Equipment overload

Back from Anuga FoodTec, and I confess I’m still recovering from a week of walking up and down those vast halls, looking at equipment. After awhile they all blended into each other. Like everyone else I was a bit bedazzled by Tetra Pak’s giant theme park for its filling and packaging solutions. I confess that I did find their new 200ml cartons quite cute. Also like what they’ve done to the gable top. Slick. I did get a bit dizzy watching the 40,000 carton per hour filling machine, however.
Meanwhile, GEA has been busy as well. New products, and improvement to old favourites. Powder is the new milk, and the company has much to serve this market, including an in-line powder analysis system for spray dryers. Particularly of interest on stand was the sterile filler for ESl milk.

SPX offered up its new way of making protein particles in milk act like fat, to provide whey drinks with better mouthfeel. The firm is working with an Icelandic dairy on the new products. Looks to be an interesting way to get nutrition into drinks without that chalky taste.

All in all, a lot to absorb. Good thing it’s only every three years…