A plant-based steak with marbled fat

Image courtesy of Planteneers

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

The Latest in Plant-Based Steaks and Why They’re So Crucial Right Now

The consumer behaviour of those (vegans and omnivores alike) who purchase plant-based products has evolved significantly from the curiosity-led impulse buys before the 2023 dip — amid an influx of new, sometimes inferior products on the market — to repeat purchases of quality, evolved products which fit into the day-to-day routine and are now tried and tested by families and cooked at home in their favourite ways. Last week, the UK’s biggest supermarket chain Tesco reported that the plant-based revolution is entering a second phase, largely driven by more consumers cooking from scratch. The retailer noted that despite the drop in sales last year, sales of meat-free ingredients and whole cuts are now increasing, with plant-based steaks and chicken breasts witnessing a 20% sales uptick …

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© Handtmann

Fairs & Events

Handtmann Showcases Molding System Suitable for Production of Vegan Products at AnugaFoodTec

Handtmann, a specialist in forming, portioning, dosing, and packaging systems for the food industry, is to present a new option for producing molded and filled products at the AnugaFoodTec show this March. The new Handtmann all-in-one molding system FS 525 offers manufacturers of snack and convenience products a new option to further expand the possibilities in the production of molded products: the co-extrusion function. The molding system offers flexibility for both free molding and for molding and separating vegetarian and vegan alternative products, among others. The additional co-extrusion function now enables the production of a wide variety of filled products. The FS 525 forming and cutting system combines two different forming principles for maximum flexibility in industrial applications (perforated plate forming technology for freely shaped …

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Handtmann's InotecWolf machinery

© Handtmann

Manufacturing & Technology

Handtmann to Showcase Food Processing Innovations at Anuga FoodTec

German food machinery manufacturer Handtmann, which recently unveiled a manufacturing innovation to create marbled and fat-layered meat alternatives in partnership with Planteneers, is set to showcase its latest innovations at Anuga FoodTec next month. At the event, which takes place in Cologne from 19 – 22 March, Handtmann is set to unveil a suite of food processing technologies aimed at enhancing the production capabilities for a wide array of food products and pet food. The offerings encompass modular process solutions spanning from product preparation to the final transfer to packaging solutions, catering to operations of all scales, from startups to fully automated, high-capacity industrial production setups. Highlights include the debut of the Handtmann Inotec IW series grinder, capable of handling up to nine metric tons …

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A plant-based steak with marbled fat

Image courtesy of Planteneers

Manufacturing & Technology

Plant-Based Steak 2.0: Planteneers & Handtmann Unveil Manufacturing Innovation for Marbling and Fat-Layering

Plant-based food pioneer Planteneers and global leader in food processing technology, Handtmann, are joining forces to revolutionize the market with a manufacturing innovation to create marbled and fat-layered alternatives to meat: the plant-based steak 2.0.  To address the need for more realistic plant-based meat alternatives, the collaboration involves integrating Planteneers’ functional systems and Handtmann’s equipment to create alternatives that mimic the appearance of traditional meat and have an “authentic, fibrous structure.”  Advantages over other processes By combining a newly developed attachment for Handtmann’s filling and portioning systems with Planteneers’ fiildMeat and fiildTex series, manufacturers can achieve the desired fat ratio and adjust the size and shape of the final products to meet customer preferences. In addition, this flexible coextrusion system in production also enables a more realistic asymmetrical fat marbling. …

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Harald Suchanka of Handtmann

Harald Suchanka (CEO F&P) - Image courtesy of Handtmann

Company News

Handtmann Celebrates 150 Years of Success with Gala Event

Handtmann Group of Companies, a global leader in food processing technology, marked its 150th company anniversary with a grand gala attended by prominent figures from politics, business, and the local community. The celebration, held at Biberach’s Gigelberg, included speeches by distinguished guests and a symbolic transition of leadership. Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg commended Handtmann’s extraordinary entrepreneurial journey, highlighting its significant contributions to the local and national economy. He states that the company, “with its approximately 4,300 employees and an annual turnover of one billion euros, is an engine of prosperity and an economic factor for both state and country. The noise of the machines in the workshops of Handtmann is the sound of successful transformation.” Thomas Handtmann, in recognition of his …

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Handtmann machinery manufacturing sausage products

© Albert Handtmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG

Manufacturing & Technology

Handtmann: New Communication Interface for Smart Portioning and Detection Processes

Handtmann has developed a new communication interface that aims to raise the connectivity of Handtmann system technology and foreign body detection solutions to a new level. The new communication interface X40 is open to metal detectors from all manufacturers. In particular, alternative meat and sausage manufacturers in medium to industrial sizes should benefit from the central line control and the flexible configuration for a wide range of production processes. Synchronization, signal exchange, program switching and other processes are carried out centrally via the monitor control of the vacuum filler, which should make operating the entire line far easier. If the operator changes the program on the vacuum filler, the program on the metal detector is also changed automatically. This is intended to ensure that the …

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Handtmann_management

(From left to right): Harald Suchanka (CEO F&P), Valentin Ulrich, Thomas Handtmann, Markus Handtmann, Dr. Mark Betzold (CTO F&P)

Manufacturing & Technology

Fifth Generation of the Handtmann Family to Lead the Handtmann Group of Companies

Handtmann Group, employing around 4,100 people worldwide and represented in over 100 countries, announces that Markus Handtmann and Valentin Ulrich represent the fifth generation of the Handtmann family to assume the management of the Handtmann Group of Companies, effective 1st April 2023. Twenty-five years ago, Thomas Handtmann took over the management of the family business from his father Arthur Handtmann. Turnover between then and now has more than quadrupled to 1.1 billion euros. As of the end of June 2023, Thomas will move to the Advisory Boards and transfer responsibility for the group of companies to son Markus Handtmann and nephew Valentin Ulrich. “From a medium-sized enterprise in Upper Swabia, we have developed into an internationally operating technology company. What is important to me personally …

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Handtmann-cocktails-alginate

© Handtmann

Manufacturing & Technology

Handtmann Machinery Produces 3,000 Sausages With Alginate Casing Per Minute

The Handtmann ConPro technology offers the possibility of producing varieties of cocktail sausages in alginate casing in a continuous co-extrusion process in an edible, vegan alginate casing. Alginate is a long-chain carbohydrate, which is extracted from brown algae. Alginate gels can be produced across a wide range of temperatures and pH levels, they are insoluble in water, heat-stable and can therefore be blanched, smoked and dried. Handtmann ConPro technology offers the continuous production of a sausage strand coated with alginate gel using two vacuum filling machines connected via a co-extrusion head. One vacuum filling machine pumps the filling product that the sausage strand is produced from, while the second feeds the alginate paste that subsequently forms the sausage casing. The Handtman ConPro system KLSH 153 …

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handtmann's food processing machinery

Image courtesy of Handtmann

Manufacturing & Technology

Handtmann to Showcase Latest Automation Solutions for Food Production at Interpack

Global technology solutions provider for the food processing industry, Handtmann, will exhibit numerous automation solutions at interpack 2023, hall 5 stand C38, which will take place from May 4th to 10th, in Düsseldorf, Germany. The German manufacturer, which regularly presents its integrative solutions for food production at events such as the IFFA, where it showcased vegan tex mex bites or the Anuga FoodTec, where it presented its latest technologies, announced it will carry out live demonstrations of some of its automated machinery at the coming interpack fair. From mixing to the package Many “smart” digital solutions developed in-house, specifically adapted to various production processes to enable cross-process automation, are part of Handtmann’s modern processing methods, which cover all steps from product preparation, processing, and packaging; “from mixing …

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Handtmann show to shopper

© Albert Handtmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG

Company News

German Manufacturer Handtmann Upcycles Trade Fair Banners Into Shopping Bags

The family-owned company Handtmann, of Biberach, Germany, says it has been committed to developing alternatives in food processing and resource-conserving product concepts for over two decades. This includes hybrid, vegan and vegetarian products. Handtmann regularly exhibits its machine solutions and food concepts at numerous events and trade fairs. The company explains how it has upcycled its trade fair banners as part of its sustainability strategy; the Handtmann “FROM SHOW TO SHOPPER” project converts the trade fair banners into shopping bags in an upcycling process developed by RECICLAGE, a textiles company specialising in this field. The manufacturer produces its handmade products at its headquarters in Alzenau. “Our mission is to create unique one-of-a-kind items from recycled materials and to thus ensure a responsible use of resources,” …

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Handtmann_vegan Tex-Mex bites

Vegan Tex Mex Bites ©Handtmann

Fairs & Events

Handtmann Reports Success at IFFA, Showcasing Vegan Tex-Mex Bites

Handtmann showcased a variety of innovations at the IFFA Exhibition and looks back at its most successful event. The company achieved the best trade fair result in its history during the IFFA fair. “We are very pleased that we were able to achieve the best result in our company history with a trade fair turnover of around 19 million euros. It is also affirmation for us that our strategy for the future and our partnerships for line solutions and food innovation are meeting the needs of the times and the industry. “We offer our customers, whether artisan or industrial, integrated solutions and thus not only support them, but are also their partner and source of inspiration in an extremely dynamic and challenging environment,” says Harald …

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handtmann-vegan-forming system

©Handtmann Group

Manufacturing & Technology

Handtmann to Present Latest Technologies From Product Preparation to Packaging at Anuga Tec

The Handtmann Group will present the latest technologies for manufacturing a wide variety of food products at Anuga FoodTec under the motto ‘WE TURN IDEAS INTO SOLUTIONS’ in Hall 6 Stand B010/C019. The modular solutions offer scope from start-up to fully automated, highly industrial performance production, optionally from product preparation to transfer to the packaging solution. In the area of product preparation, the Handtmann Inotec BC140iT-300 automatic process unit and the VarioMix mixer will be on display. These universal process units can be used for simultaneous heating, cooling, mixing, crushing and emulsifying of solid, paste-like and liquid products. The all-rounders are perfect as stand-alone machines, but can also be easily integrated into modern, complex production processes. The Biberach-based company will be presenting numerous solutions for …

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Handtmann Customized Solutions

©Handtmann

Manufacturing & Technology

Food Tech Solutions Leader Handtmann Launches Customized Service

German food production company Handtmann has launched Handtmann Customized Solutions to provide individual approaches to food production systems. The new service offers Handtmann’s technically sophisticated system solutions applied to specific customer requirements. Following the Handtmann motto “My idea. My solution”, the new Customized Solutions approach will develop specific processes needed for individual production – from product preparation through to packaging. The company now aims to address individual needs and special requirements with even more flexibility.  One of the world’s leading providers of solutions for portioning, dosing, forming, and co-extruding, Handtmann works with small-scale producers and start-ups as well as medium-sized companies and industrial enterprises globally. The Customized Solutions service shows how Handtmann series production machines can be extended and modified in a variety of ways …

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