Cologne, 25 April 2022 – Two companies in the Freudenberg Group, both of whom are suppliers to food producers for food refinement and processing, will be at Anuga FoodTec to present solutions for full sustainability and compliance throughout the industry’s entire process chain.
Both OKS, a renowned supplier of speciality lubricants, and Capol, leading manufacturer of glazing, anti-sticking and sealing agents, offer a wide range of products with optimised sustainability that are among the leading solutions in their market segments. The two companies are members of the Freudenberg Group, which is not only committed to minimising its own ecological footprint, but also that of its users and customers. This year's Anuga FoodTec will be the first time that Capol and OKS present their product portfolios together as an expert team for food manufacturers.
Manufacturers are currently faced with dramatic price increases for raw materials, energy and logistics. Challenges in the areas of regulation and sustainability look set to remain unchanged in the medium and long term. Product and food safety requirements are constantly increasing and require compliance with standards as well as certification (such as NSF H1, HACCP or REACH). Current discussions also surround guidelines for the reduction or avoidance of MOSH/MOAH substances (mineral oil residues in products). As long as there is no legal definition, manufacturers are forced to move in a grey area. And within supply chains, evidence of ethical procurement and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting will increase significantly.
In the food production industry, the focus is therefore on the entire value chain. As drivers of efficiency for the reduction of emissions, lubricants, release agents and coatings assume particular importance, both in production and disposal. After all, some 8% of global CO2 emissions attributable to nutrition and food production are generated in the areas of food processing and packaging.
Modern lubricants help to increase the efficiency and service life of plants – which represents an important contribution to sustainability and lower operating costs. According to the German lubricant industry association (VSI) annual damage through friction and wear is estimated to amount to approx. 30 billion euros. Optimal lubrication in food production can contribute to sustainability by extending maintenance intervals, reducing lubricant consumption and waste, saving energy through lower friction and thus reduced CO2 emissions and lower cleaning agent consumption. Lubricants therefore play a key role in resource efficiency.
Coating and release or anti-sticking agents that are normally used in food finishing can also achieve significant efficiency gains in the process chain. Coatings protect food; release and anti-sticking agents reduce waste and ensure simpler processes. The result is shorter processes and lower or even no production or food waste.
In time for Anuga FoodTec, Capol and OKS have intensified their collaboration for companies in the food processing industry. In addition to their joint trade fair appearance, an expert team will be formed to advise manufacturers on how the use of complementary products by Capol and OKS can help them to make their production processes more sustainable and efficient.
In the future, both companies want to roll out their existing knowledge and expertise to adjacent and new areas of application in food processing and packaging. As part of this, Capol will use its expertise in release agents and coatings to develop new solutions in the packaging area, which will also help to solve problematic application cases in terms of MOSH/MOAH.