At Food Pilot Plant located on the Lahti campus, food industry operators are offered pilot-scale product development and testing services to support the effortless, flexible development and innovation of food products. Food Pilot Plant's staff gained its current composition in January 2024, when the ramp-up of Food Pilot Plant’s operations was started. The equipment to produce carbonated drinks and distillates, oat drink line and extraction equipment are currently being actively ramped up.
Food Pilot Plant's staff has wide expertise in processing, development and research of food products, especially regards grain products and beverages. Our experts are happy to receive all kinds of food-related challenges!
Saara Sammalisto
Saara started working as a laboratory coordinator at Food Pilot Plant in January 2024. Saara has a research background at University of Helsinki, where she received her doctoral degree in food sciences in March 2024. Saara, who specializes in grain technology, investigated 100% oat baking and optimization of oat milling process in her doctoral thesis. Oats are Saara's core competence, but she is also familiar with other grains. Saara is responsible for the development projects and research of bakery products.
saara [dot] sammalisto
lab [dot] fi
050 520 4910
Soila Saavala
Soila started her work as a laboratory engineer at Food Pilot Plant in May 2023. Soila has a master's degree in chemical engineering with experience in product development and quality control tasks in the food industry. Soila has experience in the production of liquid products, from soft drinks to oat drinks and dessert sauces. Oat drink line is Soila’s responsibility.
soila [dot] saavalalab [dot] fi
050 598 1084
Jarkko Nikulin
Product manager Jarkko has a master's degree in bioprocess technology and has built a research career regarding beer at VTT's brewing laboratory. Jarkko has strong skills in e.g. domestic wild yeasts, beer fermentations and non-alcoholic beers. Jarkko started working at Food Pilot Plant in January 2024. Jarkko is responsible for development projects for distillates in addition to beers and soft drinks.
jarkko [dot] nikulinlab [dot] fi
050 598 7570
Pasi Raja
RDI-specialist Pasi has a couple of decades of work experience in the food industry before starting at LAB in 2022. In addition to solid work experience, Pasi has the degrees of food technician, master of food science and master brewer. Pasi's expertise is particularly focused on knowledge of food processes and product development.
pasi [dot] rajalab [dot] fi
050 560 5003
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