Philip Bower, ANZ business manager for machinery and packaging company Schur Star Systems Australia, says the Schur Star machine "can do everything", from cookie 'box bags' which "take control of the cookie post-baking" to 'jar packs' which give bags a 3D look.

Peacock Bros partnered with Zebra Technologies to demonstrate its enterprise printing and data capture solutions, including Zebra's thermal label printers and industrial label printer ZT410. Here on the stand is marketing assistant Maria Cerullo.

Proseal Australia's general manager Scott Templeton took us through an innovative solution for fresh produce which results in a 50 per cent packaging reduction on the traditional heavy gauge plastic used on berry and tomato pack lids. "The lids we produce use a thin, reclosable lidding film instead," he said.

Paul McGuire is the marketing manager for Cryovac Darfresh on Board: a packaging innovation from Sealed Air Food Care that offers more space for communicating a brand's story, as well as environmental benefits. The recyclable, moisture-resistant board is a "blank canvas" for communications, according to McGuire. Vacuum skin barrier film technology reduces waste throughout the supply chain by delivering extended shelf life; and 100% film utilisation means zero scrap or landfill. The packaging solution is close to being launched commercially in ANZ. Visy is Sealed Air's board partner and Mondini is its equipment partner.

Flexo-Pack UK is leading the way with Vacuum Skin Films (VSP) that enable ready meals to be taken straight from the freezer or fridge and into the oven or microwave. The films can be used on aluminium and CPET trays, and run on most VSP tray sealers, according to Flexo-Pack UK's sales and applications manager Nathan Gannaway (pictured).

Pac Food sales assistant Anthony Vezos was on hand to demonstrate the company's range of heatproof, ovenable CPET trays for ready meals. "With CPET you normally have to buy big volumes but we give small to medium users the option of buying a few cartons rather than pallet loads," Vezos says. Pac Food also offers Cook Chill Bags for large volumes of liquid, which enables manufacturers to extend shelf life.

Ulma's regional sales manager (south) Tony Whelan took us through a range of containers with resealable lidding film suited to fresh produce and dry pet food, which enables more branding space on the product. Ulma uses the TSA 680 machine for the product.

The Accupak and Accuweigh team was on hand to demonstrate a range of inspection equipment such as the OCS Checkweigher and X-ray machine, as well as the Fortress Technology metal detector. Sales engineer Marc Wingelaar (right) is pictured here.

Five years ago, Paq-It's Frans Boerma had an idea for oyster trays that he felt would provide a solution no one else was offering. The trays can be frozen, and placed directly under a grill, with no wastage.

Globus Group CEO Chris Burt and group sales manager Michael Faure were on hand to demonstrate the Tipper Tie 1815 automatic clipper model, which runs cost-effective roll stock films. Compared with using traditional shirred casings, roll stock brings added versatility and critical operational benefits to automatic stuffing and clipping, such as longer production runs and less downtime, according to the team.

Select Equip area manager Jordan Adams took us through the Platformer machine, which can cut a tray's footprint before the forming process occurs, reducing scrap to just one per cent.

The Minipack International stand, manned by Maria Cristiano and the team, had a range of recyclable polyolefin and PVC shrink films on display.

Heat and Control's Greg Pyne demonstrated a range of X-ray systems and metal detectors from Ishida and CEIA which can safely inspect products for foreign matter such as bone, stone, and glass. Also attracting visitors to the stand was an augmented reality (AR) app which enabled them to explore a fully operational HeatWave Fryer on their tablet or smartphone.