Hort Connections, Australia and New Zealand’s flagship horticulture event, held in Brisbane on 4-6 June, finished its 2025 run with 3900 delegates and nearly 1000 growers from the ANZ region in attendance, including many APPMA members showcasing their latest packaging innovations and solutions.
Once again AUSVEG and the International Fresh Produce Association – Australia New Zealand, with the support of Hort Innovation, hosted the three-day convention and trade show, which included tours of the Brisbane markets and visits to some of south-east Queensland’s leading producers and processors.
Read about some of the experiences and take aways from APPMA members who attended the three-day event:
Detpak
At this year’s Hort Connections, Detpak's fourth year at the event, the company exhibited sustainable, commercial packaging solutions for fresh produce including:
- Perfection Signature Premium Strawberry Punnets: which blend form with function by reducing plastic by 87 per cent, while also featuring a distinctive locking mechanism to keep fruit secure. (Read more here)
- Grape Bags: showcasing a solution which is now commercialised and demonstrates Detpak as a credible packaging partner in the fresh produce industry.
- Auto Punnets: highlighting Detpak's ability to develop automated solutions that work with existing infrastructure.
- Top Seal Punnets: demonstrating the company's capability with this evolving product type.
Detpak says it received "overwhelmingly positive feedback" from visitors, with many praising the quality and innovation of its solutions.
Several attendees highlighted the significant progress Detpak has made – from presenting initial concepts at previous Hort Connections events to now showcasing fully commercialised products.
Many visitors were able to relate personally, having used Detpak's grape bags themselves, and the strawberry punnets, in particular, sparked considerable interest due to their "exceptional design".
Hort Connections allowed Detpak to connect to growers, packaging specialists and customers alike in a more casual format. Teh company says, "It’s a great opportunity to network, catch up with market trends and hear from industry experts on topics of genuine interest."
Fibre King
At Hort Connections, Fibre King exhibited as Oryx Automation, a trusted brand of the company, showcasing its specialised crate automation range. This was Fibre King's third time exhibiting at this event under the Oryx brand.
While Fibre King is widely recognised for its fibre board end-of-line packaging machinery, at this event the company says it focused on its "innovative crate handling solutions". These include robotic palletising for crates, as well as crate erecting and stacking systems designed to enhance operational efficiency and significantly reduce manual handling in fresh produce facilities.
Fibre King highlighted its versatile automation technology capable of handling both crates and cartons, providing growers with much-needed flexibility to adapt to varying packaging requirements within their operations.
The response from visitors was positive and encouraging: "Many were impressed by the versatility of our crate automation solutions, particularly the seamless handling of both crates and cartons within the same system, addressing a crucial need for flexibility in fresh produce operations," Fibre King says.
"Visitors appreciated the reliability, scalability, and user-friendly design of our robotic palletising, crate erecting, and stacking systems, noting how these technologies can significantly enhance productivity, while maintaining product integrity and reducing manual labour."
The company's practical demonstrations, displayed on-screen throughout the event, sparked strong interest by providing a clear, tangible understanding of how its bespoke automation options can be customised to meet specific operational challenges.
"While Hort Connections is a smaller show with lower overall attendance than we would ideally like, it still holds value for us," Fivbre King says, noting that since the event is held in Brisbane, close to its head office, provides an "excellent opportunity to connect directly with local growers, many of whom are actively exploring automation solutions".
Despite the smaller delegate numbers, Fibre King found the event worthwhile for building new connections, strengthening existing relationships, and continuing to position Oryx Automation as a trusted partner in the fresh produce sector.
Filton Packaging
At Hort Connections 2025, Filton showcased its latest innovations in flexible packaging solutions, with a strong focus on sustainability and performance.
A key highlight this year was the announcement that Filton has just completed the installation of a state-of-the-art printing press at its facility – which it describes as "an exciting milestone that significantly enhances our capabilities for high-quality, custom-printed packaging".
Filton also spoke with attendees about its products designed specifically for the fresh produce and horticulture sectors. These solutions are engineered to extend shelf-life, enhance product visibility, and reduce food waste – key priorities for many of its customers.
Filton found the response from visitors to be "very encouraging". The company says many were keen to learn more about how its packaging solutions could support their operational goals, particularly in terms of product presentation, shelf-life, and supply chain efficiency.
"The conversations were highly engaging, with attendees showing strong interest in our ability to deliver Australian made tailored packaging that meets the specific needs of the fresh produce sector. It was a great opportunity to explore potential collaborations and share insights into current market trends," the company says.
"We are proud to be a repeat exhibitor and sponsor of Hort Connections. Supporting this event reflects our dedication to the horticulture industry and our desire to stay connected with the evolving needs of our customers.
"Hort Connections 2025 exceeded our expectations in terms of engagement, lead generation, and industry insights. It remains a key event for us to showcase innovation, strengthen relationships, and explore new opportunities within the fresh produce and packaging sectors."
FPE
For FPE, unfortunately the event wasn't quite as fruitful as initially hoped. The company took two of its mechanical handling options in a Syspal weigh scale and Dolav tipper.
"It was a very quiet show, and disappointing we connected with less than 20 prospects. But as they say, you only need one good one, which I am hoping transpires," the company said.
JL Lennard
For JL Lennard, Hort Connections was more than just a trade show—it was a vibrant gathering full of fresh ideas, energy, and meaningful connections. The company said it was a wonderful chance to engage face-to-face with the growers, packers, and innovators who nurture Australia and New Zealand’s fresh produce industry.
As a returning exhibitor, JL Lennard showcased technology that continues to set the standard in packaging efficiency and hygiene, helping the industry grow stronger and more resilient. At the heart of its display was the Fuji flow wrapper, a solution renowned for its speed, precision, and reliability.
Visitors were drawn to how effortlessly it integrates into both manual and automated production lines, perfect for those looking to boost throughput, while protecting the freshness and quality of their products.
Alongside Fuji, the company presented Anritsu’s checkweighers and metal detectors, tools designed to safeguard food safety and maintain strict quality standards. This combination sparked insightful conversations with businesses focused on compliance and customer trust.
For JL Lennard, what truly made Hort Connections special was the genuine engagement. Over three busy days, the company connected with a rich mix of familiar faces and new friends—all curious, informed, and eager to explore smarter automation, future-ready upgrades, and dependable support. It was clear to the company that the desire to cultivate innovation and efficiency is growing across the industry—and it is excited to be part of that journey.
"This event reaffirmed why Hort Connections is a vital platform for the horticulture community, a place to not just showcase solutions, but to listen closely, learn, and share ideas that help the industry flourish," the company said.
"JL Lennard has proudly participated in Hort Connections for many years, and every time we leave with fresh inspiration and renewed purpose. This year was no exception, it reminded us how powerful great conversations can be when rooted in cutting-edge technology.
"If you didn’t get the chance to visit us at the show, we’d love to share what we brought to the table. Whether it’s a demo, brochure, or a quick chat about how our solutions could help your operations thrive, please don’t hesitate to reach out."
Result Group
At Hort Connections 2025, Result Group showcased two standout concepts that it said attracted strong interest from attendees.
First, its live, on-stand demonstration of laser marking directly onto produce generated significant attention. The solution offers a compelling alternative to traditional stickers and labels, helping eliminate packaging waste, while preserving clear brand visibility.
Result also demonstrated how a single punnet and one label can deliver an end-to-end smart packaging solution. The step-by-step live showcase included:
- Herma 752C Labelling System: engineered in Germany for speed and accuracy, this machine applied labels with consistent, production-ready precision.
- Leibinger Continuous Inkjet Printer: seamlessly coded expiry dates immediately after labelling – no cleaning, no maintenance downtime.
- Diagraph High Resolution Printer: printed unique QR codes directly onto each punnet, linking every pack to a digital traceability experience.
- TrackVision AI (Traceability): delivered real-time access to the product's journey from farm to shelf – including harvest dates, logistics, packaging details, and freshness insights.
- Veracity Protocol (Authenticity): verified the authenticity of each individual punnet using AI-based physical product recognition — no tags or embedded technology required.
“Earlier this year, we ran a promotional campaign in collaboration with Costa, placing natural branded avocados on shelves at selected Woolworths stores,” the company said.
“This campaign created a strong lead-in to Hort Connections, with many visitors mentioning they'd seen or heard about the avocados – sparking genuine curiosity and deeper engagement with our Natural Branding solution.
“The live demonstration of our integrated QR code traceability system also captured attention. Attendees appreciated seeing how labelling, expiry coding, and digital traceability could be seamlessly combined into a single production workflow.
“Conversations were highly engaged, especially around the real-world benefits these innovations offer – from reducing packaging waste and improving compliance to enabling real-time product visibility across the supply chain.
The company said that Hort Connections continues to be one of its flagship events, with the level of engagement, the quality of conversations, and the opportunity to showcase live demonstrations making it a highlight in Result’s annual calendar.
This year, the company’s group general manager, Michael Dossor, took the stage as a speaker and explored how digital solutions, smart packaging systems, and material innovation are transforming the industry with cost effective, sustainable outcomes.
His presentation delved into the rise of 2D barcodes, the potential of natural branding, and the role of AI-powered vision technologies that can uniquely identify products – without altering existing packaging or processes.
“This transformative approach redefines brand positioning, boosts consumer engagement, optimises supply chains, reduces waste and cost, and supports global sustainability goals,” the company concluded.
Rhima
At Hort Connections, Rhima exhibited its industrial washing systems specifically designed for crates, bins, and tubs used in the horticulture and agriculture sectors.
Rhima's crate washer on display was a high-efficient crate washer capable of handling up to 400 crates per hour, with adjustable wash settings to suit different contamination levels.
"What stood out to visitors was the system’s freshwater recirculation technology, which significantly reduces water and energy consumption without compromising hygiene standards," the company said.
"The machines are built with robust stainless-steel construction, easy-access maintenance points, and customisable configurations to suit various farming operations – from small-scale growers to large commercial packhouses. These solutions are ideal for improving biosecurity, reducing labour time, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
"Hort Connections is getting bigger each year and we are excited to see the growth."
