Innovative Food Process Engineering
Food process engineering and the optimization of production processes are core research areas of our work. We concentrate on making industrial processes more efficient, resource-saving and sustainable. In doing so, we look at various technological approaches that can improve both the quality of products and the efficiency of manufacturing processes.
A particular focus is on the cutting of food and the cleaning of food technology systems. In these areas, we investigate the interactions between materials, machines and processes in order to increase the efficiency and feasibility of the processes. Our findings are gradually transferred from model systems to more complex, real-life applications, working closely with food companies and their suppliers to develop practical solutions.
Recently finished projects:
- FlexPig – Resource-saving and consumer-safe cleaning of pipelines with flexible, contour-adaptive suspension pigs made from basic food stuffs (07/2022 - 10/25)
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SMESA – Standardized methods for industry-oriented soil analysis in food production for resource-saving cleaning processes (06/2023 - 05/2025)
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Experimental and computational analysis of rate dependence during cutting of viscoelastic natural materials (07/2019 - 02/2023)
In the DBU project SMESA (AZ 38191-01), an industrially applicable method catalog for soil characterization was developed. This comprises standardized documented characterization methods of cleaning-relevant properties of typical food soils. The characterization methods were analysed with regard to their potential, limitations and industrial applicability and are now available as method profiles. Tools such as the holistic process scheme were developed for a targeted selection of methods.
The methods were applied to a soil portfolio consisting of milk- and plant-based soils in combination with industry-typical cleaning fluids and their potential for identifying cleaning-relevant interactions was validated.
An overview of all current and completed projects can be found here.