[ FOOD SAFETY ]
Kold College’s business partners – digitalisation of the dairy training plant Au2mate, Alfa Laval, Keofitt, Gea, SPX, local craftsmen.
The automated milk processing at Kold College is now a match to the dairies The equipment upgrade and digitalisation have raised the level of education at Kold College dairy line. In 2016 Kold College was appointed as national knowledge centre with a view to make a digital upgrade. This status entitled Kold College to a central investment pool for tuition plants at the educational institutions, and at Kold this was highly needed. - We have to acknowledge that the major part of our dairy training plant was established back in the 80’s which of course does not match the reality in the dairy business with increasing level of technology and high investment budgets, says Lajla Bøtter, operational coordinator and instructor in the dairy section at Kold College. On this background, there was a lot to be done once digital upgrading of the educational facilities became possible. - We were allocated DKK 6.5 million for the dairy’s practical digitalisation, which in isolation does not go far. But fortunately, we have succeeded with a strong collaboration with a good number of suppliers who have favourable purchase agreements on both equipment and installation. Thus, we have accomplished a lot from a relatively small start-up capital, says Lajla Bøtter. The milk processing is ready The focus was on the milk process which was ready for use this summer – the dairy training plant has become fully automated with automatic valves,
10 Mælkeritidende 12 / 2020
new pasteuriser as well as a new centrifuge. The investments also include a complete automation system from Au2mate which is largely consistent with the automation at the actual dairies. - This is extremely satisfying to both teachers and students and it takes the education to a totally different level, with the opportunity to monitor and adjust many places in the production cycle. It results in completely new discussions concerning reduction of energy and waste and other sustainable subjects, and the feedback from the students is very positive, says Lajla Bøtter, who also sees a breakthrough in the school’s ability to use digital teaching methods with educational videos, which by the way have proven to be very convenient during the Covid-19 lockdown. Following the successful upgrade of the milk process, Kold College now hopes for further upgrading of the additional sections of the dairy training plant, including butter, powder, and cheese. - Unfortunately, the central investment pool has been used, so instead the school has applied for funds at a number of different foundations, which we hope can support further investments in the dairy training plant in the years to come, says Lajla Bøtter. LW
FACTS – KNOWLEGDE CENTRE & KOLD COLLEGE In 2016 the parties behind the vocational education reform decided to invest a total of DKK 133 million from 2017 – 2020 for the establishment and operation of up to ten national knowledge centres. Kold College is one of these. The investment has led to modernisation of the milk process at the school’s dairy training plant, so that automation, digitalisation, and monitoring are consistent with the reality at the commercial dairies in Denmark. Upgrade – Kold College Digitalization of the training plant • New intelligent valves • High share mixer • New filtration plant • Round table filler • New ice cream machine
