The international world of PETKUS experts gathered together recently in Wutha-Farnroda to kick off another exciting year. Exchanging experience, transferring knowledge and networking have become a sought after routine at the PETKUS Academy. Over a two week period seed and grain experts representing over 20 nations from the USA to Vietnam to Australia and Russia discussed, debated and evaluated a host of topics. 

Climate conditions in sub-tropical Asia or in continental Kazakhstan and Siberia play a much more significant role than in the temperate areas of Western Europe. Some of the topics of this expert round included market trends and market outlooks as well as why rice and beans need to be processed differently on different continents. Among others, Roger Cook (Technology Manager – Asia and Australia) and Rajiv Iyer (Director - Marketing and Sales, India) presented selected technologies for pulse and paddy rice processing. Peter Hueser took a closer look at the international key accounts and their market potential. 

Ralf Federowsky (Sales Manager, Central-Europe) und Domenico Pellizzi (Sales Director, MENA) gave their insights on creating value and long term profits for customers through optimal technological solutions and well-founded advice. Luca Celeghini (CEO PETKUS Engineering) demonstrated how Technology, Innovation, Engineering, Service – the four elements that join together to form PETKUS TIES – are also a key part of silo plant projects.

In practical workshops participants were confronted with challenges on the layout and design of various coating applications as well as design and selection of conveying and storage technologies for silo plants. A theoretical presentation on the PETKUS innovation pipeline was supported by practical demonstrations in the PETKUS Technicum. Mark Scholze (CEO PETKUS Technologie GmbH) summarized that the “Academy Forum” demonstrated that through its international cooperation PETKUS is extremely well poised for the future on both the technological and people fronts. He thus sees positive growth opportunities for the company even in the face of difficult market conditions