Innovative engineering and education solutions for the food industry

Transcription

1 Innovative engineering and education solutions for the food industry

2 An introduction from our director The new Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering at Sheffield Hallam will play a strategic role in developing advanced engineering capability for the food and drink industry, providing a major competitive advantage to this significant sector. The centre will support the food and drink industry by developing and implementing new and enhanced facilities, processes and equipment, and by keeping the UK at the forefront of capability and efficiency in this very competitive sector. It will also enhance the development of a highly educated and knowledgeable workforce through staff development, and by supporting employees with experience of leading engineering systems and processes. This project builds on our strong track record of providing excellent research and knowledge transfer, and of working in partnership with industry to develop education programmes that are designed to support companies by creating highly skilled and employable graduates, ready for the world of work. We will play a pivotal role in training the next generation of food engineering leaders and developing research which will make a difference to business. Martin Howarth Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering An introduction from our director The new National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering at Sheffield Hallam will play a strategic role in developing advanced engineering capability for the food and drink industry, providing a major competitive advantage to this significant sector. The centre will support the food and drink industry by developing and implementing new and enhanced facilities, processes and equipment, keeping the UK at the forefront of capability and efficiency in this very competitive sector. It will also enhance the development of a highly educated and knowledgeable workforce through staff development, and by supporting employees with experience of leading engineering systems and processes. This project builds on our strong track record of providing excellent research and knowledge transfer, and of working in partnership with industry to develop education programmes designed to create highly skilled and employable graduates, ready for the world of work. We will play a pivotal role in educating the next generation of food engineering leaders and developing research which will make a difference to business. Dr Martin Howarth Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering EUROPEAN UNION Investing in Your Future European Regional Development Fund

3 Why the UK needs a centre of excellence The National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering will address the challenges faced by the food and drink industry by developing innovative engineering solutions and supporting the development of critical skills. The centre and the associated masters degree the MEng Food Engineering are supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and have been developed in partnership with the Food and Drink Federation and the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink. This growing industry is driven by key pressures, including the need for innovation to meet increasingly demanding consumers increased productivity to produce more from less preserving natural resources and minimising waste more efficient manufacturing to reduce costs and drive competitive advantage engineers who are familiar with leading edge technology and the scientific aspects of food production The centre will tackle these challenges by unlocking technological innovation in a way that revolutionises the sector, and by training future talent to ensure it benefits from highly qualified engineering professionals. An Industrial Advisory Board chaired by Gavin Darby, chief executive of Premier Foods, one of the UK s largest food manufacturers, will steer the work of the centre. Already, 40 companies have pledged their support, offering work placements, facilities, factory visits, guest lectures and advice. This, along with the 6.9m investment from HEFCE and other significant contributions from the industry, will create a food engineering facility that is unparalleled across Europe, helping to ensure the UK s largest manufacturing sector remains competitive and successful. I m delighted to be chairing the Industrial Advisory Board. The availability of top class engineering talent is vital to support the innovation upon which the industry s future competitiveness depends. Having a National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering is a significant step forwards. Gavin Darby, chair of Food Engineering Industry Advisory Board and chief executive of Premier Foods

4 Our expertise and facilities Innovation is crucial in enabling the industry to meet its challenges and that s where we excel. The centre builds on the University s existing research credentials in areas such as robotics and automation, waste management and sustainability, and its substantial experience of working with companies in the food industry including Quorn, Nestlé, Dext Heat Recovery and Anglo Beef Processors. As well as an award-winning packaging design team, the centre has specialists in energy management, materials, and engineering. Related expertise we can access from across the University includes food science, psychology, nutrition (including sports nutrition), bioscience and sensory testing. By working together on industry-led collaborative projects, we will provide innovative engineering solutions to problems such as energy and process modelling. The Food and Drink Federation have identified ten areas which are key to the development of the sector including manufacturing of the future, smarter packaging and energy and water which we will research together to help the industry realise its growth potential. Our physical infrastructure will be completed by 2017, combining flexible, cutting-edge production space and a range of equipment with workshops and technical food engineering-focused laboratories. We will use these facilities to investigate research and develop new and improved solutions for the sector. The new Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering at Sheffield Hallam is a fantastic example of how manufacturers, government and academics can collaborate to bridge the food industry s research gap. The shared vision and priorities that we have developed will make this worldclass facility a focal point for research and innovation excellence for the UK s largest manufacturing sector. Melanie Leech, director general at the Food and Drink Federation 6

5 Educating tomorrow s professionals By educating the professionals of tomorrow, we can ensure highly qualified engineers enter the sector, addressing the growing skills shortage. We will support the development of food engineering skills by providing training and CPD for engineers and technicians in food sector-standard facilities, enabling them to use emerging and current food engineering technologies. We have launched the UK s first full-time MEng Food Engineering degree, delivered by experts with extensive industry experience. The course was developed in partnership with the Food and Drink Federation, the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and various industry partners such as Nestlé. It is the UK s first accredited engineering degree at masters level dedicated entirely to the needs of food and drink manufacturing. The four year masters programme is supported by leading brands including Coca Cola Enterprises, Mars, McCain Foods, Mondelēz International, Nestlé UK, PepsiCo UK, Premier Foods and Warburtons. The MEng incorporates 54 weeks of competitively-paid industry work placement with food manufacturers for every student. The structure and content of the course will develop expertise in mechanical, electrical and process engineering, manufacturing and much more - ensuring students gain the industry s most sought-after skills. We are also launching a full-time and part-time MSc Food Manufacturing Engineering degree which commences in September This will enable conversion from a range of bachelor of engineering (BEng) degrees offered here and at other universities. Both of these courses give students the opportunity to participate in advancedlevel research through real-life studies, thus contributing to the pioneering work of the centre. To find out more about our MEng Food Engineering visit the online prospectus entry at shu.ac.uk/prospectus/course/1247 Sheffield Hallam have become the pre-eminent university for the development of food and drink engineering graduates in the UK. The combination of dedicated resources and industry involvement from programme design to paid placements puts them in a league of their own. Justine Fosh, chief executive officer, National Skills Academy for Food and Drink

6 How we can work together You can access our research, development and consultancy expertise now. Together, we can address your specific challenges and find solutions to meet your needs. We will act as a hub for collaboration, delivering a programme of research and development in partnership with business, academia and other centres of expertise from across the sector. Our food engineering services include process modelling and simulation thermo-dynamics modelling automation and robotics lean and Six Sigma control systems development optimising factory layout energy management and reclaiming waste energy (including heat) waste reduction Our packaging, design and branding services include branding and creative services structural packaging design 3D visualisation of products waste reduction consultancy packaging design research, for example for people with disabilities packaging integrated electronics prototyping Events We run a series of events and workshops covering areas that are topical in the industry, such as packaging, energy, automation and robotics, lean and process improvements and supply chain. These events present the latest knowledge and potential applications from our researchers, and provide a forum for discussion of the issues vital to the sector s development. This is also an opportunity for our partners to demonstrate their capability and experience of working with the University. Visit our website for details of upcoming events or contact us if you would like more information. 10

7 National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering Sheffield Hallam University Howard Street Sheffield S1 1WB shu.ac.uk/foodeng EUROPEAN UNION Investing in Your Future European Regional Development Fund