Technology Access Fees Database

Tony V. Johnston

johnston@mtsu.edu

Harley W. Foutch

Agribusiness and Agriscience

N/A

Stark Milk Processing Plant (basement)

Replacement of Existing Technology

The equipment in use today was blueprinted in 1956. Not a single piece of the current equipment is still manufactured today, and replacement parts and normal supplies are basically impossible to find. Although replacement parts could be custom manufactured in the past using the original design specifications and drawings, we have been unable to identify manufacturers to do so today. The repairs that need to be made to the system today will require the breakdown and shipment of 2/3 of the total system and the custom manufacture of replacement parts. The total cost of the shipment and custom manufacturing will cost almost double what replacement will cost. In addition, the replacement equipment will be of a far more efficient design and utilize modern equipment like that used in the current industry. From a cost and educational value point of view, replacement of this equipment is the most logical choice.

MTSU is the only state educational institution that processes milk on campus. All of the milk served in the campus dining facilities is produced by the MTSU dairy and processed on campus. In addition, a Milk Processing and Marketing course is taught every year in the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, and the students are required to work a minor but significant number of hours in the processing facility to learn about basic milk processing operations and to "bring home" the lessons taught in the lectures. Milk processing is a state regulated activity, and our facility and equipment are inspected frequently (at least monthly). In addition, our facility is relatively small and simple compared to the commercial milk processors in the state, making it ideal for educating new state inspectors and other associated state-based regulatory personnel. For this reason, state dairy inspectors have been using the MTSU dairy to train new inspectors and hold training classes for industry personnel for about the last 5 years. Although the processing plant is relatively small and simple in design, the equipment is more costly than our department can afford to replace. All of the equipment is made of stainless steel and its construction is specialized for the function. The pasteurization system is microprocessor-controlled to ensure that all of the milk is rendered safe for consumption. Although the system in place today has been well maintained over the years, it has reached the point of needing to be replaced. During the last state inspection, serious mechanical and physical defects were found in the system, forcing the termination of operations until repairs can be made. Until the equipment is repaired or replaced, milk cannot be processed on campus for public consumption, instruction of state inspectors cannot be held in the facility, and the Milk Processing and Marketing course will not be able to use this extremely valuable resource. The proposed replacement would utilize some of the existing equipment that has been replaced over the years with current technology (e.g. pumps, check valves, etc.). The vast majority of the current equipment, however, would be replaced.