Wenger Manufacturing, Inc. is a historic and influential manufacturer in the extrusion processing industry, with a legacy that traces its roots to pioneering feed mixing and extrusion technologies. The company is renowned for its contributions to extrusion cooking systems and for expanding into a broad range of applications that include plant-based proteins, pet foods, and aquatic feeds. Wenger positions itself as a global leader in extrusion equipment and process solutions, underscoring a commitment to innovation that has driven industry standards for decades. The company’s early innovation in portable and high-molasses feed mixing, followed by the development of the cooking extruder, reshaped both human and pet food production. Wenger’s trajectory includes continuous expansion into smaller extruders suited for the pet food sector and a strong emphasis on food safety for human food applications, such as breakfast cereals. A pivotal moment in Wenger’s history was the opening of the Wenger Technical Center, a 50,000 square foot laboratory that remains one of the industry’s largest extrusion research facilities, equipped to develop and test plant-based human foods, pet foods, and aquatic feeds with segregated human and pet food areas and advanced digital capabilities. The company has pursued long-term collaborations with leading universities, including Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska, Purdue, and the University of Maryland, to advance food technologies and drive applied research in extrusion processing. Wenger’s impact extends beyond private enterprise through humanitarian partnerships, notably with UNICEF to formulate fortified extrusion-cooked foods, such as Grains of Hope, targeting hunger in developing regions. The company diversified into snacks and textured vegetable proteins, introducing innovations like the world’s first textured soy protein, which helped catalyze healthier dietary options in the 1990s. In 1990s and beyond, Wenger’s leadership emphasized continuous product and process improvements, including the development of the twin screw extruder, which has since dominated international extrusion cooking markets for food applications. Wenger’s corporate evolution culminated in the expansion of its facilities and expertise, culminating in the Sabetha Technical Center and a broad product portfolio that supports a global customer base. The company was acquired by Marel, a leading global provider of advanced food processing systems, software, and services, enabling the Plant, Pet, and Feed segment within Marel’s portfolio. Wenger’s products and services emphasize turnkey process solutions, with a focus on high-throughput extrusion systems, food safety, and collaborative engineering support. The organization continues to offer replacement parts manufactured to the same exacting standards as original components, ensuring compatibility, reliability, and efficiency for long service life. Wenger maintains a customer-centric approach through its CPS services, part inspections, sanitation reviews, and other process optimization offerings, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner for ongoing plant performance improvements and modernization projects.