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Aluminum Pioneer Gets Honorary Doctorate
03/09/2005
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 9, 2005) -- The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees
today approved an honorary doctorate in science for a pioneer in aluminum production.
The board approved the honorary degree for Stanley Platek, vice president of research
and development for the Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation, who profoundly changed aluminum
production in partnership with UK.
Platek invented a continuous-casting process that reduced energy consumption and
emissions in aluminum production while producing a more durable and quality-controlled product.
"Because of his innovations, more than 1.5 billion pounds of scrap aluminum are annually
recycled into product components, including the first automotive-grade aluminum strip
acceptable for commercial vehicles," the board's citation reads.
Platek, a 1960 graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree
in mechanical engineering, holds seven U.S. patents for his aluminum processing ideas.
He will receive the honorary doctorate at UK's Commencement Sunday, May 8.
Subodh K. Das, director of the UK Center for Aluminum and president and CEO of Secat Inc.
on the UK Coldstream Research Campus, said Platek "has had a distinguished and innovative
career which has influenced the worldwide aluminum industry and the UK research and
educational missions."
Secat, Inc. was established
to facilitate research and development of
innovative technology
and products for the aluminum industry, and
provides expertise in energy usage and reduction.
Secat partners with aluminum companies across
the U.S., UK’s Center for Aluminum Technology,
the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development,
Kentucky Division of Energy, and the U.S. Department
of Energy-National Laboratories.
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