A relative newcomer in the dairy industry and a veteran scientist have been linked through an award promoting excellence in food technology.
At 24 years of age, Simon Elphinstone is Production Manager at Fonterra’s Wynyard plant and the first recipient of the Joe Czulak Award since 2004.
The award, administered by Dairy Innovation Australia, is presented for excellence in dairy technology. It is named in honour of the late Josef Czulak, a leading scientist in the development of the modern dairy processing industry in Australia.
Elphinstone is a rising star in conventional cheese manufacture, with an eye on technical innovation and awareness of customer requirements. He will use the $5000 award to undertake a tour of European cheese manufacturing sites, including cheddar manufacturers in the UK and Ireland, to see first-hand how they address technical issues of common interest to cheese-makers worldwide.
“I am interested in learning about different cheese types, particularly those created in factories that use equipment similar to that in Australia,” he said.
The award encourages dairy industry technologists to attend and present their research at Australian or international scientific conferences, or to visit overseas centres of technical excellence and innovation.
Award co-ordinator, Ian Powell explained: “Recipients are expected to demonstrate a desire to advance their skills, education and experience, as well as a commitment to sharing their knowledge with colleagues in the industry”.
“The award reflects its namesake’s commitment to continuous improvement in dairy food technologies.”
Joseph Czulak led innovations in starter culture technology and efficient, mechanised cheese-making systems.
With his CSIRO team of scientists at the Dairy Research Section, he revolutionised cheese-making internationally by developing mechanised alternatives for the phases of cheese-making (cheddaring, milling, salting, hooping and pressing equipment) in the mid 1950s.
This discovery has since been described as “something of a tour de force” and the machines were commercialised in the 1960s in collaboration with the Australian engineering company, James Bell Machinery Co.
The team developed the Bell-Siro cheese-maker to reduce the labour-intensiveness of the basic processes involved in cheese-making, while still producing the varieties demanded by the market.
A call for applicants for the next Joe Czulak award will be made next November. The award is open to all Australian residents working in the dairy manufacturing sector or in industry-related research and development.
For further information contact:
Dairy Innovation Australia
enquiries@dairyinnovation.com.au
www.dairyinnovation.com.au