Digitizing the dairy technicians of the future - Au2mate

Kold College’s business partners – digitalisation of the dairy training plant

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, Au2mate, Alfa Laval, Keofitt, Gea, SPX, local craftsmen. 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

“Digitizing” the dairy technician of the future

Au2mate is honoured and proud to be chosen as the preferred automation partner to Kold College in the process of upgrading the university’s training facilities to a more up-to-date level with the technologies and methodologies, characterising a modern production plant.

As Kold College had the desire to get as many elements from the digitalisation segment as possible integrated in the control system, it was also a very exciting process that we jointly started up medio 2019.

In close collaboration with Kold College based on wishes and interviews with key staff, Au2mate elaborated the design basis, which after a few adjustments was the foundation for the software programming. The entire system was thoroughly tested in Au2mate’s simulation systems to ensure that the change-over from old to new, could be completed during the summer break and before the students would be back at school in August.

It is our experience that the close collaboration with many meetings and brainstorming has resulted in a very outstanding plant that simultaneously has been upgraded mechanically with new valves, components, and pasteuriser. The feedback from the students at Kold College has also been very positive, because the training is now much more up-to-date and in line with what they encounter “in real life”.

Au2mate – scope of delivery

• Fully automatic solution focusing to minimise the consumption of energy, water, and chemicals • Full traceability and reporting of all production orders • MES System – material and recipe database, production planning, and report portal • PLC and SCADA software according to S88 standards • MES databases according to S95 standards • Control system from Siemens and Wonderware • PC and server equipment from Fujitsu • Au2mate Document Module – a smart documentation system for tablets and smartphones with

QR code scan • Wi-Fi solution to ensure that the students have access to documents, manuals, and batch reports.

BY JAN BENDIX, SALES DIRECTOR, AU2MATE.

Au2mate would like to thank Siemens, Wonderware and DK EL, for their technical inputs to the project to achieve the best solutions while rendering support with some very attractive prices, making it possible to offer the ideal delivery for Kold College.

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