News on Packaging Equipment from Europe

On September 25 and 26, 2025, Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters in Emmeloord, the Netherlands.

LOMA Systems will showcase its latest inspection technologies and online training at PPMA Total 2025, NEC, from 23–25 September. The UK debuts include the X5DE Space Saver X-ray and IQ4M RUN-WET® metal detector at stand E14.

PACE Mechanical Handling now includes AI-powered performance monitoring as standard in its packing machines, offering free alerts for maintenance needs. This new 'Gateway' feature ensures peace of mind for fresh produce and potato packers.

As of September 1st, 2025, Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions will relocate to a brand-new, purpose-built headquarter alongside the A6 highway in Emmeloord, the Netherlands.

PACE Mechanical Handling and JT Hopkins & Sons are celebrating 30 years of working together after installing a state-of-the-art potato packing line. The two companies first collaborated in 1995.

The potato is a vital global food, praised for its versatility and nutrition. FAO named May 30 'International Day of the Potato,' with 2024’s theme, 'Shaping history, feeding the future,' stressing the need for innovation to keep it relevant.

Patatas Meléndez, Spain’s leading fresh potato supplier, partnered with Wyma to develop one of the world’s most advanced Industry 4.0 post-harvest facilities—featuring AI-powered sorting systems.

Burgess Farms' new Haith potato wash line, installed in October, has boosted throughput, optical sorting, and efficiency at Sutton Bridge. The investment enhances quality, flexibility, and sustainability, supporting the farm’s growth.

French fries consumption ison the rise: per capita consumption of frozen potato products has been increasing for many years now. As a result, potato processing specialist Aviko Germany has been working at full capacity to meet the demand for frozen fries from retailers and food service alike.

Manter, a specialist in weighing and packaging solutions, expands its portfolio with the launch of the brand-new Punnet Filler. This automatic packaging machine is highly user-friendly and responds to the growing market demand, particularly the increasing need for sustainable punnet packaging. 

Visit Eqraft's new booth at Fruit Logistica in Berlin from February 5-7, where they'll unveil the latest edition of the Eqraft® Magazine, showcase several innovative products, and share a newly developed growth strategy for the years ahead. Join them to celebrate recent achievements and explore future opportunities together!

The British Potato Industry Event 2025 is back this November, uniting professionals from across the potato supply chain for two action-packed days of networking, innovation, and industry insights.

After the successful launch of the M10i D(s) weighers in 2022, Manter unveils at Fruit Logistica the latest addition to its innovative range: the M14i D weighing machine.

The aim was to create hydrophobic paper by exploiting the mechanical properties and water resistance of cellulose nanofibres, and so produce a sustainable, high-performance material suitable for packaging and biomedical devices. This involved a supramolecular approach, i.e. combining short chains of proteins (peptide sequences) that do not chemically modify the cellulose nanofibres.

McCain Foods has executed a full packaging refresh across their GB and EU markets, redesigning their full portfolios to align with their latest wider brand refresh.

Maatschap Schuiling, led by brothers Wietze and Gosse, is an agricultural family business focused on seed potatoes. What began with their grandfather after the war has grown into a flexible company delivering custom solutions to clients like Agrico and exporters. 

INTERPOM has broken all records with an impressive 23,998 visitors! Over the past few days, the potato industry gathered from all corners of the world at Kortrijk Xpo.

INTERPOM is the most specialized indoor trade fair in Europe for the entire potato chain. From November 24 to 26, 2024, 330 exhibitors from 15 countries will welcome growers, contractors, processors, packers, buyers, and traders of fresh and processed potatoes to their stands at Kortrijk Xpo.