As the UK’s food, beverage, and processing industries prepare for the PPMA Show 2026 — taking place from 22–24 September at the NEC Birmingham — leading equipment suppliers are getting ready to unveil their latest technological innovations.

This year’s preview highlights a clear industry focus on total line integration, space optimisation, data-led compliance, and flexible automation designed to tackle changing consumer trends and stringent regulatory demands. Below is an inside look at the major equipment launches and technological showcases lined up for the show floor.

Advanced product inspection & multi-tech combination systems

Product safety and compliance remain top priorities for food and pharmaceutical manufacturers. At PPMA 2026, equipment leaders are focusing on multi-technology integration in single compact frames, enabling end-to-end data reporting and real-time line control.

Fortress Technology (Stand E36):

• Raptor Tritek (UK debut): showcased for the first time at a UK exhibition, this 3-in-1 combination system integrates metal detection, checkweighing, and label inspection vision technology into a single easy-clean frame with the smallest possible footprint. It prioritises metal detection on every pack to maximise OEE and reduce TCO.
• Big Bag Combination System: designed for large-format applications weighing up to 25kg, this unit combines metal detection and case weighing in under 1.7 metres (approx. 2.5 metres with the heavy-duty reject conveyor).
• Stealth & Gravity Metal Detectors: Fortress will demonstrate its standalone Stealth Metal Detector alongside a Gravity Metal Detector tailored for tight spaces, low ceilings, and hopper insertions, with support for Halo Automatic Testing to validate detector performance without downtime.

Mettler-Toledo (Booth D84):

Built around the theme “Inspect. Protect. Comply.”, Mettler-Toledo will showcase UK-first launches including the M50 R-Series metal detection platform and the X12 x-ray inspection system.

These platforms will be demonstrated alongside the C23 checkweighing solution and the proprietary ProdX data management software, enabling real-time monitoring, audit readiness, and seamless data compliance across demanding environments.

LOMA Systems (Stand D106):

Demonstrating inspection technologies across metal detection, X-ray inspection, checkweighing, and combination units tailored for varying pack materials and washdown conditions.

Highlighting the X5 Series, including the X5DE Space Saver, which utilises Dual Energy technology to detect contaminants in dense or overlapping product streams while saving floor space.

Flexible robotics and integrated end-of-line packaging

Automating final packaging operations remains vital as manufacturers face ongoing labour challenges and demand higher throughput.

Endoline Automation (Stand D90):

Expanding its robotics division through a new collaboration with Montech, Endoline will debut a fully integrated, live production line showcasing case erecting, case sealing, and palletising.

By incorporating both gantry and articulated robotic solutions, Endoline offers tailored end-of-line setups engineered around specific factory layouts, throughput demands, and future scaling requirements.

Thermal processing & adapting to consumer trends
Modern consumer shifts — ranging from high-fibre products (“fibremaxxing”) to bold flavour combinations (“fricy”—fruit and spice pairings) — are driving demand for versatile processing machinery that can handle diverse product formats.

Holmach Ltd (Stand C30):

Lagarde Autoclave Pilot Unit: taking centre stage, this versatile pilot autoclave unit can be configured in static, rocking, or rotating modes. It runs steam/air, raining water, and saturated steam processes, allowing manufacturers to test and validate thermal processes for ready meals, baby food, RTD coffee, and canned goods before committing to full-scale capital investment.

Roboqbo Universal Processing Vessel: designed to mix, refine, cook, and cool within a single vessel, the Qbo preserves delicate organoleptic properties while turning nuts, fruits, sauces, and stocks into finished products efficiently.

Sustainable & hygienic factory infrastructure

Equipment performance is only as good as the environment in which it operates. Infrastructure specialists will focus on long-term operational efficiency and hygiene at PPMA 2026.

Kemtile (Stand D80):

Partnering with parent company Stonhard, Kemtile will highlight heavy-duty hygienic flooring, wall, and ceiling systems alongside chemical-resistant drainage systems.

The focus will be on reducing the hidden environmental and operational costs of frequent floor refurbishments, delivering long-term sustainability, hygiene compliance, and seamless protection for fast-moving packaging lines.

Customised “Engineered for You” weighing & inspection

Minebea Intec
At Hall 5, Stand B52, global industrial weighing and inspection specialist Minebea Intec will showcase its “Engineered for You” philosophy, moving away from rigid, off-the-shelf machinery toward bespoke, application-specific quality control solutions. Under its “first understand, then develop” approach, the company collaborates with manufacturers from initial process analysis to custom engineering and deployment.

Key highlights on display:

• Flexus Combi Checkweigher: an adaptable combination unit integrating dynamic weight control with multi-metal detection (ferrous, non-ferrous, and non-magnetic stainless steel) in a compact, hygienic frame. Designed for high throughput (up to 600 items per minute), it comes in tailored formats including multi-lane setups, heavy bag options (up to 5 kg), and ultra-compact footprints fitting into spaces as small as 360 mm.
• Advanced X-Ray & foreign body inspection: demonstrating comprehensive in-line quality assurance that detects foreign objects (metal, glass, stones, and dense plastics) while simultaneously performing component counting, fill-level monitoring, and closure integrity checks.
• Blue HMI user interface: live demonstrations of its Red Dot Award-winning user interface, providing an intuitive, unified control experience across all weighing and inspection equipment.
• SPC@Enterprise Software: centralised data management software that aggregates production data across multiple sites, offering real-time quality metric visualisations, early trend detection, and systematic audit documentation.