SIG, a global supplier of packaging systems, concluded a strong showing at Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 after securing agreements for 17 filling lines with food and beverage producers across the region. The company also received the UAE Industrial Excellence Award for its SIG Product Innovation & Application Hub in Dubai.
The newly signed agreements demonstrate ongoing investment in regional production. The filling lines will support expanded manufacturing of aseptic cartons, spouted pouches and bag-in-box formats across India, the Middle East and Africa. This activity further highlights SIG’s contribution to strengthening domestic production and developing more resilient supply chains in response to evolving food and beverage industry trends.
“Our success at Gulfood Manufacturing is particularly significant because it reaches across SIG’s full portfolio,” said Anne Erkens, CEO of SIG. “It reflects both the breadth of our offering and the strength of our customer relationships. From aseptic carton to bag-in-box and spouted pouch, we are well positioned to support customers as they expand production, increase flexibility and address evolving market needs.”
SIG’s commercial performance was complemented by recognition at the Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 Industry Excellence Awards. The company won the UAE Industrial Excellence Award for its SIG Product Innovation & Application Hub in Dubai, acknowledging the facility’s role in developing local manufacturing capabilities and improving the competitiveness and resilience of the UAE food sector.
The hub operates from SIG’s regional headquarters in Dubai Silicon Oasis. Opened in 2021, it is part of the company’s international network of innovation and application centers.
By combining product development knowledge, food processing technology, application trials and aseptic test-filling capabilities, the facility helps established manufacturers, startups and entrepreneurs convert initial concepts into commercially viable products.
Working alongside SIG specialists, customers can create or adjust formulations, assess processing and packaging options, and manufacture limited test runs using aseptic cartons and spouted pouches. This approach supports the exploration of new categories, lowers development risk and shortens the route to market before investment in full-scale production.
Abdelghany Eladib, President and General Manager, India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) at SIG: “A filling line gives manufacturers the capacity to produce, but innovation is what allows them to develop the right products for the market. Our SIG Product Innovation & Application Hub was created to bridge that gap, bringing together expertise, technology and collaboration to help our customers turn ideas into commercially viable products. This recognition is a testament to the value of that approach and to the work of our teams and partners in Dubai.”
“The investment we’re seeing in local food and beverage manufacturing is a clear indication of the region’s growth potential. The agreements signed during Gulfood Manufacturing reflect this momentum and the confidence of regional manufacturers in expanding their capabilities and in partnering with SIG. At SIG, our ambition is to support that growth not only through advanced filling and packaging technologies, but also through the innovation expertise and partnerships needed to build more competitive and resilient operations,” Eladib added.
SIG has participated in Gulfood Manufacturing for more than 13 years. At the 2026 event, its Dubai-based product innovation team presented six new ready-to-drink beverage concepts covering functional nutrition, protein-focused drinks, hydration and indulgent flavor profiles. The examples illustrated how the company integrates product development with advanced processing, filling and food and drink packaging solutions to help manufacturers respond to food and drink consumer trends and identify new opportunities for growth.
The showcased concepts also reflected wider food manufacturing trends, including demand for differentiated beverages, improved functionality and convenient formats. By combining food and drink industry innovation with practical application support, SIG helps customers respond to changing food distribution trends, evolving food and drink marketing strategies, food and drink sustainability priorities and increasingly complex food and drink regulations.
Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 took place from 3 to 5 November at Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme “Powering Food Security Through Manufacturing Innovation”. The event enabled SIG to deepen customer relationships, develop new commercial opportunities and demonstrate its role in shaping the future of food and beverage manufacturing throughout the region.
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