The pharmaceutical sector in particular has been experiencing strong growth for years and is continuously investing in modern production and filling technologies. With its new site, Optima is now creating a direct point of contact for Italian customers – with short communication channels, on-site technical expertise, and an improved range of services.

“With OPTIMA machinery Italy, we are moving closer to our customers in the pharmaceutical and consumer sectors,” explains Walter Hofmann, Managing Director of Amotek. “Our customers benefit from direct support, faster response times, and even closer cooperation on projects.”

The new company acts as the central brand for the pharmaceutical and consumer sector in Italy, complementing the activities of Amotek S.r.l., which continues to operate successfully as an established secondary brand in the nonwovens goods sector.

Both companies collaborate closely as part of a two-brand strategy to leverage synergies and offer customers a comprehensive range of services – from packaging solutions for consumer goods to high-precision filling and production systems for the pharmaceutical industry.

“The establishment of OPTIMA machinery Italy is a clear commitment to the strategic development of the Italian market,” says Christoph Müller, CFO of the Optima Group. “Together with Amotek, we are focusing on customer proximity, service quality, and innovative solutions. This is supported by our modern organizational structure and the use of shared resources through the shared service model.”

Another milestone: Laura Magnani was welcomed as the 600th employee at one of Optima Group’s international subsidiaries through her role in the Shared Service team at the Optima Service Parts Center – a clear sign of the company’s continuous growth and increasing international strength.

The post OPTIMA machinery Italy officially launched appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

Among the company’s most interesting applications for this sector is the CPWA18, a case packer capable of packaging products in two different ways: wrap-around or tray-and-lid. This dual option in a single machine allows for optimized production and space savings within the facility. Additionally, the machine itself is extremely compact, with a layout of just 5×4 meters.

This solution has been very well received and is already operational in the production plants of various customers—from Germany to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom—where it is used to package bags containing coffee, both ground and whole bean.

The machines produced so far can handle up to 20 different recipes, with bags ranging from 250 grams to 1.2 kg, in various configurations (single row of 4 or 6 pieces, double row, etc.); all in both wrap-around and tray-and-lid mode, thanks to two separate blank magazines (click here to see the machine in operation).

The CPWA18 can pack up to 18 cases per minute, with format changes—even in the most complex cases—taking less than 45 minutes. Finally, it is equipped with the latest technologies for energy saving and remote assistance. Senzani will be present at HostMilano.

The post Senzani to attend HostMilano with new packaging solutions appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

In response to the rapidly increasing demand for single-serve coffee pods, Datwyler faced the challenge of scaling production without compromising on quality. Their aluminum coffee cups must meet strict standards for safety, durability, and appearance.

Even minor imperfections—like pinholes, dents, or material overlaps—can affect coffee quality and customer satisfaction. The collaboration with Averna has yielded a compact, automated system that integrates seamlessly into existing production lines, delivering unparalleled speed and precision.

“We needed a solution that could keep up with our production speed while catching barely visible flaws,” said Sandro Exer, Project Manager Investmanagement at Datwyler. “Averna delivered a system that’s fast, accurate, and fits perfectly into our existing line. It’s a major step forward in driving yield and consistency.”

Averna’s system is installed directly after Datwyler’s 12-fold aluminum cup press. Using advanced cameras, lighting, and vision algorithms, the system evaluates each cup in real time, at speeds of up to 8 meters per second. This proved to be challenging, needing to distinguish between harmless stretch marks and actual defects with 100% accuracy.

Each inspection station handles 1,800 cups per minute. With five systems now running in parallel, Datwyler is inspecting and sorting 9,000 cups every minute. Defective cups are automatically diverted for recycling, reducing waste and improving sustainability.

“Our collaboration with Datwyler exemplifies our commitment to innovation and quality,” said Ingmar Schepers, Account Manager at Averna. “Together, we built a system that’s not only fast and reliable, but also flexible enough to adapt to future product variations.”

The system’s modular design ensures scalability and adaptability, positioning Datwyler to meet evolving market demands while maintaining its reputation for excellence in the food and beverage sector.

The post Averna and Datwyler raise the bar for coffee cup quality with high-speed inspection appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

This bold visual expression reflects not only the richness of the coffee inside but also the visionary approach of the brand.The packaging uses a high-contrast palette that merges bold colour blocking with black and white detailing.

This blend creates a sense of energy and movement, while the tactile quality of the material adds a sensory dimension to the experience.

The smooth surface and flexible construction enhance functionality, ensuring freshness and ease of storage, while also contributing to a premium unboxing moment.

What sets this design apart is its ability to connect with a younger, curious demographic. It transforms packaging into a medium of interaction-not through technology, but through interpretive visual storytelling.

Consumers are invited to engage with the artwork, uncover connections between disparate forms, and immerse themselves in an imaginative journey that mirrors the complexity of the coffee’s flavour profile.

Extensive research into consumer behaviour and design trends informed the collage approach. The challenge was to create a cohesive whole from fragmented, surreal elements-each one carefully chosen to intrigue without overwhelming.

The outcome is not just packaging; it is a canvas of layered meaning, contributing to Coffee Wave’s strong market presence and brand memorability.

The post Coffee Wave: “Where industrial dreams meet bold visual design” appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

The A’ Packaging Design Award is particularly relevant to the industry as it recognizes designs that not only captivate consumers but also align with current trends and needs.

By earning this award, Coffee Wave demonstrates its ability to effectively communicate brand identity, engage target audiences, and stand out in a competitive market. This recognition underscores the practical benefits of thoughtful packaging design for both businesses and consumers alike.

Coffee Wave’s award-winning design sets itself apart through its unique blend of surrealistic and steampunk-inspired aesthetics.

The packaging masterfully combines black and white elements with bold color blocking techniques, creating a visually dynamic and engaging experience.

The central figure symbolizes the fusion of human ingenuity and artistic imagination, while the surrounding gears, pipes, and abstract shapes form a captivating visual narrative that reflects the complexity and richness of the coffee inside.

This recognition from the A’ Packaging Design Award serves as a testament to ABC Design Communication’s commitment to pushing creative boundaries and setting new standards within the packaging industry.

The award not only validates the team’s innovative approach but also inspires them to continue exploring unique design solutions that resonate with consumers and elevate brand experiences.

As Coffee Wave gains international exposure through this award, it has the potential to influence future packaging trends and inspire other designers to think outside the box.

Coffee Wave was designed by Kornilios Nikolaidis and Andromachi Kakava of ABC Design Communication.

The post Coffee Wave by ABC Design Communication wins Bronze in A’ Packaging Design Awards appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

The Silver A’ Design Award for Fabrika Coffee packaging holds significant relevance for the packaging industry, design community, and consumers alike. This recognition showcases the packaging design’s alignment with current trends, its adherence to industry best practices, and its successful embodiment of the core principles of effective packaging. By receiving this award, Fabrika Coffee packaging serves as an inspiring example for designers and brands, pushing the boundaries of creativity and functionality in packaging design.

The award-winning Fabrika Coffee packaging stands out for its distinctive design elements and thoughtful execution. The most striking feature is the die-cut window in the shape of the brand’s logo, representing coffee grinder blades, which allows the coffee beans to be visible.

This unique design choice not only creates a memorable visual effect but also emphasizes the natural quality of the product. The carefully selected color palette aids in differentiating the various coffee blends, while the strategically placed text provides essential information about the roast level, flavor notes, and origin, all while maintaining a clean and minimalistic aesthetic.

Receiving the Silver A’ Design Award for Fabrika Coffee packaging holds significant implications for W Design Bureau and the Fabrika Coffee brand.

This recognition validates their commitment to design excellence and their ability to create packaging that effectively communicates the brand’s identity while providing an exceptional user experience. The award serves as a catalyst for further innovation and exploration, motivating the team at W Design Bureau to continue pushing the boundaries of packaging design and setting new industry standards.

Fabrika Coffee packaging was designed by W Design Bureau, with Eugene Wysota serving as the Creative Director and Helen Trophimova as the Graphic Designer. Their combined expertise and creative vision were instrumental in bringing this award-winning packaging design to life.

The post Fabrika Coffee Packaging by Eugene Wysota and Helen Trophimova wins Silver in A’ Design Awards appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

The updated packaging has already begun rolling out and will continue transitioning across DCR’s full lineup through early fall. The redesign features a clean, modern aesthetic that replaces the brand’s traditional kraft bags with a collection of black and cream-colored bags – plus a custom bag created exclusively for Dillon’s Blend, the roaster’s flagship coffee.

The refreshed design was developed in-house under the creative direction of Design Supervisor Emily Haney, whose vision brought the new packaging to life with clarity, warmth, and modern appeal.

“This new packaging reflects who we are today – confident, quality-driven, and clear in our purpose,” said Chris Heyer, co-CEO of Dillanos Coffee Roasters. “It’s a refresh that celebrates our roots while looking ahead.”

In addition to the visual update, the coffees are now labeled with simplified, more descriptive names – designed to help customers better understand what’s in the bag at a glance, making the coffee experience even more accessible.

“This isn’t just a design update – it’s a refinement of how we tell our story,” said co-CEO David J. Morris. “We want our customers to understand and connect with what they’re drinking in a more intuitive way.”

The post Dillanos Coffee Roasters debuts new packaging that reflects a bold, modern identity appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

Packaging helps to protect food and beverages while also preventing food waste. Nestlé is continuously reducing the use of virgin plastic, pioneering the use alternative materials and novel technologies, and moving to recyclable mono-material and paper-based solutions. Identifying new packaging materials that meet each product’s functional needs while ensuring food safety and quality is often meticulous. In some cases, this requires years of research.

Nestlé and IBM scientists leveraged AI-based processing techniques¹ to construct a knowledge base of known materials from public and proprietary documents. Subsequently, the team fine-tuned a fit-for-purpose chemical language model on this curated corpus, enabling it to learn the representation of the molecular structures.

Using that knowledge, the teams leveraged the recently developed regression transformer² by IBM Research to learn the correlation between key structural molecular features and the resulting physical-chemical properties. The resulting model can now propose entirely new high-barrier packaging materials that shield sensitive products from moisture, temperature swings and oxygen.

Nestlé will utilize this novel technology to identify future packaging materials, while considering cost, recyclability, and functionality.

Stefan Palzer, Nestlé Chief Technology Officer: “This novel AI-powered language model, developed in collaboration with IBM Research, illustrates how Nestlé is leading the digital transformation within the food and beverage industry. In the future, such breakthrough technology could be used to optimize the development of more sustainable packaging solutions across product categories.”

Alessandro Curioni, IBM Research VP Europe & Africa: “We do believe that Generative AI will continue to disrupt scientific discovery, impacting the core business of all knowledge-based industries, allowing critical differentiation and sustainable growth.”

Nestlé continues to leverage AI, machine learning, data science and automation to support innovation and help manage complexities. For example, Nestlé has developed a recipe optimization tool that uses advanced algorithms to help product developers better manage tradeoffs between ingredients, nutrition, cost and sustainability, while still meeting consumer expectations. The company also uses digital twins of equipment and production lines to optimize manufacturing processes and has developed digital tools to deliver personalized nutrition solutions for people and pets.

Nestlé recently announced the creation of a new R&D center for deep tech, a first-of-its-kind in the food and nutrition industry. The new center will screen, test and develop new generations of sensors, robots, coding systems, high-performing AI and virtual/mixed reality solutions to increase efficiency in research, innovation and operations.

¹ Source: Docling: An Efficient Open-Source Toolkit for AI-driven Document Conversion
² Source: Regression Transformer on Nature Machine Intelligence

The post Nestlé and IBM leverage AI and deep tech to unlock new packaging innovations appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

Equipped with the latest technologies, the new production line offers a high degree of customization and design flexibility. It enables precise tuning of adsorptive performance through detailed control of adsorbent types, blends, and content levels.

The investment is complemented by a molecular filtration test bench to better support filtration manufacturers in developing high-performance filtration solutions.

The investment complements the existing Ahlstrom Trinitex® Carbon platform by targeting the growing demand for premium molecular applications such as cabin and fuel cell air intake filtration, as well as HVAC and cleanroom.

First announced in 2024, the project supports Ahlstrom’s strategy to develop next-generation filtration solutions that purify air and liquid, and protect people, processes, and the environment.

“This new asset reflects our ambition to drive innovation in filtration and takes our molecular filtration expertise to the next level”, says Giuseppe Costa, Vice President, Global Filtration. “By expanding our capabilities, we are ensuring that our customers continue to receive the reliable, high-quality solutions they expect from us.“

The post Ahlstrom starts new state-of-the-art production line for advanced molecular filtration media in Turin, Italy appeared first on Comunicaffe International.

The company is also aiming to integrate recycled PET (rPET), with an ambition of 30% of the content. This represents a first for Danone’s activities in the country, made possible thanks to the support of the Gouvernement du Québec.

This initiative, supported by Danone’s Oikos brand – the country’s leading high-protein Greek yogurt – marks a major step forward in the agri-food industry and in Danone’s commitment to recyclability for its packaging.

This major project is being carried out with the support of the Gouvernement du Québec, notably through Investissement Québec, which is providing a $3 million loan, and RECYC-QUÉBEC, which is contributing a direct grant of $400,000.

This initiative is in line with Québec’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote innovative, more sustainable packaging strategies.

This project illustrates Danone Canada’s capacity for innovation within the Québec industry, and the importance of supporting concrete initiatives for a more durable future.

The new Oikos PET cups are already being deployed at points of sale across the country.

The post Danone Canada Invests in its Boucherville plant to develop more sustainable packaging appeared first on Comunicaffe International.