China’s die-cutters and hot-foil embossing specialist Masterwork to become largest Heidelberg shareholder

Germany: Heidelberg is seeking to improve further improve its market position in the packaging printing segment, and hence has signed an agreement with Chinese post-press specialist Masterwork Group Co (Masterwork) under which Masterwork will obtain an 8.5% stake in the company. The proposed capital increase provides the opportunity for Heidelberg to acquire a further strategic …

Never before, unique packaging helps breakthrough dairy technology deliver fresh milk across continents

It’s a blue ocean affordable, sustainable technology that uses a unique packaging container to deliver fresh milk to the world consumers, Jack Castelein, Partner at Dutch-based MilkWays tells Ben Daniel, editor of Packaging MEA   How do you feed a growing population of 10 billion? Dairy – is the obvious answer. It’s nutritious, it deliv
ers …

Samir Khoudja: With the advent of automation and new technologies, the regional need of the hour is training

A hundred-year legacy of making converting machines, and yet, evolving, Samir Khoudja, managing director for Africa and Middle East for Bobst tells Benjamin Daniel, editor of Packaging MEA, about the ways of his company It seems the business of packaging converting is becoming more and more elaborate. One manifestation of this is the continued global …

Building competency of packaging industries’ employees, other professionals university students – a WPO initiative

The World Packaging Organisation hosted its first ever packaging training programme in Jordan, and it was an instant success. The purpose was to increase and develop professional knowledge, Benjamin Daniel reports Ammam in Jordon was the city which was the recipient of the first WPO packaging training programme. The programme was held from 3-7 March …

Here are seven challenges for packaging production and what they mean for both printers and converters

Swiss print, packaging and allied equipment manufacturer, Bobst Group takes a closer look to assess the market to ensure that its customers and future clients will have as the solutions they need in a changing environment. The printing 
and converting industry for packaging production across labels, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated boards
are undergoing a …

Konica Minolta Middle East to demonstrate new and innovative solutions at GPP 2019

UAE: Konica Minolta Business Solutions Middle East will be demonstrating at Gulf Print and Pack 2019 running from 15th to 18th April at Dubai World Trade Centre. so e of its integrated offerings for the packaging industry. The company will also give live demonstrations of its latest technologies and products which aim to shape the …

Al Shihab Al Thahabi industry thoughts: Key to innovation is smart utilisation of technology

UAE: The plastics industry and plastics in packaging has had its own set of challenges in 2018. The key focus during the year had been on running the operations of the plant more cost-effectively
and efficiently. Packaging conversion and fulfillment hasn’t seen a specific growth per se, however, F&B as well as its allied FFS sector …

Coca-Cola produces 3m tonnes of PET based plastic packaging a year

USA: As there are calls on global firms to end secrecy over plastic footprint Coca- Cola has revealed for the first time it produces 3m tonnes of plastic packaging a year – equivalent to 200,000 bottles a minute – as a report calls on other global companies to end the secrecy over their plastic footprint. …

Almarai, Sabic among new class of global challengers

France: Thirteen companies from the Middle East, including two from Saudi Arabia namely SABIC and Almarai, are among a new class of ‘global challengers’ that are leapfrogging their developed market counterparts to achieve global leadership positions according to a report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Only four companies globally, including SABIC, graduated to become global …

Future Consumer gets braille friendly on World Braille Day

UAE: Celebrating the World Braille Day, Future Consumer invited Ajay Kumar Reddy, cap- tain of the Indian Men’s Blind Cricket Team to unveil its new Braille-enabled ThinkSkin body wash bottles. The new initiative of Braille packaging, the company said, was in line with its vision of representing FMCG 2.0 industry and empowering the consumer experience. …