National Centre of Excellence for
Food Engineering
Dr Martin Howarth
Supporting the sector
Food & Nutrition
Sensory analysis
Packaging design
Engineering
Collaborations to support the sector
Equipment development
Nalco
FESTO
Star Refrigeration
Bradman Lake
Spirax-Sarco
Endress+Hauser
Knight Warner
Manufacturing
Systems
Nestle
Invensys
Mars
Rockwell
Warburtons
Schneider Electric
Kelloggs
Tate & Lyle
McCains
Dalehead Foods
apetito
Authentic Food Company
GS Fresh
Premier Foods
William Jackson Group
General Mills
Cargill
Objectives
The Centre is a collaborative venture with the food and
drink sector and delivers:
1. A Network hub and focus for the food
industry
2. R&D and innovation solutions
3. Industry relevant competencies; CPD
and work force development
4. Food standard and sector relevant
laboratories, facilities and equipment
5. Food sector staff development
(graduates, technical development, new
staff)
Sheffield Hallam University’s contribution
to the sector’s priority areas
Thermodynamics/fluid
analysis
Electronics,
sensing
Process
improvement &
lean operations
Robotics,
automation &
logistics
Packaging
materials,
electronics and
design
Logistics &
Supply Chain
Management
Modelling flow in fluids and
colloids.
Robotics, Control, Automation
and Simulation
Packaging Innovation
Packaging Materials
Heat and Energy:
modelling thermal
performance and efficiency
Illustrative project areas - Ref Trevor Gregory
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Application of genetic and breeding approaches to crops and livestock
Food safety, authenticity and traceability
Improved methods to control yield/productivity loss or product quality
deterioration
Improved resource efficiency and/or waste minimisation
Improving nutritional quality through better products or ingredients
Measurement, control and precision application technologies
Modern manufacturing methods
Packaging and logistics supply chain
Technologies, approaches or services which support the sustained
modification of consumer or employee behaviours
Use of data
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Use of systems-based approaches
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Sheffield Hallam University’s contribution
to the sector’s priority areas
Thermodynamics/fluid
analysis
Process
improvement &
lean operations
resource efficiency
control yield/productivity
Electronics,
sensing
authenticity
and
traceability
Robotics,
automation &
logistics
Modern manufacturing methods
Packaging
materials,
electronics and
design
Packaging
Logistics &
Supply Chain
Management
logistics supply chain
Summary
1. The centre's activity is in response to the
needs of the industry
2. The centre of food engineering is
supported by HEFCE and companies in the
sector
3. The centre delivers the first MEng Food
Engineering course in the UK
4. The centre delivers innovation through
industrial and university collaboration
5. Knowledge Transfer partnerships are a
key element in the centre's support for the
sector
Thanks – any questions ?
Projects suggestions
• Meso to continuum scale transport properties
of high volume fraction suspension using
novel, direct numerical simulation
• Enhancing product crispness in the chilled
food chain
• Long Horizon Model Predictive Control (MPC)
as a Predictive Maintenance Tool for Efficiency
and Reliability Improvement of Industrial
Processes
Projects suggestions
• Robot skill acquisition for manipulation of
food products
• Valorisation of waste from brewer's spent
grain
• Hot cutting and packing of baked food
products to maximise shelf life