PPMA Total Show 2022 played host to the PPMA Group Industry Awards. Category winners were presented with their awards and praised by the judges for their creativity, smart technologies and innovative solutions, focussed on increasing productivity and efficiency, reducing costs as well as delivering excellence in customer service and support.
Innovative Processing System
Winner: Fortress Technology for its ‘Fortress Halo’ processing system
The Fortress Halo solved a problem applicable to all food manufacturers for processing metal detection. Fortress developed a simple system, which is easy for staff to use and causes no production disruption.
Innovative Packaging Machinery
Winner: Markem-Imaje for its ‘eTouch-S®’ packaging system
The eTouch-S® has been built with artificial intelligence to ensure that labels are applied to an exacting standard on every pack, at the highest production speeds, and in the safest manner possible – delivering cost savings, productivity, safety, innovation, and efficiency.
Innovative Robotics Solution
Winner: Pace Mechanical Handling for its six-axis robot solution
This unique robotics solution combines two six-axis robots which work in tandem, to feed, pack and hot air-seal animal feed pellets into plastic bags before leading on to a robotic palletiser, allowing for 24/7 operation, minimising human errors to maximise production uptime.
Innovative Vision Solution
Winner: Crest Solutions for its CXV Global SmartFactory LineClearance Assistant
This vision-based solution digitalises the manual line clearance process. Customer ROI calculations showed that with a 20% deployment across its packaging lines, the LCA could achieve a 69% reduction in visual inspection time.
Outstanding Customer Service
Winner: Epson (UK) for its ‘Robot Academy’ customer service tool
Epson’s Robot Academy enables their customers to become specialists themselves in Epson Robot technology.
About the PPMA Group
The PPMA Group of Associations comprises the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA), British Automation & Robot Association (BARA) and UK Industrial Vision Association (UKIVA). Its mission is to actively help its 550-plus members through services, tools and initiatives to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
