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Outlook 2023: Mettler Toledo on opportunities in Asia's food industry

Source:FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal Release Date:2023-01-09 1220
Food, Beverage & Personal CareFood & BeverageFood Processing & Equipment
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Nigel Wong, Head of PI Market Support Centre, Mettler Toledo Product Inspection, shares strategies, market trends, and opportunities in Asia's food industry.

Interview by Marijovic Gonzalez


In Asia where SMEs and big brands are trying to meet rising demand for packaged and convenience foods, providing them a range of product inspection equipment for different price points is necessary. Whether for inspecting low or high throughput, manufacturers expect the best performance and reliability from their X-rays and inspection machines.  

 

In this space, Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection has been introducing advances to raise food safety, enhance ease of use and cost-efficiency. Automation and digitalisation play a key role in enhancement of hardware and software capabilities for better operations.


In the past year, the company introduced the X12 which is offered as an affordable x-ray solution with high detection sensitivity, capable of delivering advances in ease of operation, maintenance and servicing, as well as improved safety features.  It captures the needs of Asia-based manufacturers of packaged foods.

 

For their plans in 2023, FoodPacific Manufacturing interviewed Nigel Wong, Head of PI Market Support Centre, Mettler Toledo Product Inspection, for insights specifically for the Asian market.


Nigel Wong.jpg

Nigel Wong, Head of PI Market Support Centre, Mettler Toledo Product Inspection 


What is your forecast for the food & beverage sector in Asia?

The food and beverage sector in Asia is strong, and we expect to see continued growth. This is despite new market conditions brought about by recent global events such as COVID, as well as general social changes. For instance, in the 'new normal', it is apparent that consumers are increasingly conscious about their own healthy food choices, as well as the degree to which those choices are harmful to the planet. From the point of view of manufacturers, both these critical factors must be accommodated within the development of food and beverage products and their packaging. One way that this will manifest itself is through a trend towards manufacturers building facilities closer to their customers, to reduce environmental impacts. This will also help them to accrue additional supply chain benefits.  

 

In this region, what opportunities will Mettler Toledo pursue?

It is about being aware of the trends and responding to how the market is evolving. I already mentioned the importance of environmental awareness, and as an environmental mindset begins to creep into how consumers decide upon food and beverage options, the need to operate sustainably and to reduce carbon footprint will only continue to grow.

 

The increasing popularity for healthy foods is seeing sectors such as organic and plant-based really starting to take off, while the market for Home Replacement Meals, including categories such as Ready to Eat (RTE), Ready to Heat (RTH), Ready to Cook (RTC) and Ready to Prepare (RTP) is growing strongly. It’s fair to say that these will all be important opportunities for food businesses going forward.   

 

Are you optimistic about the food industry in Southeast Asia in particular?

Of course, we are very optimistic – both about the strength and potential of the Southeast Asian food & beverage market, and about the impact that our product inspection solutions can have for manufacturers in this region. Population growth and reduced costs for shipping are helping to drive the growth of Southeast Asia, and we have already seen big players invest in expansion here. We believe that this trend will also extend to local mid-size companies, investing to capitalise on market opportunities.  

 

Are there strategies to help generate investments in new solutions?

Let’s begin by stating that all food and beverage manufacturers can look to boost their productivity and improve both product quality and safety using our smart product inspection solutions.

 

Among the many examples of great investments that manufactures can make, here are a few solutions that will make a real difference to their operations:


· Fast and precise weighing, using checkweighers equipped with our FlashCell™ load cells


· High-speed inspection of small, individually wrapped products using our X34C X-ray system


· Detection of low-density contaminants such as calcified bone, low-mineral glass, rubber and some plastics, using our dual energy DXD and DXD+ x-ray systems


· Better utilisation of limited factory floor space, with our combination systems – multiple product inspection technologies integrated in a single frame, with no compromise on quality and performance


· Automatic testing capabilities on PI solutions, saving time and improving food safety and operator safety standards

  

There are many more exciting innovations to come in 2023, so watch this space!

 

Apart from all that has been mentioned, what would you like to highlight regarding your company’s plans in response to the trends?

A key part of our strategy is to give customers and prospects the opportunity to get real first-hand experience of our technology before they make any buying decisions. For this reason, we offer a "test before you invest" service at our support centers, which are located in Malaysia and China. We are also investing in new demo and product testing machines at these facilities, which will improve the customer experience still further. Manufacturers wishing to arrange a visit to one of these support centers should contact our local representative.   



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Mettler Toledo is a leading global supplier of analytical precision instruments and services, products and solutions used in industrial applications and businesses, the company’s designs meet stringent standards in product inspection, R&D, quality control and process analytics. For more information, please visit: www.mt.com/pi-pr


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