Switzerland and Australia Partner to Offer a New Food Extrusion Course in Europe

Phil Black - PII Editor 30/06/2017

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There are many differences between Australia and Switzerland – the height of the mountains, the amount of snow that falls, the wildlife. But the physics which makes extrusion technology work is the same across Europe as “down under”.

Australian company FoodStream, working with extrusion expert Dennis Forte, has been presenting extrusion and related training programs in Australia and the surrounding region, including Thailand, for 20 years.

Since 2015, courses on Aquafeed Extrusion, and later Petfood Extrusion and Drying Technology, have been offered in Norway. Feedback has been excellent – one participant from the Philippines commented

“The Extrusion Course is unique in that it is able to present the blend of the fundamental principles of extrusion technology with its practical applications. The speakers transcend the hurdles of mathematical and engineering concepts by using appropriate learning and citing their vast production experiences”.

FoodStream has now teamed up with the Institute of Life Technologies at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (Hes-So) to provide a specialised human Food Extrusion program from 27 to 29 September this year.

Course organiser and co-presenter Gordon Young commented “We are looking forward to working with Hes-So. Accessing their excellent pilot plant facility for a demonstration is a major advantage.”

The 3-day program covers the principles of extrusion, the design of extrusion processes, and how the formulation affects the extrusion process. Topics cover the basics of extruders and their configuration, through what is happening chemically and physically inside the extruder barrel, to an understanding of extruder dies and extruder instability.

Examples in product formulation and the design of extrusion processes demonstrate application of the theory. Principles learned will be applied during the practical demonstration in the Hes-So pilot plant. Details are available here.

The course presenters have also published two text books which support the training. “Food & Feed Extrusion Technology: An Applied Approach to Extrusion Theory” contains similar – but expanded – information as the extrusion courses.

A specialised text “The Design of Food Extrusion Dies” is unique in describing, with worked examples, this complex and important – but often poorly understood – topic.

These books are available separately from www.fie.com.au/books, or from major booksellers.