Specific Areas of Expertise

Technical expertise is provided through food process engineer Gordon Young. He has qualifications in both engineering and business, with over 30 years experience in engineering related to food processing and the agricultural industries.

Gordon has experience over a wide range of operations and commodities, but areas of specialisation include thermal process and general preservation operations, drying and water activity, and extrusion.

Gordon is also an Associate of FoodStream. Where a wider range of expertise, or more resources, are required, projects may be directed through FoodStream.

Food Process Engineering & Food Technology

Specific areas of expertise include —

Thermal processing (recognised as an "Approved Person" for the design of thermal processes)
Drying of food products
Education and training (industry short courses in relevant technical areas and tertiary level teaching)
Extrusion technology for foods

Professional Associations

Member of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology

curriculum vitae

Experience

Consultancy Experience

Design/validation of thermal processes for retort pouch products (including meats, rice, desserts, and seafood), and submission of thermal process applications Dept of Agriculture Biosecurity (formerly AQIS -Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service) to achieve export approval
Advice on the setting up of retort systems
Provision of industry training in retort operation, extrusion, and drying
Manufacture/preservation of coconut products
Design of a bulk drying system for peanuts
Design of a belt drying system for root ginger
Design/development of fluid bed dryers for tea processing
Provision of technical services for the production of hot fill products
Advice and equipment selection regarding the establishment of a mango puree processing line
Advising on equipment used to process meat for the production of a dried mince product
Advising on improvements to a continuous pet food dryer
Design of a drying/storage system for macadamia nuts
Design and equipment specification for the drying of other products including mangoes, pepper, and tea
Development of extrusion processes for a range of products including stock and aquaculture feeds, breakfast cereals, and expanded snacks
Improving performance of a pasta manufacturing line
Provision of technical assistance for the production of a frozen baby food product
Technical adviser to a joint venture project on drying of molasses (utilising microwave technology)
Drying and heat preservation trials for mango products
Design of systems for heating fruit for disinfestation
Technical input into feasibility studies on establishing a processing plant to produce fruit chips (Tasmania) and general fruit processing (north Queensland)

International Experience

Troubleshooting and factory audit, condensed milk processing, Brazil
Retort temperature distribution and process validation work in New Zealand, Thailand, and India
Presenting Retort Supervisor’s Courses in Papua New Guinea.
Presented Thermal Process design (“Approved Persons” level) and retort Supervisor’s training in Fiji 2013 (for the Pacific canning industry, organised by the Secretariat of Pacific Communities)
Successfully organised and presented international training courses in Bangkok, Thailand —
“Food and Feed Extrusion Technology”, 2004 to 2014 (every one to two years).
“Food Water Activity & Drying Technology” 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014.
Processing of seaweed for carrageenan production in The Philippines
Jointly organising and presenting short course on food drying technology, Bangkok 1996.
Involvement in a project concerned with the development of low-cost heat disinfestation systems for fruit and vegetables - cooperators in Thailand and Vietnam.