Global equipment and ingredients firms gather for tenth anniversary of Gulfood Manufacturing
Gulfood manufacturing 2023. Pic: Neill Barston
A major milestone is being celebrated by this year’s Gulfood Manufacturing, as it marks ten years of operating its influential regional event, writes Neill Barston.
The show, which has proved pivotal for equipment, ingredients and systems within the region, is set to be 29% bigger than in previous years, and a quarter of those participating will be new to its line-up.
According to the organisers, there will be a total of 2,500 companies taking part, offering key access to the region’s diverse food and drink market, including its fast-growing confectionery segment.
Among those exhibiting will be GNT, showcasing its established natural plant-based Exberry colour rainbow with an array of eye-catching concepts between 5-7 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Its series is halal-certified and can provide an effective replacement for artificial colours and carmine in almost any application, including confectionery, baked goods, and dairy products. At (hall 6, stand B6-48) visitors will have the chance to sample popcorn, potato chip, and beverage concepts featuring a range of Exberry.
Santhosh Thankappan, Sales Director at GNT Middle East, said: “Our vibrant rainbow of Exberry colouring solutions can deliver spectacular results in food and drink while supporting natural ingredient lists. We’re excited to give Gulfood Manufacturing visitors the chance to experience the power of plant-based colours through our innovative concepts.”
Meanwhile for its part on the equipment side of the show, TNA Solutions will be demonstrating how its advanced systems can help snack and confectionery producers to optimise output, decrease downtime and enhance production efficiency.
The stand,A4-A in Hall 4, will exhibit key highlights from TNA’s extensive portfolio. The company’s flagship Robag 3e vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) packaging system will be on display, allowing visitors to see the high-performance system in action.
As the company noted, the system delivers the fastest speeds in the industry, capable of producing up to 250 bags per minute with a high degree of accuracy that lowers product waste levels to 0.1%.
Furthermore, the tna intelli-flav OMS 5.1 on-machine seasoning system will also be showcased. It offers snack manufacturers comprehensive control over the seasoning of their products, with a mass-based gravimetric spraying and dry seasoning control method to apply precise measures of seasoning or oil based on a pre-defined recipe.
This, coupled with intelligent control and monitoring software, enables manufacturers to efficiently adapt seasoning to specific products — all while offering high speeds and load capacity. Moreover, the tna intelli-flav OMS 5.1 offers both powder flavouring and liquid oil in a single drum, allowing brands to effortlessly adapt to changing consumer demands.
These two systems, representing distinct stages of the snack production process, offer a snapshot into TNA’s unique ability as the ability to partner complete solutions for food manufacturers.
“There is a constant need for manufacturers to innovate to stay ahead of changes in the market,” explained Palani Karai, General Manager – TNA MENA. “We’re seeing significant advancements in snack production coming from the Middle East, with brands preferring to partner with global end-to-end solution providers, to reduce total cost of ownership, stay ahead of market trends and support future expansion plans.”
