The Wenger Technical Center announced the addition of Rhonni Mitchell as a laboratory technician in its agrifood laboratory.
An employee of Wenger Manufacturing for nearly three years, Mitchell takes on the responsibility of analyzing samples that have been sent to the lab by Wenger customers, as well as samples produced by clients using the center’s production scale extrusion and drying equipment.
“One of the best parts of the job is working with the people involved in this industry,” says Mitchell. “That includes both the staff here in the Technical Center and the customers who rely on our services.”
Although the Wenger Technical Center offers a variety of laboratory analysis procedures, including access to Wenger’s phase transition analyzer, Mitchell says most tests begin with a gelatinization test, rapid viscosity analysis (RVA), and phase transition analysis (PTA). Test procedures can also be performed to determine such things as maximum fat uptake, water solubility index, piece density and pellet durability index, to name just a few.
“Our main goal is to help the customer with quality control and to make sure the product is meeting the standards that have been established,” she relates. “As a result, I get to experience something new almost every day.”
While Mitchell stays busy in the laboratory, her colleagues in the Wenger Technical Center continue to assist clients with development of product prototypes and production processes; project planning, and training and testing procedures. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2006, the center also maintains a cooperative extension relationship with several major universities that offer extrusion-related research.
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 flavor coating and enrobing systems for animal feeds, snack foods and cereal foods.
