20 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Industrial Packaging September / October 2017
20 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Industrial Packaging September / October 2017
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Dutch company Suiker Unie is one of Europe ’ s largest sugar products manufacturer
When it comes to handling food , safety and transparency are particularly important – especially for consumers . This is regularly borne out by studies and surveys , including ones by the German Agricultural Society ( DLG ), the Society for Consumer Research ( GfK ) and the Federal Ministry for Nutrition and Agriculture ( BMEL ). Accordingly , the food industry sets high standards when it comes to producing and transporting product . Only maximum safety within the entire supply chain guarantees maximum quality . With these needs in mind , Schütz developed the Foodcert IBCs and drums . They provide comprehensive material , product and process safety that goes far beyond the standard . Suiker Unie from the Netherlands shares these quality standards with Schütz : the manufacturer uses these containers to pack the products in its extensive range of dry and liquid sugar varieties . “ Cleanliness , security and quality are the pillars on which our company rests – from beet growing on the fields all the way to packaged sugar on supermarket shelves ,” says Wim Peltenburg , QSHE co-ordinator at Suiker Unie . The globally operating sugar producer has its origins in the fusion of co-operatively organised sugar factories in the Netherlands at the beginning
of the 20th century . The company currently has five factories : in Dinteloord , Vierverlaten , Anklam , beets are processed into granulated sugar . The speciality factory in Puttershoek produces soft sugar , icing sugar and sugar cubes for consumers and industrial customers . In Roosendaal , the company produces liquid sugar products , for example syrups . The different types are intended for customers in the Netherlands , but are also exported to Germany , Belgium , France , Italy and the UK . Depending on the consistency of the sugar , the Dutch company transports its sugar in Schütz Foodcert models . “ We pack roughly 10 products from our entire range in 1,000 litre IBCs from this line because they meet our highest standards regarding food safety and hygiene ,” Wim Peltenburg . A further reason to use the transport packaging is the fact that the Dutch company ’ s syrups have a high density . As a full IBC can weigh up to 1,400 kg , the packaging needs to be robust . Schütz produces the ideal IBCs for these requirements . They are approved for products with a physical density of up to 1.9 . To increase stability , these containers are also fitted with corner guards . The Dutch Sugar Union has also registered an increase in public interest in food and its preparation . “ Our products are designed for the
food and the pharmaceutical industry . Standards for these industries now apply at an increasingly early stage of the supply chain . This means that the packaging materials are also examined very closely ,” Peltenburg continues . To meet current standards and anticipate future requirements , Suiker Unie has undergone numerous audits . The factories have multiple certifications . In particular , the IFS ( German standard for food ) and BRC certification ( English counterpart ) make an important contribution to the company by certifying food safety and quality . The factories have also established a HACCP system ( Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points ). In 2012 , the company was certified according to the FSSC 22000 ( food safety system certification ) industry standard . The quality assurance is limited to the company ’ s own processes ; the beet farmers and suppliers of bulk goods , technical equipment , packaging materials and services are all included . That is why the sugar producer uses Schütz IBCs . The Westerwald , Germany based packaging manufacturer started the complex certification process ( FSSC 22000 based on ISO 22000 in conjunction with ISO / TS 22002-4 ) for its worldwide production sites in the same year as its customer . This was the decisive basis for the Foodcert range . These IBCs offer complete safety in three ways : with regard to the materials used , the product and the manufacturing process . They meet the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) and European directives and also take into account additional factors to minimise risk . The packaging complies with the much higher requirements for food safety . Both companies follow the guidelines of the Global Food Safety Initiative ( GFSI ), which recognises this system of certification . The GFSI is the world ’ s largest non-profit organisation for improving food safety . It was founded in 2000 by food producers and retailers to establish international standards . The influence area of the GFSI and its ‘ Guidance Document ’ currently includes Europe , the United States , South America , China and India .
Full traceability
Schütz produces Foodcert packaging just-in-time on the basis of individual customer orders : the IBC inner bottles are immediately transferred to final assembly after production and inserted . Each process and each component are uniquely assigned to the relevant packaging , and all steps and components are free from silicone . The identification of the packaging through a barcode system enables seamless traceability right back to batch and process level .
As part of Schütz ’ s overall packaging and logistics concept , the new Foodcert IBCs offer just-in-time production and seamless traceability .
On request , Schütz can also assign individual identification numbers for articles or packaging . This is similar to the internal processes at Suiker Unie : the company uses an automatic tracking & trace system to track raw materials and finished products in every single production step . Maximum security requirements require complex preventive programmes : just like Suiker Unie , Schütz has implemented numerous measures within the framework of the HACCP concept . These apply to buildings , equipment and the overall production environment . These also include detailed hygiene rules for staff and cleaning plans for the workstations . Additionally , there are measures to prevent foreign objects or dust , regular microbiological examinations of process water and air , protection when dealing with waste , as well as glass and blade management . Maintenance rules and controls for machines , systematic pest control on the entire site , rules for the controlled use of all working substances , especially chemicals , and a secure incoming goods area round off the measures . Finished Foodcert IBCs are loaded directly indoors without storing , and dispatched . Preproduced components , such as caps , valves and bungs , are also hygienically packaged and stored separately . If the packaging is shipped at a later point then the finished containers and drums are stored in special , closed rooms . Optional plastic covers provide additional protection . All of these measures contribute significantly to preserving of the quality of the filling products . www . schuetz . net
Industrial Pack set for Atlanta
new event for industrial packaging debut next year in Atlanta , Georgia , USA . Industrial
A Pack will be launched at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta on 4-5 April 2018 . The event was created in response to industrial packaging engineers , technicians and purchasers wanting an exhibition dedicated purely to industrial , transit and protective packaging without processing or machinery . The US industrial packaging market is expected to be worth over US $ 78.3 billion in the next three years . The two-day event has the support of two industry trade bodies ; Industrial Packaging Alliance of North America ( IPANA ) and the Reusable Industrial Packaging Association ( RIPA ) as well as a range of exhibitors , including Greif , ILC Dover , Muller Group , Nefab and Rieke Packaging . www . industrialpackexpo . com