Food processors and manufacturers descended upon the region for the 51st edition of Cibus Tec last week, to demonstrate the latest innovations and developments within the sector. GlobalMeatNews attended the event, to find out what is driving the industry.
The trade show, which took place at Fiere di Parma from 25-28 October, saw 1,200 exhibitors gather to showcase cutting-edge technologies to international buyers from five continents.
“Cibus Tec operates in the heart of a territory – the ‘Food Valley’ of Emilia-Romagna – that has made exceptional progress, above all proving itself capable of integrating top-quality raw materials with industrial innovation,” said Antonio Cellie, managing director of Fiere di Parma.
“Here we not only produce the best preserves, but innovative processed foods including delicatessen, ready-to-use and ready-to-eat products as well. This capacity is also a factor in the success of this exhibition, which has become an unmissable event for all industry operators seeking innovation, sustainable technology and tailor-made quality.”
Meat industry innovations
2016 is the first year that Cibus Tec has been run under Fiere di Parma’s partnership with Cologne-based international event organiser Kölnmesse, which already has an impressive portfolio that includes the Anuga, ISM and Anuga FoodTec trade fairs.
Processing and manufacturing companies from the meat supply chain attended Cibus to demonstrate he latest innovations within the industry.
Gabriele Polese, sales director of Standard Tech, a specialist in refrigeration solutions for the meat industry, told GlobalMeatNews that Cibus Tec provided a platform to boost business in other parts of the world. “Every year we work in more than six or seven countries in three continents,” Polese said. Already a worldwide firm, there are always opportunities to expand further afield. “Probably Great Britain will be one of the places where we will be, and most likely the US and Canada.
“We are Italian, and one of the most important points in Italy is the food, which means that all around the food industry is important for us. All the solutions that we do is for food in order to have a better-quality product.”
Cibus Tec in figures:
- 1,200 exhibitors – a 30% increase on last year
- 3,000 international buyers from 75 countries
- 2015 Italian turnover for packaging machines reached nearly €6.2 billion
- 35,000 visitors
- Over 600 new products shown
Food industry tech
Marco Arienti, commercial director of Pulsar Industries, echoed Polese’s opinions about the necessity of having a presence at trade shows. “This is one of the most important exhibitions – I should say the most important exhibition – for technology orientated to the food market,” he said.
Pulsar Industries is an automation, mechanics and information technology company offering solutions to the meat industry. The firm demonstrated the new edition of its Departmental Software Dynamic – a piece of software designed to trace any issues along the packaging production line in an efficient manner.
Having established itself as having an international presence, what is next for Pulsar Industries? “Build up new business and premises outside Europe in the Far East – say China, Russia and the US, Mexico and Brazil,” Arienti told GlobalMeatNews. “These are territories more suitable for exports than for building new premises. This is the first step, but we are also investigating how to go abroad with a project.”
With more international markets in the pipeline, Pulsar Industries said it would continue to invest in automation, allowing it to deliver complete solutions for the industry.