News on Packaging Equipment from Europe

Potato Demo Day 2026 has opened visitor registration for its September event in Westmaas. The programme includes more than 120 exhibitors, 25 knowledge sessions, machinery demonstrations, a Startup Plaza and activities covering the potato value chain

Ishida Europe has named Takayo Motegi as Managing Director, succeeding Dave Tiso, who becomes Chairman. With 30+ years in the Ishida Group, Motegi will lead growth across EMEA, advancing automation, packaging and quality control solutions.

Heat and Control will showcase processing, seasoning, water conservation and thermal processing technologies at Snackex 2026 in Lisbon. The solutions are designed to support greater efficiency, sustainability and performance in snack manufacturing.

Klaas van de Poppe has been appointed CEO of Eqraft, effective May 1, 2026. He succeeds Marcel Kampes and will lead the company's next phase of global growth, innovation, and customer-focused solutions for potato and onion processing.

Tong SwiftLift has appointed Tom Allwood as Electrical and Service Manager to strengthen electrical production, aftersales service and customer support for the SwiftLift range as part of the Tong Engineering Group.

Allround Vegetable Processing, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of potato and vegetable processing machinery has appointed Denmark-based Manter Nordic ApS, a supplier of processing and packaging technology for the agro-food industry in Scandinavia

TNA Solutions to launch tna robag® Quantum packaging system at interpack 2026, engineered to help food manufacturers increase throughput, simplify operations and respond faster to changing market demands.

Anéolia, a French manufacturer of gas analysis and package leak detection instruments for the food packaging industry, will introduce its newly released Elyos instrument at interpack 2026, taking place from May 7-13 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

At Interpack, JEROS introduces the industrial utensil washer Model 9240 ACE, developed specifically for food processing environments where hygiene, uptime, and efficiency are critical.

All packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable by 2030, while the industry is calling for more flexible requirements and extended timelines to clear existing stock.

Interpack is set to open its doors in Düsseldorf in eight weeks. From 7 to 13 May 2026, the global processing and packaging industry will gather to discuss artificial intelligence, automation, innovative materials and workforce skills.

Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions, a specialist in automated palletizing systems, has introduced the next generation Verbruggen Topframe for modern end-of-line operations.

As food manufacturers face ongoing labour shortages, rising costs, and increasing performance demands, TNA Solutions will bring a clear focus to interpack 2026 (7–13 May, Messe Düsseldorf): Innovation simplified.

Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions is a Netherlands-based supplier of automated palletizing solutions, serving food, agri-food, and industrial sectors with customized end-of-line systems.

Fruit Logistica 2026 (4–6 Feb, Berlin) brings the global fresh fruit industry together with six expert stages, 200 speakers and multilingual talks, covering markets, farming, technology, logistics and future innovation.

As the UK potato industry prepares for BP2025 in Harrogate, Tong Engineering will highlight how its latest handling and automation technologies help growers and processors meet modern demands while preparing for the future.

The European Snacks Association releases its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting members’ efforts in resource efficiency, sustainable sourcing, energy savings, and eco-friendly packaging, supporting the EU Green Deal and circular economy initiatives.

Potato Demo Day 2026 will be held on 2 September 2026 in Westmaas, focusing on knowledge sharing, innovation, and networking. New highlights include the Startup Square and live demos, alongside key programs like the Young Farmers Program and Knowledge Barn.