By Dr. Bernhard Reichenbach, Chefredakteur

Two future-orientated, manufacturer-independent and also cost-efficient IT solutions for confectionery production are among the “delicacies” in this issue: the first one is a standardized communication interface for networking machines and IT systems, which is being developed in the project “WS Sweets – Weihenstephan Standards in Confectionery Production”. The second is the new SweetConnect digital platform, launched by medium-sized machine manufacturing companies, for central monitoring and optimization of the entire process chain.

Interested parties can find out more about SweetConnect at the supplier fair ProSweets Cologne 2022 at Sollich company in hall 10.1. The trade show, which will soon be held together with the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair ISM in the cathedral city, is the key focus of this issue.

On another trade fair, we report in retrospect: the ingredients show Fi & Hi Europe, which recently took place in Frankfurt/Germany. The event made it clear that – even in the current difficult situation due to the pandemic – face-to-face fairs are the “icing on the cake” for many trade visitors.

Due to the pandemic, the 31st Dresden Packaging Conference of the Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut (German Packaging Institute) recently took place in purely virtual form. Among other things, the Digital Packaging Days provided participants with insights and best-practice information on sustainability and benefit through digitalization. The topic of bioplastics, which as well holds great promise for the future, was also dealt with in detail.