People: Brian Plattner appointed to KSU Adjunct Faculty
Brian Plattner, process engineering manager at Wenger Manufacturing, Inc., was recently appointed as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University.
As a member of the adjunct faculty, Plattner will assist with teaching at K-State, as well as participate in department research and support.
“Brian has already become a regular guest lecturer for the extrusion class, which I’ve been teaching as part of the curriculum since 2002,” says Dr. Sajid Alavi, associate professor in the Kansas State University Department of Grain Science and Industry.
“Plus, he has been an instructor in the Extrusion Processing: Technology and Commercialization short courses held here in Manhattan (Kansas) and in India since 2005.”
According to Alavi, Plattner has also worked on several research and client service projects at K-State that have benefited both the university and the industry as a whole.
Process specification
In his current position at Wenger Manufacturing, Plattner is responsible for process specification, which calls for helping customers specify new lines and/or improving existing ones.
He is also involved in researching new innovations for Wenger’s line of extrusion and drying equipment and he has authored an extensive list of publications, book chapters and patents that highlight his extensive technical background.
“Wenger, who is market-driven, focuses on the short-term needs of the food and feed industry. This partnership will allow us to combine our efforts to develop and identify the technologies that will be required for the future,” Plattner said.
“ I believe it will also give us more exposure on campus and allow us to offer continuing education benefits and a wider range of training options for our clients. So I look at this as a win-win situation and a way to build an even more solid relationship.”
Wenger Manufacturing, Inc., headquartered in Sabetha, Kansas, USA, is a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of extrusion processing equipment and related replacement parts.
Wenger systems are distributed in over 90 countries, through international sales offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Wenger offers a full product line including single and twin screw extruders, snack extruders, forming extruders, conical co-rotating twin screw extruders, universal pellet/cookers, dryers and flavour coating and enrobing systems for animal feeds, snack foods and cereal foods.
