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New technology on show at Propak Cape reflecting latest industry trends

Packaging design and innovation forms the cutting edge of modern product marketing and $2023$ has seen a host of new

packaging trends emerge that are revolutionising product packaging. The latest trends in packaging and design will be on

show at this year's Propak Cape $2023$ exhibition taking place at the Cape Town International Conference Centre $($CTICC$)$

from $24-26$ October.

Technology$-$enabled or smart packaging solutions are one of the new trends to look out for. Integration of technology, such

as QR codes, augmented reality, or temperature$-$sensitive sensors$,$ can enhance consumer experience, share information,

or track product freshness. Technology$-$enabled solutions that can be accessed using smartphone gadgets, leverage the

experience of the end$-$user with the product and provide customers with more information about the product and connect

them online.

Another trend in packaging is the increased focus on using eco$-$friendly materials to reduce waste and environmental

impact, such as biodegradable, recyclable, or compostable materials. The use of plant$-$based materials for packaging, such

as fibres or biopolymers, as well as encouraging consumers to reduce waste with packaging that can be reused or refilled

multiple times all reduce society$$s reliance on disposable materials.

There are a number of packaging trends focused on trust and authenticity in the market such as transparent packaging

materials which allow customers to see the product inside, increasing trust and showcasing product quality. Portion control

and single$-$serving packaging is another trend on the rise, especially in southern Africa with the growing urban population.

Consumer preferences for portion$-$controlled servings and on$-$the$-$go consumption has led to an increase in packaging

designed for single servings or smaller portions. New gourmet frozen meals offer customer convenient ready$-$to$-$eat meals

without sacrificing on quality and also a growing demand for vegetarian and plant$-$based food alternatives has led to

packaging designed specifically for these food items, offering better protection and extended shelf$-$life for these growing

markets.

Packaging specifically designed for easy storage, stacking and transportation are also growing in popularity. This is

because manufacturers and retailers want to make efficient use of space and reduce material waste, and smaller

households want to effectively store products in smaller spaces.

Many of these packaging trends will be evident at the Propak Cape exhibition.

Thousands of new and innovative products

Visitors to this year$$s event can expect to see thousands of new and innovative products including the introduction of the

latest AI$-$powered machine vision products and technologies from Westplex. The new Cognex In$-$Sight $2800$ and $3800$

machine vision system integrates advanced AI algorithms with high$-$resolution cameras to enhance packaging processes. It

offers real$-$time quality control, identifying defects, inconsistencies, and errors in packaging materials with remarkable

accuracy. The system optimises production lines by triggering events or detecting and alerting operators about any potential

issues, minimising downtime and resource wastage. Westplex will also display the RDI Motion Amplification Cameras for

representation of movement that was previously invisible to the naked eye$$ as well as the FLIR Online Thermography

Cameras which identify hidden defects through precise thermal imaging at this year$$s show.

USS Pactech will be showcasing a Wipotec OCS track & trace solution for $2$D bar code printing and verifying at Propak

Cape $2023.$ The company believes that the new track and trace solution will become the new standard for retail packs to

trace products through the value chain as $2$D$-$code technology becomes the universally accepted standard. The company

will also display a range of machines for the food sector, such as the SN pouch machine for stand$-$up pouches with zipper

running recyclable mono material, a Multiweigh $14$ head scale, a PFM MBP RX $800$ continuous intermittent bagger, a

Variovac Optimus thermoformer and a Supervac belt type vacuum packing machine. For the beverage sector, USS Pactech

will exhibit a Comac $10/2$ can filler$/$seamer for carbonated products up to $6,000$ cans per hour, which is of particular interest

for craft breweries and wineries.

Ishida South Africa will launch the new Ishida IX$-$EN Series at Propak Cape. The new versatile X$-$ray inspection machine

protects product contents and guarantees product security. The X$-$ray inspection machine can be used in a wide range of

packed products, making use of the patented Ishida Genetic Algorithm $($GA$)$ technology which enables any operator to

optimise the X$-$ray system for greater sensitivity to specific foreign bodies. Contaminants can be detected in steel,

aluminium,