Coperion Food Extrusion Seminar classroom

3rd “Food Extrusion Seminar” at Coperion

Stuttgart, November 2015 – Organized by Coperion in close collaboration with the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL), Quakenbrück, (www.dil-ev.de), the third “Food Extrusion Seminar” took place on the premises of Coperion GmbH in Stuttgart on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2015.

Attracting keen interest from near and far, the organizers welcomed as many as 35 guests from all parts of the world to this in-depth seminar. Most of the participants came from the production and product development departments of food companies. Lecturers from Coperion, Coperion K-Tron and the DIL and guest lecturers from Vibra Maschinenfabrik Schultheis GmbH & Co., Offenbach am Main, and the Technical University of Berlin illuminated the technical and technological aspects of food extrusion from all sides. The lectures were augmented by several practical practical workshops. One of the highlights of the seminar was a demonstration of “high moisture extrusion” for the processing of plant proteins into meat analogues. The contribution made by representatives of various scientific institutes included a lecture on current food extrusion research and several poster-presentations of their projects and findings.

The experts' lectures dealt both with the mechanical engineering aspects of extruders and their peripherals and with the technological and processing aspects of food extrusion itself. Having first been familiarized with the basics of extrusion, the participants were then given detailed information on the design configuration and function of a twin-screw extruder using a Coperion ZSK extruder as an example. Also explained, besides the ZSK with ZS-B side feeder and ZGF pelletizer, were the gravimetric feeders from Coperion K-Tron and the drying technology featured on the systems manufactured by Vibra Maschinenfabrik Schultheis.

The processing aspects of the individual stages of food extrusion, such as mixing, kneading, emulsifying, degassing and expanding, were explained in detail, as were the product-specific aspects of extruded food products and individual ingredients. The practical part of the seminar took place in Coperion's Test Lab, where participants could now see what they had learned being put into actual practice in trials carried out on two ZSK extruders (a ZSK 27 MEGAvolume PLUS with 27 mm diameter screws and a ZSK 43 MEGAvolume with 43 mm diameter screws).

The production of high moisture meat analogues was demonstrated on the ZSK 27 MEGAvolume PLUS laboratory extruder equipped with an innovative cooling die, which has been designed especially for the production of meat substitutes from plant protein concentrate. With its low throughput rates and relatively small size, the ZSK 27 Mv PLUS extruder offers optimum scale-up possibilities for food extrusion on a production scale. The ZSK Mv PLUS series optimally combines a large free volume with high screw speeds of up to 1800 rpm and is thus ideal for the extrusion of both meat analogues and conventional food products.

The second extrusion line, consisting of a ZSK 43 Mv, two gravimetric feeders for solids and a liquid metering pump from Coperion K-Tron, demonstrated the production of breakfast cereals. In the course of this demonstration, the participants were shown how the process can be influenced by different extrusion parameters and ingredients. The demonstration program in the Coperion Test Lab was rounded off with a comprehensive display of almost a hundred various extruded product samples from all sectors of the food industry and a tasting session permitting participants to try various high-moisture meat-analogue products for themselves. Participants were also able to put theory into practice in small groups, the set task being the “threading” of screw elements onto the screw shafts.

The participants were highly satisfied with the seminar: “Professional, well organized event” – “Well done” – “For me the seminar was a very positive experience, with a good balance between lectures and practical sessions” – are examples of comments made by the guests. This seminar program is to be continued in 2016.

  • Bärbel Henning

    Marketing Communications

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