Keynote: Ferrero — A New Challenge for Simulation

In this keynote talk from the COMSOL Conference 2024 Florence, Gabriele Ratto of Ferrero discusses how addressing food and beverage industry challenges has evolved as simulation software has advanced.

Today, he explains, faster computations and the availability of a wide range of specialized modules enable Ferrero to apply simulation to essentially any physical or technical problem and get answers to support its fast-paced decision-making needs. Meanwhile, customized simulation apps — which put modeling insights into the hands of stakeholders from diverse fields and academic backgrounds — are driving strategy at Ferrero.

Ratto explains how Ferrero used the COMSOL^® software to standardize a process for creating and distributing simulation apps to users. He then details how one of these apps allowed Ferrero to eliminate its previous iterative process for safety testing of Kinder Surprise toys, instead enabling users to perform multiple tests simultaneously. With the app, different materials and geometries can be compared at no cost, and the percentage of figures that fail the first test has dropped from around 20% to zero. The app is one of five that Ferrero has released for systematic use of simulation.

Gabriele Ratto currently works as the concept analysis and simulations manager of Ferrero's engineering department. He holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Genoa, Italy.