BMT, a strategic technology provider for the global packaging industry, is showing how its THERMOSCAN preform temperature sensor helps manufacturers identify a key cause of inconsistency in PET production: variations in the thermal behaviour of apparently identical preforms.

Even with the same stretch blow moulding (SBM) recipes, differences introduced during injection moulding can affect how preforms respond to heating, leading to inconsistencies in the final product. By making the true thermal profile of the preform visible, THERMOSCAN enables more consistent and stable outcomes.

Although the process may appear stable, variations in preform behaviour can still lead to inconsistent results. As the use of recycled PET (rPET) increases and lightweighting tightens the process window, this variability becomes more difficult to manage.

THERMOSCAN measures both internal and external temperatures of preforms along their full length, capturing the complete thermal profile rather than relying on oven setpoints or surface readings alone. This makes visible the parameter that directly governs stretch behaviour: how heat is distributed through the preform wall.

Standard process controls, such as oven setpoints, do not guarantee a consistent internal preform temperature. As a result, materials that appear identical in specification can enter the stretch process in different thermal states, creating variation that is not visible through conventional measurement methods.

“What matters in stretch blow moulding is how the preform actually behaves during heating - not just the settings used to control it,” said David McKelvey, Head of Product at BMT. “By measuring both internal and external temperature, THERMOSCAN gives manufacturers a clearer understanding of the temperature and helps them make more informed process adjustments.”

Injection differences, measurable impact on performance

In an illustrative use case, a PET bottle manufacturer operating a fixed and validated SBM process observed inconsistent performance linked to when preforms were produced. While the SBM settings did not change, preforms from one injection shift ran consistently, whereas those from another resulted in increased blowouts and greater instability.

Measurement with THERMOSCAN showed clear differences in temperature profiles between these preforms. These differences were traced back to subtle variations in injection moulding conditions, including packing behaviour, material history and cooling. Although all preforms met specification, they absorbed and distributed heat differently, resulting in different thermal states going into the stretch process.

Enabling consistent, stable production

By linking these upstream variations to downstream performance, THERMOSCAN enables manufacturers to move from reacting to instability to understanding its root cause. This reduces reliance on trial-and-error adjustments and supports better alignment between injection moulding and stretch blow moulding, helping to deliver more consistent outcomes.

Camarillo, California (May 19, 2026) — Hygiena®, a global leader in rapid food safety and environmental diagnostics, proudly announces that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for the trademark application of One Health Diagnostics®. This significant milestone reaffirms Hygiena's unwavering commitment to advancing diagnostic technologies that enhance food protection, public health, animal health, and environmental monitoring.

"We are thrilled to receive this Notice of Allowance from the USPTO," said Amanda Manolis, VP Global Marketing, Scientific Affairs, Product & Program Management at Hygiena. "The One Health Diagnostics® mark reinforces our leadership in the category we are building and leading as the authority in rapid diagnostics. This recognition reinforces Hygiena’s role in advancing diagnostics beyond food safety into a fully integrated system that protects global health through data-driven insight and end-to-end visibility.

The global diagnostics market is undergoing a structural shift from isolated testing methods to integrated, intelligence-driven platforms. Hygiena’s One Health Diagnostics® portfolio is designed to meet this shift by delivering capabilities across the entire food safety and environmental monitoring value chain, from ATP hygiene and sanitation verification with UltraSnap®, AquaSnap® and KLEANZ®, to molecular, pathogen detection workflows with BAX® and foodproof® RT-PCR Systems. Our portfolio, which includes allergen and gluten detection with GlutenTox® GMO and supply chain transparency testing to public health and environmental surveillance, empowers data-driven decision-making at every stage. More than just testing, our solutions protect public health, food security and sustainability.

Through platforms including SureTrend® Food Safety Management Software along with the newest addition to the Hygiena portfolio, KLEANZ® Sanitation Management, transform ATP, PCR, sanitation, and environmental data into real-time operational decisions, strengthening compliance, improving quality programs, and supporting continuous improvement.

Our One Health Diagnostics® ethos places us among the few organizations worldwide with a comprehensive portfolio covering the entire food safety value chain. At the core of One Health Diagnostics® is a shift from testing alone to connected diagnostics ecosystems. As the global leader in One Health Diagnostics®, we deliver actionable insights that drive smarter, faster and more sustainable decision-making, ensuring a healthier world for generations to come.

CALGARY, ALBERTA, May 26, 2026 – AgSphere, the agri-food innovation hub dedicated to advancing the Canadian ecosystem, has announced a cross-border partnership with EIT Food to facilitate sector collaboration between Canada and Europe. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

Based in Brussels, Belgium, EIT Food is the world’s largest food innovation community enabling the sector across Europe. Under the partnership, the two organizations will facilitate activities for the agri-innovation sector, such as startup immersion programs and exchanges, training and skills development and strategic collaboration between the two regions. 

“Our partnership with EIT Food opens up a world of possibilities for Canadian agri-food innovators to access European resources, while Canada has agricultural prowess that we can share with our European counterparts,” said Chris Paterson, AgSphere Executive Director. “EIT Food has a proven model for sector collaboration that we can learn from, to help strengthen our own ecosystem here at home.” 

Richard Zaltzman, CEO at EIT Food said, “Partnerships like this are essential to delivering real change in the food system. By working together across borders with organisations like AgSphere, we are strengthening a pan-European and global innovation community that can make food more sustainable, accessible, secure and transparent for all.”  

EIT Food visited Canada in April to meet with AgSphere as well as sector stakeholders in Calgary and Edmonton. AgSphere is attending the EIT Food event Next Bite on October 28-29 in Warsaw, Poland, and is inviting Canadian agri-food startups interested in or exploring the European market to join their delegation.  

The Expression of Interest is open for applications from May 26 until June 15, with selections made in July.

“We’re hitting the ground running on our partnership with EIT Food by assembling a cohort for our first startup trip this fall,” said Paterson. “The EU is not only a major market for agri-food products, it’s also home to sector innovators that we want to help startups build relationships with.” 

AgSphere officially launched in December 2025 to help connect the agri-food innovation ecosystem in Canada. Its founding partners are AdFarm, the Calgary Stampede, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. 

Startups can submit their Expression of Interest on the AgSphere website. To learn more about AgSphere, visit agsphere.com. For more information about EIT Food, visit eitfood.eu.

By Agbor Ndoma Agbor

In a world grappling with population growth, climate change, and the urgent need for healthier diets, one company stands out as a true pioneer: AGT Foods.

As a global leader in pulses and plant-based ingredients, AGT Foods is not just supplying food — it is championing a more sustainable and nutritious future for billions. From the fertile fields of Saskatchewan to tables across 127 countries, AGT embodies the shift toward plant-powered proteins that nourish people and the planet.

Founded with deep roots in Canadian agriculture, AGT Foods has grown into a diversified powerhouse. With over 3,000 employees worldwide, 39 global facilities, and a vast network spanning Canada, the U.S., Turkey, Australia, China, and beyond, the company seamlessly connects producers to consumers. Specializing in lentils, peas, chickpeas, and other pulses, AGT transforms these nutrient-dense crops into high-quality ingredients and consumer products.

What truly sets AGT Foods apart is its unwavering commitment to sustainability. Pulses are among the most environmentally friendly protein sources: they require low water usage, minimal inputs, support zero-tillage farming, and naturally enrich soil through nitrogen fixation. By scaling these crops, AGT helps close the global “protein deficit” without the heavy environmental toll of traditional animal agriculture. The company’s ESG initiatives go further — from upcycling pea, lentil, and oat hulls into climate-positive fertilizers, such as those developed by Soileos, to broader efforts that utilize plants and biomass for food, fuel, and feed.

AGT’s leadership in plant-based innovation addresses critical challenges. As demand for high-protein, low-fat, gluten-free, and non-GMO options surges, AGT delivers functional ingredients — proteins, fibers, and extruded products — that empower food manufacturers to create better-for-you options. Their work supports the booming plant-based market while promoting regenerative agriculture and supply chain transparency. AGT continues to invest in value-added processing and global distribution, ensuring high-quality, affordable nutrition reaches diverse markets.

Beyond business metrics, AGT Foods represents a values-driven model. By sourcing responsibly from growing regions, minimizing waste, and prioritizing food safety and quality, they prove that profitability and planetary health can coexist. Their products don’t just feed bodies — they foster resilient food systems and healthier communities. As we navigate toward 2050, when the world will need to feed nearly 10 billion people sustainably, companies like AGT Foods are essential apostles of change. They remind us that the future of protein is plant-based, and that true leadership means delivering solutions that are good for people, profitable for business, and gentle on the environment. Let’s build a better plate, together.

Agbor Ndoma is the Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Agricultural Development (CSAD), and a Regenerative Sustainability Specialist. He can be reached via csad.agric10@gmail.com