The Joseph J. Warthesen Food Processing Center (pilot plant), provides the University of Minnesota with excellent food product research and teaching facilities. The primary goal of the center is to provide a teaching and research infrastructure for the department, and to provide our students with the ability to work and conduct research in an operating production facility. The facility is available to industry to provide process and product development support. Additionally, it can provide a vital resource for food companies that are just starting-up, or are evaluating new process and product lines. The use of the facility by industry partners provides opportunities for our students, as well as much needed revenue for maintenance and acquisition of equipment. The facility is inspected by the State of Minnesota and is certified as a food production facility. The milk pasteurization equipment is inspected and sealed to provide legally pasteurized milk, so products produced at this facility can be sold or used in market research.
The Center includes specialized equipment in the areas of dairy and cheese processing, twin-screw extrusion, aseptic/ESL processing, and various concentration operations (membrane processing, spray and fluidized-bed drying, centrifugation). The faculty and staff who operate the Center are available for consultation and assistance in development of novel processes and products, or simply for evaluation and analysis of samples or prototypes.
By being housed in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, other services and collaboration opportunities can be accessed that include biological and biochemical testing, flavor research, sensory evaluation and taste panel services, and microbiological testing.
Pilot Plant Equipment and Rental Fees
Prices effective 07/01/2024 - 06/30/2025
Cheese Vats
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
Kusel | 2,000 lb | $260.84 | |
Damrow | 5,000 lb | $260.84 | |
Nu-Vat | 800lb | $210.15 | |
Scherping | 2,500 lb | $1,391.13 |
Cheese Processing Equipment
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| Damrow Batch process cheese cooker | 40 lbs | $406.61 |
| Blantech Batch process cheese cooker | 10 lbs | $406.61 |
| Scherping Cheddaring belt | 200-300 lbs./hr. | $1,350.61 |
Ice Cream Freezers
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| Tetra Hoyer SF 600N Continuous ice cream freezer | 120 gal./hr. | $514.07 |
| Taylor Soft serve ice cream freezer | 4 gallon | $406.61 |
Other Dairy Equipment
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| Vane Butter Churn | 300 lbs | $406.61 |
| Westfalia Separator | 2,000 lb/hr | $293.76 |
Decanters
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
Westfalia Decanter | 2-3gal/min | $759.72 | |
| Sharples Decanter | 1 gal/min | $608.62 |
Tanks
Photo | Description | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| Univat Jacketed Tank | 50 gal | $170.75 |
| 70 Gallon Portable Tank Agitation, no jacket | 70 gal | $204.03 |
| jacketed tank with stirrer | 150 gal | $206.00 |
| Cherry Burrell Refrigerated tank | 200 gal | $400.00 |
Homogenizers
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| Niro Soavi mini panda homogenizer | 100ml/min | $225.11 |
| Gaulin Homogenizer | 60 gal./hr | $225.11 |
| Gaulin Homogenizer | 125 gal/hr | $309.52 |
Pasteurizers
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Burrel Pasteurizer | 4,000 lb/hr | $514.07 |
| UHT/HTST Microthermics | 1 to 3 liters/min | $1,8857.07 |
Spray Dryers
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| Coulter spray dryer | 90 lbs water/hr | $1350.33 |
| Spray dryer SPX Anhydro | 20 lbs water/hr | $1014.36 |
Filtration
Photo | Brand | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
| UF system-plate & frame DDS-20 | 10 liter tank | $393.93 |
| UF/RO unit PTI | 2-4",1-8"elements | $608.96 |
Users of the UF equipment listed above will supply new membranes.
Other Equipment
Photo | Description | Capacity | Charge/Day |
---|---|---|---|
Mix Processing System, Includes: Vat pasteurizer Homogenizer Surface cooler Univats | 50-100 gal | $525.00 | |
| Piston Volumetric Filler | 32 oz | $225.11 |
| Glatt Agglomerator | 3 lb.capacity | $204.03(per hour) |
Bar former- Imperial Design | 50 lbs./hr | $1010.88 | |
| Spray Dynamics Coating Drum | 2 lbs/min | $489.21 |
| Custom Batch Enrobing Drum | 3 ft3/batch | $210.15 |
| Westfalia SB7 Desludging centrifuge | 3-5 L /min | $759.72 |
| Buffalovac Drum Dryer | 6 inch drums | $406.61 |
| C.E. Rogers Evaporator- single effect | 200 lb./minimum | $450.20 |
| Buhler Twin Screw DNDL 44 Extruder | 75-100 lbs./hr. | $2851.80 (Labor Included) |
| Hobart food chopper and cutter | 10 lb. bowl | $176.00 |
| APV Crepaco Fruit feeder | 35-45 lbs/hr | $210.15 |
| Fitzpatrick Hammermill | 5lb. Hopper | $225.11 |
| Fryma Colloid Mill | adjustable gap | $406.61 |
| Strong Scott Ribbon blender | 100 lb | $291.75 |
| Tetra/APV Almix mixer | 50 gallon | $1010.88 |
Additional Information
The listed prices are reflective of the charges to outside users of the equipment furnished by the Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
Storage of materials generated during pilot plant trials will be charged storage fees, at the rate of $0.30/lb per month, for refrigerated storage.
To schedule use, please contact Mitch Maher at 612-624-7776. Scheduling must be done two weeks in advance.
Labor Charges
Student help - $42.76/hour
Mitchell Maher - $111.30/hour
Dane Sekerak - $88.20/hour