K-State Olathe holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for new Bulk Solids Technology Center
Kansas State University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the Bulk Solids Technology Center (BSTC) at the university’s Olathe campus. Approximately 120 people attended the event, including university leaders, local and state legislators, industry partners, and others. In a post on social media, the university called the opening a “game-changing moment for advanced manufacturing in the Kansas City region and beyond.”
The BSTC provides independent testing, technical services, and expertise focused exclusively on powder and bulk solids processing. It is the only university-centered facility in North America dedicated to addressing material handling challenges across process industries.
The center supports manufacturers in sectors including food, pet and animal food, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, and construction. Its work focuses on improving the handling, storage, and processing of powders and bulk solids that directly affect plant efficiency, safety, and reliability.
The center assists industry with challenges such as poor powder flow from silos and bins, segregation and demixing, particle degradation, dust emissions, excessive energy consumption, and equipment wear. The center also supports the design of chutes, bins, and silos, along with equipment testing, troubleshooting, and scale-up.
The BSTC is part of Kansas State University’s Olathe campus, located near Kansas City. It operates as a collaborative partnership between the university and industry, combining academic research with practical manufacturing applications.
The facility was developed through a collaboration between Kansas State University, industry partners, and funding from the Johnson County Education Research Triangle. More than two dozen industrial companies have contributed equipment, instruction, and technical support to advance the center’s capabilities and industry engagement.
According to Jonathan McPherson, the center’s Director of Advanced Manufacturing Research and Training, the center’s lab space is ready for occupancy, though there is still work to be done in wiring up and commissioning equipment. McPherson added that he hopes to have another, larger celebration in the summer of 2026.
The center’s 2026 course lineup is available on the BSTC website.
