blood,
sweat and tears, not to
mention time and money. So,
once you’ve developed an exciting new
product, why would you not want to
protect it?
For many businesses, much of their
value lies in what makes them unique.
That’s why it’s vitally important to protect
the patents, trademarks, copyrights and
other intellectual property (IP) that make
your business competitive and successful.
Designed with SMEs in mind, an IP policy
covers the defence and pursuit of IP
infringement claims, which can be fatal for
a small or medium-sized business.
Key features include:
Pursuit of Infringers – This covers the
cost associated with enforcing rights if
someone infringes a valid right and it
has a commercial impact. This could be
competitors or even a former employee.
Patent Infringement Liability – This
covers the defence of patent and all
other IP infringement claims being
brought against you; including legal costs,
damages, settlements and counterclaims.
A competitor could financially ruin your
company if you cannot pay the costs of
expensive patent litigation.
Contractual Indemnities cover – This vital
cover allows smaller companies to sign
up to contracts with larger customers and
meet their high demands.
Loss of Profit cover – This cover can
be critical for small and medium-sized
businesses with only a single or a handful
of product lines. In the event that you lose
an infringement case and it results in an
injunction against you, this policy can cover
loss of your profits for up to 12 months.
Loss of IP Right cover – Investment in IP
costs a great deal. If a right is invalidated
as a consequence of infringement action,
this policy can repay that investment
allowing your company to move onto the
next project.
As long as you are not aware of any
known infringement or isolation, you
can apply for insurance to protect
your trademark or patent. For further
information or a quotation, contact
roger.midgley@swib.co.uk
www.suttonwinson.com/ppma
Sutton Winson is the
PPMA Group’s Insurance
provider. The PPMA Group
has partnerships with
various service providers,
covering insurance, H&S
and employment law,
recruitment, training,
litigation, technical advice
and driver training. To access
any of these services at a
preferential PPMA member
rate, contact
membership@ppma.co.uk
11 www.ppma.co.uk

Driving better business
One way to keep your business
on track this autumn is to register
with PPMA’s driving safety day
experience. The one-day course,
free for PPMA members and held
at the former Royal Air Force base
in the village of Upper Heyford
(nr. Bicester), Oxfordshire, is not
just a member benefit. Its primary
purpose is to keep you safe on the
road, whether at home or abroad.
Run in conjunction with Robb Gravett,
founder of Ultimate Car Control (UCC) and
a former British Touring Car Champion,
the modular programme provides a
practical insight into one of the most
dangerous pieces of machinery on the
market – the car.
Speaking ahead of the forthcoming
event in October, Robb says: “We live in
an increasingly litigious society; if there’s
a claim to be made, someone will make
it. The ethos behind everything we do
at UCC is safety as, statistically, a car is
one of the most hazardous pieces of
machinery any of us will ever use.
However, prior to developing the
programme with the PPMA a few years
ago, we initially presented it to the
Health & Safety Executive (HSE), who
were quite taken aback when we said
that it was fun. They didn’t believe that
anything involving health and safety
could also be enjoyable.”
Robb continues: “The motor vehicle
is considered to be an extension of the
workplace, so employers need to risk
assess their staff who drive a company
vehicle and provide training to use that
piece of equipment.
When we developed the one-day
programme, we looked at what was
required under mandate and what
was required under statute, coupled
with the dynamic element of driving a
motor vehicle, which enables drivers
to adapt, react and make a change
to protect themselves. Companies
are largely unware that if they have
five salespeople on the road, they
need to train them and have all the
documentation in place; that’s the law.
Through our work with the PPMA, we
are able to provide that.”
Speaking after the most recent
driving day event in August, Mark
Brooker, UK Director for Cama Group,
was praising of the programme.
“This was
the first time
that my two
colleagues and
I had enrolled
on the course,”
he said. “I
thought it was
great. Not only
is it another
membership
benefit, the
day is very professionally run; it’s
light-hearted, but at the same time,
done with a clear intent to educate.
The tutoring and mentoring
were very good. It also provides the
opportunity to network with other PPMA
members, so it’s a win-win,” he added.
To book your place on the next PPMA
Driving Safety Day, taking place on 25
October, or for more information, contact
christine.jordan@ppma.co.uk
T +44 (0)20 9773 8111
M +44 (0)7810 540946
12 www.ppma.co.uk

Full steam
ahead
One of the newest recruits to
the PPMA Group is Membership
Executive, Sharon Mason. While
Sharon only joined the Group
in July, she has already made a
positive impact with both members
and colleagues alike.
After being fast-tracked into the
processing and packaging industry
from a vertical manufacturing and
engineering trade association,
Sharon has already visited over 30
members, which stem the length
and breadth of the country. Group
News caught up with Sharon prior
to this year’s PPMA Show at the
NEC, Birmingham, to gauge her
initial thoughts of the industry and
her time with the PPMA.
“I am pleased to have been
able to hit the ground
running,” says Sharon. “The
members have been very
receptive and welcoming of
me and I’ve been privy to have tours of
a number of facilities, which have been
a real eye-opener. If there’s something I
don’t know, each member has taken the
time to give me a detailed explanation.
It’s clear that they take pride in what
they do, so they’re more than happy
to explain and run through what each
supplier and tool does.”
“Similarly, I’m keen to meet and speak
to as many members as possible to
communicate what the PPMA Group is
proactively doing for them,” continues
Sharon. “There are the obvious things
like the PPMA Show and the forthcoming
PPMA Conference next year, but there
are lots of other benefits that members
can tap into as part of their membership.
It’s my job to understand the nature
of their business and put them in touch
with the various stakeholders within the
Association to help add value to what
they already to do; whether that be
publishing, training and events, or even
PPMA BEST – as getting fresh recruits
into the industry remains high on the
corporate agenda.”
Although Sharon is predominantly
based in the West Midlands, her
member visits have already taken
her everywhere from north Yorkshire,
Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and
Cambridgeshire – to name a few.
“Irrespective of their location,
members appreciate having someone
they can contact,” explains Sharon. “It’s
also important that members know
that, if they provide the PPMA with
information, we will take it on board and
act accordingly. Our role is as much about
being proactive as it is reactive,” she
adds. “We are here to help members get
the most out of their membership.”
While there continues to be a
lot of interest regarding the events
and training currently on offer, the
PPMA is also looking at other bespoke
training, which is targeted at more
specific personnel within a member’s
organisation. These could range from
the managing director or CEO, to an
employee working in a niche area on
the shop floor. It’s about making the
PPMA as inclusive as possible within the
current operational framework.
Make the most of your
membership
To arrange a time for Sharon to visit your
business, contact
sharon.mason@ppma.co.uk
T +44 (0)20 8773 8111
13 www.ppma.co.uk

Glowing
end of term
report - but
still work
to be done
PPMA BEST
By Danny Reed – Education & Skills
Manager, PPMA BEST
Unlike the rest of the PPMA
Group, our activities at BEST
operate on an academic
calendar. We have just
reached the end of our year,
which gives us the ideal opportunity to
reflect on what we’ve achieved over the
past 12 months and set out our aims for
the future.
Award-winning support
From September 2017 to August 2018, we
worked with over 900 students as part
of the PPMA BEST initiative. This included
in-school STEM days, our work experience
programme and our specialist projects.
I’m particularly proud of the work we
did to support a team of students from
The Portsmouth Academy; a secondary
school in a challenging area, facing
problems with social deprivation and an
above average number of ‘NEETS’ (young
people not in education, employment or
training). We assisted the students – a
group of seven girls aged 14-15 – with an
eco-factory project, which subsequently
won the People’s Choice category at the
Dorset and Hampshire Go4SET Awards,
held at the National Oceanography Centre.
An incredible achievement!
Inspiring all ages
In November 2017, we held an incredibly
successful STEM event at the Manchester
Museum of Science and Industry. Aimed
at students aged 15-16 who were already
showing an interest in and aptitude for
STEM, the event highlighted the exciting
opportunities for further study and
the career paths available within the
processing, packaging and associated
industries.
We also ran a number of inclusive
STEM days in secondary schools,
designed to engage everyone to the
possibilities STEM can offer, and piloted
a STEM day in a primary school that
reached out to 156 students between
the ages of 5-11. We hope to roll out
more of these in the future, working
with PPMA member companies to
inspire a love of science and engineering
in young people of all ages and abilities.
Companies at the front line
We have supported 11 PPMA member
companies in total over the past 12
months. Clearview Imaging, Evolution
Bottling Solutions, Fanuc, Jenton
International, KUKA, Lenze, Packaging
Automation and Scorpion Vision received
support from PPMA BEST at outreach
events, while Evolution Bottling Solutions,
Excel Packaging Machinery, Multipix
Imaging, Scorpion Vision and Simmatic
benefited from PPMA BEST grants.
The BEST ever PPMA Show
Our new academic year begins in earnest
with the PPMA Show (25-27 September
at the NEC in Birmingham), and I am
delighted that this year’s event not only
features the PPMA BEST MTA Educational
Stand, but also incorporates the PPMA
BEST Day (Thursday 27 September).
This will see 60 sixth-form students from
Hertfordshire tour the exhibition to meet
those working in the industry, get up close
and personal with the latest machinery,
and take part in on-stand coding activities.
The seminar programme for that day
will also be given over to BEST, featuring
a number of presentations by industry
leaders such as Mondelez and Lenze, who
will aim to inspire the next generation of
engineers.
Building for the future
Following on from the show, we plan to
continue with the programme of in-school
STEM days; carry out more project work,
supporting a school in Scotland as well as
furthering our work with The Portsmouth
Academy; and repeat our specialist STEM
day at the Manchester Museum of Science
and Industry, in conjunction with the MTA
(12 November 2018).
We will also be running a series
of mentor training courses for PPMA
members who want to get involved with
the BEST programme, to ensure their staff
have the necessary skills to communicate
effectively with and inspire the young
people we need to keep our industry
thriving.
To find out more about the work of
PPMA BEST and how your company can
get involved, contact
danny.reed@ppma.co.uk
www.ppmabest.org.uk
PPMA BEST is the charitable arm of the PPMA.
It supports young people looking to explore and enter
a career in the processing, packaging, machine vision,
robotics and automation industries; providing a range
of activities to engage and inspire them.
14 www.ppma.co.uk

Industry News
Free Packaging Trends report
Get your hands on Mintel’s Global Packaging
Trends 2018 report, revealing the five key trends
currently impacting global packaging markets. To
download your free copy and ensure your business
stays ahead of the competition, go to:
www.mintel.com/global-packaging-trends
Innovation at the heart of the PPMA Show
Now celebrating its 30th
anniversary, the PPMA Show
(25-27 Sept, NEC, Birmingham)
has long been the key event
for showcasing the latest
innovations in the processing
and packaging industry, and
this year is no exception. Alongside an exhibition featuring more
than 350 key companies demonstrating the newest machinery on
the market, the Enterprise Zone features a line-up of influential
speakers, many of whom will be talking about the latest trends and
innovations making a real difference to the industry.
As well as the keynote speakers – Lord Mark Price (Day 1 – 1pm,
25 Sept) and Jonathan Warburton (Day 2 – 2pm, 26 Sept) – don’t
miss the following presentations, highlighting just how important
innovation is for the future of our industry:
• The Use of Smart Technologies and
Robotics for Packaging Optimisation
(Day 1, 11:10am)
• What Is Active and Intelligent
Packaging and How Does It Fit Into
Modern Production Requirements?
(Day 1, 3pm)
• The Future of Food Manufacturing
(Day 2, 10am)
• Cyber Security for Food and Packaging
Manufacturers – The Industrial
Internet of Things (Day 2, 3pm)
Register for free at
www.ppmashow.co.uk
Free business support from EEF
EEF is the manufacturers’ organisation, helping to
foster enterprise and innovation in the manufacturing
industry. As an affiliate EEF member, PPMA members
can take advantage of EEF’s portfolio of business
support services; including analysis, training videos,
market reports and blogs, covering areas such as cyber security, productivity and Brexit.
To find out more go to
www.eef.org.uk
Most manufacturers
‘not investing’ in 4IR
Despite 95% of companies believing
that the 4th Industrial Revolution
(4IR) will be a business reality, a
recent survey by EEF (formerly
Engineering Employers’ Federation)
reveals that 57% of manufacturing
firms are still to make an investment,
with a lack of skills cited as the main
barrier. However, there is some
good news, with two-thirds of
companies surveyed now having an
understanding of 4IR, up from 42%
in 2016.
In fact, 43% of companies have
moved beyond the ‘conception’
phase to the ‘evolution’ phase, where
current business practice is optimised
with new technologies. But with only
one in four companies seeing the UK
as a 4IR leader, there is clearly more
work to be done – what steps is your
business taking to keep up with the
digital revolution?
To read the report in full, go to
https://bit.ly/2Bc063s
Time for a change?
Whether
you’re
looking for
your next
step up
the career
ladder or want to recruit that special
candidate, make the PPMA Industry
Jobs board your first port of call.
In conjunction with Wallace Hind,
exclusive recruitment partner to the
PPMA, the site features a selection
of roles within the processing and
packaging industry across the whole
of the UK. To see what’s on offer or
add your vacancy to the site, go to
www.ppmaltd.co.uk/
industry-jobs.html
15 www.ppma.co.uk

Linked Up
Innovative solutions from the PPMA Group membership
Unique cartoning machine
meets tough pharma
standards
Designed to meet tough pharmaceutical
standards, the NC 300 packaging
solution from Norden Machinery is the
latest in the company’s cartoning series.
Ergonomic and efficient, it can handle up
to 300 cartons per minute and is built
to withstand even the most demanding
production environments.
The major driver behind the machine’s
development is the pharmaceutical
industry’s rigorous demands when it
comes to access, line clearance, Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards,
and other stringent regulations and
requirements, such as CFR21 Part
11 compliance. Its flexibility makes
changeovers faster and simpler, and
the machine can be easily adapted to
different types of cartons.
“The new system means you can run
leading edge and trailing edge; a unique
feature,” states Norden’s Technical
Director, Hans Söderström. “This means
that production does not have to
consider the direction of tube in relation
to print on cartons. It’s important for
production planning and the ability
to use the same material on different
production lines.”
www.nordenmachinery.com
New tamper-proof packaging a hit with Fareva
Fareva, a leading subcontractor in the pharmaceutical,
cosmetics, and household field, has entered
into a long-term partnership with Atlantic
Zeiser to jointly address the strategic areas
of serialisation, digital print and late stage
customisation. Fareva is currently equipping 30
of its packaging lines with the new MEDILINE T&T
solution from Atlantic Zeiser.
The MEDILINE T&T track and trace system
enables filled folding cartons to be serialised,
delivering enhanced process security. In addition
to a check weigher and a tamper-evident labelling
machine, the system includes a Bollini labeller and features
various inkjet printers or laser markers, depending on the requirements of individual
products and locations.
“This space-saving addition enables us to prepare our existing lines for the new
serialisation and tamper-evident requirements of the EU pharmaceuticals directive,”
says Pierre Laissy, Operational Excellence Director at Fareva.
www.atlanticzeiseruk.com
Sauce Shop waves goodbye to manual packaging
A start-up food
company is reaping the
rewards of automating
its packaging line
since investing in a
wrap-around labelling
solution and CIJ printer
from Citronix. The Intrex
1101 automatic labelling
system is designed to
precisely apply partial or
wrap-around labels of
cylindrical products of
any kind, such as cans,
bottles and jars, and
has proved invaluable
to Nottingham-based
Sauce Shop. As the company still needed to print product information (minimum dates
of durability and batch numbering) onto its glass bottles, it also took advantage of
Citronix’s ‘try now, upgrade later’ programme and purchased a reconditioned ci3300
printer, which came with a 36-month warranty. Sauce Shop then has the option to
upgrade to the latest ci5000 printer over the next 12 months.
“We are thrilled with our new bottle labeller and CIJ printer,” says James Digva, Co-owner
of Sauce Shop. “We now have a fully-automated packaging line at an affordable price.
The system is easy to use, fast and very reliable. Applying labels and best before dates
manually is a thing of the past. It has helped us increase our output threefold.”
www.citronix.co.uk
16 www.ppma.co.uk

Multipix eyes potential of
advanced manufacturing
Free machine vision event
Multipix Imaging has become
a member of the University
of Sheffield Advanced
Manufacturing Research
Centre (AMRC). A world-class
centre for research into
advanced manufacturing
technologies used in the
aerospace, automotive, medical and other high-value
manufacturing sectors, the AMRC has a global reputation
for helping companies overcome manufacturing
problems and is a model for collaborative research
involving universities, academics and industry worldwide.
The AMRC Factory 2050 is the UK’s first state of the art
factory entirely dedicated to conducting collaborative
research into reconfigurable, digitally-assisted assembly,
component manufacturing and machining technologies
and is capable of rapidly switching production between
different high-value components and one-off parts.
“We take great pride in working with the AMRC team
at Factory 2050 and being a part of exciting, innovative
vision solutions, which in turn help support the
development of manufacturing within the UK,” says
Multipix Director, Julie Busby.
Multipix will run ‘Wise Up’ events from the AMRC facilities
in Sheffield, giving those interested in learning more
about machine vision a chance to attend educational
days free of charge. The next Wise Up event, entitled
‘What The Eyes Can’t See’, takes place on Thursday
29 November. Dedicated to exploring infrared, hyperspectral
and multi-spectral imaging cameras, it will give
an insight into vision application using temperature,
colour and bandwidths.
To find out more or register your attendance, go to
www.multipix.com/events
Innovation Q&A with Advanced Dynamics
Malcolm Little is the Managing Director of packaging
and labelling equipment supplier Advanced Dynamics.
As the Bradford-based company celebrates its 20th
anniversary, the PPMA Group’s Communications
Manager, Andy Fitzsimons, asked Malcolm to explain why
continuing to innovate is crucial to remaining successful in
business.
How important has innovation been to the long-term success of
Advanced Dynamics?
“Since acquiring the business three years ago, it has been
as much about innovation as it has succession planning and
bringing people on board who share the same vision. We had
to think more laterally; just because we didn’t have a presence
within a particular industry doesn’t mean to say that we
shouldn’t and that’s the mantra I took to grow the business.”
What innovations
are you most proud
of and why?
“Our most innovative
product is the rotary
filling machine, which
was developed with
our supplier pack
leader and fills, nibs
and caps up to 50
bottles per minute.
It was a complete
change in direction
for us. After going to market with the first machine 19 months
ago, we are already at version five. We recently took orders
worth £1.2m in a single month, which was a quantum leap from
where we were.”
What trend do you think will influence the labelling/machinery
manufacturing sector over the next 3-5 years?
“Without doubt, the type of packaging we’re allowed to use.
Recycling really matters to consumers now; especially when
they see images of sea turtles with a bag on their head. It’s
serious stuff and evident that we can’t just keep doing what
we’re doing; we have to change. It’s a global issue and begs the
question, will we be labelling bottles in five years’ time, or will it
be sachets; and will they be recyclable sachets? How the various
industries react to that is the big unknown at the moment.”
www.advanceddynamics.co.uk
Crunch time for crisp firm
Producing 15 million bags per week,
London-based Kolak Snack Foods is one of
the UK’s leading crisp and snack producers.
The company recently commissioned
UPM Conveyors to design a system for
automating the conveying of finished
goods from the production area to
packaging despatch. This involved elevating
boxes from ground level up to a height
of four metres, passing through a tunnel,
crossing a service road and declining to the
packing area for palletising. The system
incorporates a powered roller S Bend and
custom-engineered belt conveyors suitable
for food production, to ensure compliance
with health and safety regulations.
It also features a programmable logic
controller (PLC) to allow operators in both
the production and packaging areas to
interface with one another.
www.upmconveyors.com
17 www.ppma.co.uk

Welcome new PPMA Group members
BSI
FTL Technology
JKT A/S
BSI helps companies to outshine their
competitors by demonstrating tangible value
that can be included in tenders, providing
access to new customers and markets. A BSI
certification holds value, with standards such
as ISO 140001 Environmental Management,
ISO 27001 Cyber Security and ISO 45001
Occupational Health and Safety, plus
industry-specific Standards such as BRC Food
Safety and Packaging. BSI’s trusted Kitemark
is unparalleled.
For more information, contact
Erica Armstrong:
foodsafety@bsigroup.com
T +44 (0)345 080 9000
www.bsigroup.com/foodsafety-uk
Carlo Gavazzi
Carlo Gavazzi offers state of the art product
solutions where accuracy, reliability and
energy efficiency are vital. Whether your
business needs a sensor, a switching relay,
a power supply or an energy management
solution to reduce your carbon footprint
and optimise your energy consumption, the
experts at Carlo Gavazzi can help.
For more information, contact
Alison Stevens:
alison_stevens@carlogavazzi.co.uk
T +44 (0)1276 854110
www.carlogavazzi.co.uk
CHH CoNeX
Operating from its Birmingham-based
manufacturing HQ, CHH CoNeX is a medium
sized, owner-managed company with
experience of delivering complete
end-to-end solutions in: cable assembly
design and manufacture; box build/rack
and cabinet integration/panel wiring;
electro-mechanical integration and testing;
and supply chain and managed services
solutions.
For more information, contact
Spencer Franklin:
spencer.franklin@chhconex.com
T +44 (0)121 344 6316
www.chhconex.com
FTL Technology is a leading supplier of
precision-engineered custom sealing
solutions, and the exclusive UK partner
for Woodex and its MECO range of split
and unsplit mechanical shaft seals. A full
consultancy service is available from initial
concept to final installation, improving
operational performance and reducing
equipment downtime.
For more information, contact Russ Pimblett:
rpimblett@idexcorp.com
T +44 (0)113 220 3425
www.ftl.technology
Greenwood
Magnetics
Specialists in magnetic separation solutions
since 1948, Greenwood Magnetics works
closely with a wide range of industries. In
recent years, it has turned its focus towards
more intricate and complex magnet designs
for the food, pharmaceutical, oil and gas
sectors, where it works with some of the
world’s largest companies.
For more information, contact
Jeremy Greenwood:
sales@greenwoodmagnetics.com
T +44 (0)1706 645824
www.greenwoodmagnetics.com
IXON
IXON offers a secure and user-friendly
Industrial Internet of Things and remote
access solution, aiming to help make
the world a more productive place with
a future-proof, all-in-one solution for
machine builders. Users can remotely access
machines at the touch of a button using
VPN, VNC and http(s) technology, or gain
insight into a machine’s data via reports and
live monitors.
For more information, contact
Daniel Phillips-Fern:
daniel.fern@ixon.cloud
T +44 (0)7787 308860
www.ixon.cloud
A Danish development and engineering
company that specialises in the development
and manufacture of SPEED-DISP tray
denesting equipment, JKT has supplied
professional tray denesting solutions
across the world since 2003. It has recently
developed A2, a new tray denesting
technology described as ‘intelligent and
tolerance-compensating’.
For more information, contact
Flemming Aarslev Christensen:
fac@jkt.dk
T +45 20 99 74 55
www.jkt.dk
Klüber Lubrication
Klüber Lubrication provides innovative
lubrication solutions that improve efficiency,
increase product durability and reduce
energy consumption. As the lifeblood of
production equipment, an effective lubrication
programme encompasses appropriately
specified lubricants and supporting
documentation, and assists companies in
improving their operational efficiencies.
For more information, contact
Martine Jagger:
martine.jagger@uk.klueber.com
T +44 (0)1422 319161
www.klueber.com
Marcote UK
Precision surface coating applicator Marcote
UK has been supporting engineers to better
their maintenance operations for over 15
years. With the ability to create bespoke
systems, its coatings make machinery easier
to clean and harder-wearing, as well as
reducing production downtime.
For more information, contact
Chandeep Uppal:
sales@marcote.co.uk
T +44 (0)1543 419 904
www.marcote.co.uk
18 www.ppma.co.uk

Get in touch
Mil-tek
Mil-tek supplies tailor-made waste handling
solutions to maximise efficiency within
manufacturing facilities. Its solutions rely on
value-stream mapping analysis to reduce
unnecessary processes and handling of
waste and packaging materials. Increasing
material recycling, reducing overall cost
and improving efficiency without additional
labour is a key target. Free site audits
available.
For more information, contact Bryan Wingfield:
bw@mil-tek.com
T +45 9675 8204
www.miltek.co.uk/your-business/
manufacturing
Oriental
Motor UK
Drawing on its many years of experience
combined with proven technology, Oriental
Motor UK offers one of the largest ranges of
high quality, Japanese electric motors and
drives, to meet the ever-demanding needs
of customers across a broad spectrum of
industrial sectors.
For more information, contact Paul Jepson:
jepson@oriental-motor.co.uk
T +44 (0)1256 347 090
www.oriental-motor.co.uk/Home/
Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is the world’s leading food
processing and packaging solutions
company. Working closely with customers
and suppliers, it provides safe, innovative
and environmentally sound products that
meet the needs of people in more than
160 countries. With over 24,000 employees
around the world, Tetra Pak believes in
responsible industry leadership and a
sustainable approach to business.
For more information, contact Jane Jarosz:
jane.jarosz@tetrapak.com
www.tetrapak.com
ppma.co.uk
ukiva.org
bara.org.uk
ppma-group
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ppma-group
https://twitter.com/PPMA_Group
@PPMA_Group
PPMA TV
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW0hgEalJv1jSjjpf-eoJUA
Membership Relations
membership@ppma.co.uk
PPMA Show
scott.mckenna@ppma.co.uk
International Services
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
Publishing and Advertising
david.chadd@ppma.co.uk
Marketing and PR
marketing@ppma.co.uk
PPMA BEST Charitable Trust
ppmabest@ppma.co.uk
Relayr
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
powerhouse Relayr delivers a complete
solution for risk-free digital transformations,
unleashing data insights from existing
equipment, machines and production lines to
improve business outcomes. By providing a
combination of IIoT technology with financial
and insurance offerings, all from a single
source, it enables companies to shift from
CAPEX to OPEX-based offerings.
For more information, contact Vinay Pattni:
vinay.pattni@relayr.io
T +44(0) 7894 519237
www.relayr.io
Join today!
For a PPMA Group membership
pack contact
membership@ppma.co.uk
19 www.ppma.co.uk

Actively helping our
members through
services, tools and
initiatives to thrive in an
increasingly competitive
marketplace
G