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Diploma course in feed milling technology

Next appointment:

Diploma Course (EN): January – October 2024
CORRESPONDENCE COURSE: January – March 2024 l June – September 2024
INTENSIVE COURSE: 26.02. – 22.03.2024 l 09.09. – 04.10.2024

Diploma Course (DE): January – October 2025
CORRESPONDENCE COURSE: January – March 2025 l June – September 20245
INTENSIVE COURSE: 17.03. – 11.04.2025 l 15.09. – 10.10.2025

Goal and purpose of course

The Swiss Institute of Feed Technology offers high-level specialized training while minimizing the trainee‘s absence from their workplace. In two four-week intensive courses, professional employees from the feed manufacturing industry and related industries receive the necessary training and education. This practically oriented specialized training enables students to understand and to operate state-of-the-art production plants and processes. Experiments with or without material processing establish a direct link between theory and practice.

Course structure

Preparatory correspondence course

A preparatory course of two 12-weeks sections precedes each of the intensive courses and starts approx. three months in advance. It is designed to refresh existing basic knowledge and teaching new aspects. The weekly workload required for thorough familiarization with the course materials is about 10 hours, with the documents being mailed to you at the beginning of the preparatory courses. Students are committed to send part of their work according to a time schedule to the course-management.

The course program covers plant layout, the individual process sequences from reception of raw material to finished products, feed science and animal nutrition, and the fundamentals of electrical engineering and specialized mathematics.

The knowledge gained during the preparatory courses serves as a basis for the subsequent intensive courses.

Two four-week intensive courses

In the intensive courses, the students receive selective training in all important areas of modern feed manufacturing technology. The emphasis of training is on process technology and flow sheet design. The practical training offered in addition to theory enables students to understand the working principle of machinery, to discuss test results, and to familiarize themselves with modern laboratory methods.

The course program also includes electrical engineering, controls (PLC and relay systems) and automation. An overview is given of the wide variety of raw materials used in the feed manufacturing industry and their influence on animal nutrition. Also quality control and quality management will be an integral part of the course.

During the course, written examinations are held in order to measure the success of learning. Course participants successfully completing their studies, are awarded the „Diploma for Feed Production Engineer“.

Topics

  • Basic concept of feed & premix manufacturing plants
    State of the art plant layouts. The main process stages and their equipment.
  • Modern Process Technology
    From the reception of raw materials to the shipping of the finished products, with an emphasis on the handling and storage of bulk materials; aspiration, proportioning and weighing; size reduction, blending and mixing, and liquid addition; conditioning, hygienizing and compacting, as well as cooling and drying of compound feeds; machine and process control systems.
  • Hands-on Training in the Training Center
    Knowledge of machinery; working principle of equipment; operation, maintenance and safety precautions.
  • Hands-on Training in the Test Laboratory
    Practical tests, in grinding and mixing; conditioning, hygienizing and compacting.
  • Electrical Engineering and Automation
    Basic knowledge of electrical engineering; starting procedures of electric motors; relay- and PLC-based control systems; process automation.
  • Hands-on Training in the Electrical Engineering Laboratory
    Wiring and troubleshooting of relay racks, basics of PLC programming.
  • Feed Science and Animal Nutrition
    Knowledge of raw materials, chemical composition of feeds and their conversion; least-cost formulation and quality management.
  • Hands-on Training in the Chemical & Macro Laboratories
    Analysis of test results for determination of nutritional value and quality aspects.
  • Applied Specialized Mathematics
    Formula conversion, calculation of surface areas and volumes, power transmission and technical calculations related to feed production.
  • Field Trips, Plant Tours
  • Visits of feed mills and related plants

Audience

Plant and Production Managers, active Operating, Service and Maintenance Staff.

Professionals with commercial or technical background in feed related industries, provided they have sufficient knowledge and/or practical experience in feed manufacturing.

Course dates

  • Preparatory course
    January – March (correspondence base)
    June – September (correspondence base)
  • Intensive course
    February – March
    September – October

Language
English

Participants
12 – 20 persons

Audience
Qualified personnel with experience

Duration
January to October

Costs
CHF 9’900

Venue
Training Center
Uzwil, Switzerland

Booking and cancellation conditions

Course fee

CHF 9’900

Included are course materials for the preparatory and intensive course, drinks (coffee, water, tea), local field trips and costs of accident insurance. Not included are hotel accommodation, travelling expenses, living costs and costs of health insurance.

Weekly costs of living

Approximate weekly costs of living, depending on the student‘s individual needs.

Hotel incl. breakfast
CHF 300.00 to 850.00
Food / pocket money
CHF 350.00 to 500.00

Terms of admission

In order to follow the course in the relevant language (English or German), students must have good command of language, both written and spoken. We urgently advice prospective students who lack adequate mastery of the language to acquire these skills in an English- or German-speaking area, respectively.

Furthermore, basic knowledge of operating a Personal Computer (Word, Excel, Power Point) is required to attend the course.

The course management reserves the right to reject applicants and to modify the terms of admission without notice.

Application deadline / Terms of payment

Enrolment has to be made latest mid November of the previous year and becomes definitive on receiving of the payment.

Payment is due at the latest 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the course.

Cancellation fees (in % of course fee)
within 4-6 weeks prior to the beginning: 10 %
within 2-4 weeks prior to the beginning: 25 %
within 2 weeks prior to the beginning: 50 %