The 2023 edition of Gulfood Manufacturing will see the participation of ACMA and VOLPAK, part of the Coesia Group, specialized in the design and manufacturing of automatic packaging machines for consumer goods. The presence of the two companies at the exhibition (Shk Saeed Hall 2, booth S2-F43) is part of a strategy of expansion towards the Middle East and Africa market, backed by a technological offering perfectly in line with the needs of the industry and the region.
The Middle East and Africa market: steady, double-digit growth
In 2022, the Food market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region was worth more than $383 billion, aggregating industries such as Meat, Bakery, Cereals, Dairy and others. This remarkable value is paired with an equally striking growth forecast, as it is estimated to increase by 33% annually until 2027. The Pharma industry, while not reaching the figures of the food sector, is itself growing in the MEA area: it is currently worth about $20 billion and is expected to reach $23 billion in 2028, with a growth rate of 3.4 percent. These projections are encouraging industry players to look with particular interest at this area, developing packaging solutions suited to specific consumer trends. Companies like ACMA and VOLPAK offer a long-standing experience and advanced technologies that go a long way towards supporting manufacturers in meeting new demands from these geographies.
Packaging solutions for different Food products
VOLPAK is a leading company in the development of HFFS (Horizontal Form Fill Seal) machines for flexible packaging, specifically targeting the Food and Dairy industries, with a portfolio covering products such as tomato paste, sauces and condiments, dried fruits, rice and cereals, dairy, juices, and more. The Spanish company also offers a wide range of flat-pouch packaging solutions for the Pharma industry, through the Coesia brand Enflex. ACMA, a renowed player in the design and manufacturing of solutions for consumer goods packaging, serves the Food industry especially focusing on confectionery, bringing its long established engineering expertise to a segment showing encouraging signs of growth within the MEA area. The company offers a broad selection of solutions for primary packaging, including Flow Packing for snacks and bars, Fold Wrapping for chocolate pralines, candies and gums and Bottle Filling for edible oils. ACMA portfolio also features a selection of secondary packaging solutions, enabling the company to offer comprehensive systems for the packaging of edible products and more.
Which formats for MEA?
The specific demands of this region have led VOLPAK to develop machines for the high-speed packaging of liquid and semi-liquid products such as juice and other sauces. Among the most popular solutions are the SP and SI series machines, which can form, fill and seal pouches at medium and high speeds. The most popular formats are sachets (or flat-pouches) and doypacks (stand-up pouches). Depending on how the product will be consumed, VOLPAK machinery also offers a wide range of pouch re-closing options such as corner cap, top cap or zipper. The long standing experience of ACMA in confectionery makes this company the go-to partner for projects involving chocolate pralines. The CW series of multi-format machines was designed to package pralines of different shapes in many different styles: from side and double fold, portfolio with or without banderol, up to napolitains, bunch, fancy, boero, viennese and rolled. Paired to these advanced Fold Wrapping solutions, with Smart Handling ACMA offers different automated systems for feeding (VL and Carousel), distribution and product orientation (single or multiple grip Robotic Distribution). These systems are developed according to the shape of chocolates to be handled, how they are to arrive at the machine, the type of wrapping to be applied and the production speed required.
Cutting-edge, integrated cross-enterprise technology
Being part of the Coesia Group together with a pool of companies mastering different technologies offers significant advantages, among which the possibility of designing integrated production lines. Coesia is able to cover all stages of the packaging process with state-of-the-art solutions combined through a solid know-how, from primary packaging to end-of-line management including advanced handling and automated transfer solutions. As part of the Coesia Group, both ACMA’s and Volpak’s solutions can be equipped with a set of cutting-edge digital tools, part of the Coesia Digital portfolio. OptiMate, Coesia intuitive and user-friendly HMI, was developed to facilitate operator activities and improve machine efficiency, features advanced production control functions, from guided support for maintenance and changeover to direct access to statistics and alarms. PerforMate, Coesia advanced IOT platform for machine and line monitoring, is designed to offer real-time and remote visibility over production data and maintenance status of your equipment, through personalized dashboards. The platform also grants access to updated digital documentation, remote assistance for troubleshooting and our Coesia webshop for spare parts management.
ACMA and VOLPAK will take part in the Gulfood Manufacturing trade fair, November 7-9, 2023, Dubai World Trade Centre, at Shk Saeed Hall 2, booth S2-F43