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The Foodtech Packtech show, which ran last week in Auckland, New Zealand, saw a strong Aussie contingent among the final tally of almost 200 exhibitors: the highest number in over a decade.

Zip Pak’s Glenn Woodworth, who spoke to PKN Packaging News at the show on Wednesday, said there had been a lot of interest for its latest Vector zip bag closure, a hermaphrodite “stealth” zip that can run on conventional machines.

“We’ve had 10 sample requests already, and eight machines to quote” he said. “It’s been a big day."

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Other Australian exhibitors included A&D Australasia & A&D Weightec, ABB, AccuWeigh & AccuPak, Confoil, Fibre King, Heat and Control, HMPS, IFM Electronic, Integrated Packaging, JL Lennard, JMP Engineering, KHS, Multivac, Omron, Propac, Rhima, Rockwell Automation, Romheld, SICK, TNA, Tronics, Walls Machinery and Wedderburn.

The Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA), which counts many of these companies as members, also exhibited at Foodtech Packtech, alongside the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP).

AIP executive officer Nerida Kelton said this was the largest Foodteck Packtech she’d attended.

“We've been exhibiting here for over 10 years," she said.

"The show is growing every year, and this is the best one.”

A number of free seminars also took place at the show, and the APPMA hosted a panel discussion on understanding sustainable packaging innovation and trends featuring Confoil NZ’s national sales manager James Romhany, UPM Raflatac’s Carol Lawrence, and Greenchip director, Anthony Peyton.

Food & Drink Business

Gold Coast brewery, Black Hops, has entered administration for the second time, with an urgent sale campaign underway for the business.

In the final chapter of court action regarding the 2020 collapse of Freedom Foods Group, the Federal Court has found former managing director and CEO, Rory Macleod, breached his duties as a director and officer, and failed to take all reasonable steps to secure the company’s compliance with its financial reporting obligations.

Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry is converging on Melbourne this week for foodpro 2026, the country’s leading trade event for processing, packaging and innovation. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 26-29 July, foodpro 2026 will be opened at 10am on Sunday 26 July by Victorian Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Minister for Skills and TAFE, Colin Brooks.