Extrusion and Process Consulting for Modern Food Manufacturing
Helping food, pet food, and aqua feed manufacturers enhance extrusion and process lines through efficiency, and innovation.
About Shear Technology LLC
I’m Alan Peine, a process engineer and extrusion specialist based in Minneapolis, and the founder of Shear Technology LLC. I’ve led pilot-plant trials, designed screw configurations and dies, and commissioned twin-screw and single-screw lines around the world for cereals, snacks, pet food, fish feed, meat analogues, and more.
Before starting Shear Technology, I held technical and customer-service roles at Bühler, plus engineering and operations roles in large-scale flour milling at ADM. Today I work with manufacturers who want practical, data-driven support to design, scale, and stabilize their extrusion operations.
Ready to explore what’s next for your process line?
Services
Whether you’re troubleshooting a stubborn line, scaling a new product, or designing custom dies, I offer flexible support from remote diagnostics to on-site engagements. Below is a snapshot of how I can help.
Process Development & Optimization
Dial in your process for consistent quality and higher throughput.
- Optimization of key parameters:
- Screw speed, feed rate, end plate temp, moisture, SME, pressure.
- Stabilizing texture, density, and expansion for extruded products.
- Reducing scrap, rework, and variability between shifts or plants.
- DOE- and data-driven approach to process windows.
New Product & Line Scale Up
Take products from bench or pilot to reliable full-scale production.
- Scale-up of new extruded products from pilot to plant.
- Translation of R&D formulas to plant-ready specs.
- Support during factory trials and first commercial runs.
- Collaboration with R&D, quality, and operations teams.
Process Troubleshooting
When the line isn’t running right, I help figure out why.
- Root-cause analysis for issues such as:
- Inconsistent expansion or texture
- Die plugging / build-up
- Screw or barrel wear issues
- Startup waste and changeover pain
- Actionable recommendations prioritized by impact vs. effort.
- Remote and on-site troubleshooting options.
Equipment & Line Design Support
Make better decisions before you invest—or when you’re upgrading.
- Support for extrusion line and auxiliary equipment selection.
- Review of OEM proposals and layouts with an operator-focused lens.
- Pre-commissioning and commissioning support.
- Alignment of equipment capabilities with product roadmap.
Die & Tooling Design
Custom dies and tooling designed with manufacturing in mind.
- Concept and design of custom dies for cereals, snacks, and novel shapes.
- Use of in-house additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping.
- Machining partners for production-ready tooling.
- Iterative design balancing performance, cleanability, and robustness.
Training & Capability Building
Upskill your team so improvements stick.
- Extrusion fundamentals training for operators and technicians.
- Engineering team training on parameters, troubleshooting, and scale-up.
- Practical SOP support tailored to your equipment & products.
Who You'll Be Working With
Alan Peine
Shear Technology LLC is a one-person consultancy led by Alan Peine, a process engineer and extrusion specialist based in Minneapolis. I’ve spent my career on twin- and single-screw lines—running pilot-plant trials, designing screw configurations and dies, and commissioning extrusion systems for cereals, snacks, pet food, fish feed, meat analogues, and more.
Before starting Shear Technology, I worked in technical and customer-service roles at Bühler, focused on extrusion systems, as well as engineering and operations roles in large-scale flour milling at ADM. That mix of OEM, process, and plant-floor experience shapes how I approach every project: clear process windows, practical settings, and solutions your team can actually run day to day.
Why Teams Work With Shear Technology
Plant-floor first:
Recommendations are grounded in what operators and maintenance can realistically sustain—not just what works once during a trial.
Data-driven, but practical:
I use structured trials and line data to drive decisions, then translate results into simple parameters and SOPs.
End-to-end perspective:
Comfortable talking screws profiles, die design, and extruder parameters, but also upstream/downstream equipment, quality targets, and commercial realities.
Flexible engagement:
From quick diagnostics to deeper optimization and scale-up projects, tailored to your team, timelines, and budget.
OEM and plant experience:
Background with both an equipment OEM and large-scale milling operations, so I understand vendor proposals and day-to-day production realities.
Capability building:
I focus on training, documentation, and simple tools so your team can run and improve the process long after the project ends.
Book a Call
Ready to discuss a project, plant issue, or upcoming launch? Use the scheduler below to book time directly into my calendar. Alternatively, you can send me a message with the contact form at the bottom of this page. I typically start with a short intro call to understand your products, equipment, and goals, then we decide together if a deeper engagement makes sense.
If you don’t see a time that works, reach out via the contact form below and we’ll coordinate directly
"What to Expect"
Step 1 – Intro Call (30 minutes) Overview of your line, products, and challenges. High-level feasibility and options. Step 2 – Scope & Proposal I’ll outline a recommended approach, timeline, and estimated cost. Step 3 – Execution & Follow-Up Remote support, on-site visits, or a mix—plus clear documentation and handoff.
Get in Touch
Have a specific project, urgent issue, or just a question about what’s possible with your current extrusion setup? Share a few details below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Helpful details to include:
- Your company and product category (e.g., cereals, snacks, meat analogues).
- The type of equipment you’re running (twin-screw brand/model if known).
- The main challenge or goal (e.g., scale-up, troubleshooting, cost reduction).
- Desired timing for support.
I aim to respond to all inquiries within 1 business day.