The food and beverage industry is optimistic about „Anuga FoodTec 2018“. Companies are planning investments. In line with the trade fair, the „DLG Trend Monitor 2018“ highlights the key topics of „resource efficiency“ and „Industry 4.0“.
With a new Record number of exhibitors goes the „Anuga FoodTec“ in Cologne is entering its next edition. 1,700 exhibiting companies, including more than 100 new ones from the Packaging industry, Koelnmesse GmbH is expecting another new hall, Hall 10.2, to be occupied from 20 to 23 March 2018 (packaging journal already reported on this in detail in its previous issue). The Packaging technology will be given more space. In addition to the established Halls 7 and 8, which are reserved for „Food Packaging“, packaging machines will now also be shown in Hall 9.
The leading food technology trade fair meets an optimistic industry. This is confirmed by the recently published „DLG Trend Monitor 2018“. The industry association for the agricultural and food sector surveyed 143 manufacturing companies in the food and beverage industry from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Companies are primarily planning replacement investments
As a result, all companies surveyed intend to continue investing into 2020. They continue to report a tense and also internationally challenging uncertain earnings situation, which is why 57.3 per cent of companies Replacement investments and 52.4 per cent took measures to Increased efficiency want to take. While the number of companies planning replacement investments has risen by almost ten per cent, the proportion of those planning replacement investments has fallen by 4.5 per cent to 53.7 per cent. Capacity expansions in mind.
One of the defining trends in the food and beverage industry is the topic of „Sustainability“. 64 per cent of companies want to invest in energy management and the more efficient use of raw materials over the next few years. Respondents were also interested in measures to reduce water, cooling, heat and electricity consumption. Planned investments in raw material utilisation were reported less frequently.
DLG offers congress programme on resource efficiency
The DLG is represented at „Anuga FoodTec“ with the theme „Resource efficiency“ was prominently represented. As usual, the Frankfurt-based association Congress programme of the trade fair and grouped it around this main theme this time. The half-day opening conference on 20 March 2018 will focus on the optimisation of production processes and the reduction of water and energy consumption. Among others, the President of the World Packaging Organisation, Prof. Pierre Pienaar, and Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, Scientific Manager of the Hamburg Environment Institute, will be holding discussions.
In addition, resource efficiency will be discussed in depth throughout the trade fair in a dedicated specialist forum. Two further focal points in the programme of the Specialist forums are „Topics, trends, technologies - what moves the food industry“ and „Food ingredients“.
„Predictive maintenance“ is a particular concern for the industry
As one of the most important topics in the industry, the „DLG Trend Monitor“ has identified the area of „Predictive maintenance“ has determined. 20 of the companies surveyed already rely on data-supported, predictive maintenance of machines and systems - and the trend is rising due to the economic benefits.
Another mega-trend identified by the DLG will also be reflected in the „Guided Tours“. Various themed tours will be offered during the trade fair, including those on „Industry 4.0“ and innovative packaging materials. „Smart Packaging“ uses various technologies to enable end-to-end transparency in the logistics processes and reliable Traceability of the goods. Additional information about ingredients or the origin of the products can also be provided.
The DLG expects that RFID-based, intelligent packaging in particular will prevail. Investments in Optimisation of logistics and value chains will increase particularly sharply over the next three years, according to the DLG Trend Monitor. The technology will not yet be used for functions aimed at end consumers due to the high costs.
[infotext icon]Are you interested in the discussion and lecture programme of „Anuga FoodTec 2018“? You can find a complete overview on the Homepage of the food technology trade fair[/infotext]
