Foodmach, an Australian owned and operated company specialising in innovative solutions for the food and beverage industry, was the big winner at at the APPMA Awards of Excellence last night.
Foodmach took home three major awards including the Customer Collaboration Award, Best New Product Award and Best Imported Equipment Award.
The awards, held alongside AUSPACK 2019 in Melbourne, are hosted by the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA).
HMPS, the South Australian company specialising in robotics and automation solutions for the packaging industry, was also a big winner.
The innovative company collected the Design Innovation Award for its Compact Frame and was also recognised with the Export Success Award for its Robotic Unloading Cell.
Janell Siek, a packaging technologist with Nestlé Australia, was named 2019 APPMA Scholarship winner.
“Congratulations to both Foodmach and HMPS,” said APPMA Chairman Mark Dingley.
“This is a great result for both businesses and to win multiple awards like this is a wonderful testament to your efforts.”
Showcase of sustainability
Mr Dingley said the award night, attended by more than 400 people, was a showcase of sustainability.
“The innovations and dedication highlighted at this Gala Award Ceremony show that the entire Australian packaging and processing industry has a viable, sustainable long-term future.”
Foodmach won the Customer Collaboration Award for its turnkey project at Dulux Merrifield's Industry 4.0 factory of the future.
It collected two additional awards for its GEA Vipoll ALL IN ONE filler, which can accommodate both carbonated and still beverages, either hot or cold filling, and fills bottles and cans in multiple formats – and was first installed at Lion's Malt Shovel Craft Brewery.
Established in 1972, Foodmach has a 5400 sqmmanufacturing facility in Echuca, Victoria and employs 100 staff servicing clients across Australia.
The company has gained a reputation for its expertise in IoT, IIoT, M2M and Industry 4.0 solutions, maintaining the highest OMAC PackML standards.
Robotic and automation machinery
HMPS began in 1980 as a response to the thriving South Australian Wine Industry, requiring bag in box packaging for wine casks. Since then, it has evolved into a business with over 50 employees, creating a vast range of packaging systems both nationally and internationally.
The company designs and engineers robotic and automation machinery for Australia’s packaging industry.
APPMA Annual Scholarship
Finalists for the 2019 APPMA Scholarship, valued at $9000, were: Brittany Puyol, Product & Packaging Designer at Edlyn Foods and Janell Siek, Packaging Technologist, and Karunia Adhiputra, Packaging Technologist – Technical & Production, both with Nestlé Australia.
Ms Siek, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology, won entry into the Diploma in Packaging Technology, an internationally recognised Level 5 qualification.
Winners were announced in these five categories:
Best New Product Award
Foodmach for the GEA Vipoll ALL IN ONE Filler
Customer Collaboration Award
Foodmach for Dulux Merrifield – Foodmach Turnkey Filling Lines
Proseal Australia - Commonwealth Collaboration Reducing the Plastic in Packaging
Design Innovation Award
HMPS for the Compact Frame
Export Success Award
HMPS for the Robotic Unloading Cell
Imported Equipment Award
Foodmach for the GEA Vipoll ALL IN ONE Filler
“On behalf of the APPMA board, I commend every business that submitted an entry,” said Mr Dingley.
“By looking to improve your own businesses, you are continuing to improve and advance our industry as a whole.”
AUSPACK 2019, which is being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, ends tomorrow (March 29).
