CREMONA, ITALY — The International Association of Operative Millers/Ocrim Resident Milling courses are planned this fall at Ocrim’s International School of Milling Technology and Milling Hub in Cremona, Italy.

The school and training center, located in the center of Ocrim’s manufacturing workshops, allows participants to take advantage of a classroom setting with a nearby lab as well as the newly completed Milling Hub with a durum wheat mill.

Registration closes for both classes on July 31. Jeff Gwirtz, JAG Services Inc., will teach both classes.

Introduction to Milling: Semolina and Flour Production will be offered Oct. 16-20. This course is intended for employees, supervisors and managers closely associated with milling plant operations to produce semolina and flour.

Participants will be introduced to storage, cleaning, conditioning, and milling plant operations and packaging and warehouse operations. Wheat quality characteristics necessary for semolina and flour production will be explored. The role of grain cleaning, conditioning, milling and support equipment’s role in the semolina and flour production process will be highlighted. Process flows for semolina and flour production will be introduced and compared.

The impact of wheat properties and finished product outcomes will be highlighted as they impact mill facility design and operation. Semolina and flour quality specifications and measurements will be identified for basic pasta and bakery production systems. In addition to lecture and discussions, participants will be engaged in hands on laboratory exercises and access to the Milling Hub, a 150-tpd durum wheat mill.

Milling Analysis and Control: Semolina and Flour Production will be offered Oct. 23-27. This course is intended for employees, supervisors and managers directly involved with milling plant operations to produce semolina and flour.

Participants will be introduced to a variety of technical and economic analytical tools for milling process evaluation. Technical tools to be presented include product granulation, cumulative ash, step chart development, and flow sheet equipment allocation analysis.   Economic tools to be discussed include yield management, divide milling, and the impact of moisture on profitability.

The impact of wheat quality characteristics, cleaning, and conditioning on mill operations will be quantitatively explored. Selected roller mill grinding, sifting, and purification variables will be examined in depth.  Special emphasis will be put on mill balance and troubleshooting skill development during hands-on laboratory exercises and access to the Milling Hub.

The registration fee includes tuition, lab fees, books, special instruction, materials, transportation and lunch on class days.

Cost for one course for IAOM members is $2,600 and $2,750 for non-members. Cost for both courses is $5,000 for IAOM members and $5,200 for non-members.