Kansas State University Visit to Alapala Facilities

Kansas State University Visit to Alapala Facilities

Kansas State University’s Grain Science and Industry (GSI) Department is one of the very few places in the world offering bachelor of science degrees in the areas of bakery, milling, and feed science and management. The department provides an extensive research-based training opportunity for their students, as well as special training programs for industry professionals worldwide.

Prof. Gordon Smith (Department Head), Hüseyin Doğan (Professor of Practice), and Jason Watt (Instructor of Milling) from KSU’s Grain Science and Industry Department visited Alapala’s manufacturing plant between 7-13 January, 2022. During their visit, the KSU team experienced Alapala’s highly automated machine manufacturing technologies including laser cutting, robotic bending and welding, and automated painting systems. The team also visited Alapala’s recently launched ‘Academy and Innovation Center’. The center’s mission is to provide training opportunities for milling industry professionals worldwide and is also intended to be used for Alapala’s reserach and development activities. At the center, the KSU team observed a trial production and some wheatbreaking tests, which provided both the Alapala and KSU teams an opportuinty to discuss the technical findings, and to share know-how information about the grain milling process.

Kansas State University Visit to Alapala Facilities

During their visit, the KSU team was also able to observe first-hand the laboratory type roller mills that were produced specially for their teaching needs, and will be used in the Grain Science and Industry Department’s Shellenberger laboratory for milling tests.