SIG, a provider of packaging system solutions, marked Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 by signing agreements for 17 new filling lines with regional food and beverage producers and winning the UAE Industrial Excellence Award for its SIG Product Innovation and Application Hub in Dubai.

The agreements reflect continued investment in regional food and beverage manufacturing, with the new filling lines set to expand production capacity for aseptic carton, spouted pouches and bag-in-box products in India, Middle East and Africa.

“Our success at Gulfood Manufacturing is particularly significant because it reaches across SIG’s full portfolio,” said Anne Erkens, CEO of SIG. “It reflects both the breadth of our offering and the strength of our customer relationships. From aseptic carton to bag-in-box and spouted pouch, we are well positioned to support customers as they expand production, increase flexibility and address evolving market needs.”

Adding to this commercial success, SIG was recognised at the Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 Industry Excellence Awards, winning the UAE Industrial Excellence Award for its SIG Product Innovation & Application Hub in Dubai. The award recognises contributions to advancing local manufacturing capabilities and strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the UAE’s food industry.

Located at SIG’s regional headquarters in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the SIG Product Innovation & Application Hub, which opened in 2021, forms part of SIG’s global network of innovation and application facilities.

The hub brings together product development expertise, food processing technologies, application testing and aseptic test-filling capabilities to help manufacturers, startups and entrepreneurs turn product ideas into commercially viable solutions.

Through close collaboration with SIG’s experts, customers can co-create and reformulate recipes, validate processing and packaging solutions, and produce small test batches in aseptic cartons and spouted pouches. This enables them to explore new product categories, reduce development risks and accelerate time to market before committing to full-scale production.

Building on more than 13 years of participation at Gulfood Manufacturing, SIG also unveiled six new ready-to-drink beverage concepts developed by its product innovation experts in Dubai. Spanning functional nutrition, protein-rich beverages, hydration and indulgent flavours, the concepts demonstrated how SIG combines product innovation with advanced processing, filling and packaging technologies to help customers respond to evolving consumer preferences and unlock new growth opportunities.

Held from 3 to 5 November at Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme “Powering Food Security Through Manufacturing Innovation”, Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 provided SIG with a platform to strengthen customer relationships, advance new business opportunities and showcase its contribution to the future of food and beverage manufacturing in the region.