What Is an Extruder Machine?

February 2, 2015 – Posted by Randy Khalifa

1) Answer for “What is an extruder machine?”

Extruder machine is a really big topic, as extruder machine itself can be used in multiple industries. Although the different usage, extruder machine can be defined by its working principle:

Extruder machine is a machine powered by electrical engine,pushed or pulled the material by screw, the screw press the material through the die to form the desired shape.

(Photo on left is double screw extruder, as known as twin screw extruder, used for extruded snack food production)

2) Top 3 reasons why you should care more about extruder machine used in food production?

Good question, extruder machine can be used to process metal, polymers, Co₂ foam, food production etc. Why SunPring suggest you to care more about extruder machine used in food production? Because we’re the food extruder manufacturer? Hmm, sort of, I can’t deny this is one good reason, but that’s not the whole map. Let me explain to you:

1. Substitute Threat

If you are using Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) to extrude plastic bottles, there’s many substitutes to threat your business. If we ignore the rising of raw material, labor and electricity cost, many food you can see in the supermarket are turning to glass or simple paper wrapping. To make the thing’s worth, people are increasingly caring about environment in recent year (Good for people, bad for business), lots of people sharing their experience to say “No” for plastic package, such as Beth Terry.

2. Raw Material Cost

For plastic extrusion industry, using recycle PET pellets is a sweet-spot to cut the cost, it’s only 70-78% cost than using raw PET. (Intagliata,2012) Thing’s may not looks like what it looks like, UK’s Packaging and Film Association warned the raw material of plastic have increased due to the “lack of recycled supply”   This story sent two signals: First, you may not able to taste the sweet-spot all the way; Second, the raw material’s price goes up than previous price.

3. Profit

Yes, none of the business in the world can ignore this word, “PROFIT”. If we continue the story above, the PET price goes up for plastic extrusion business, there’s no way to get enough recycled PET pellets all the time. Then what? You want to go to the Super Market, and tell their manager,”I need to charge you more, because our raw material’s price goes up?”. I don’t think so. Let’s stand in the 3rd party’s shoes to get a fair answer, we all customers who have to buy daily supply for our family, backtracking last 10 years, can you tell me how much does a plastic bag’s price increase when you were going to a shopping mall? Not too much, doesn’t it? So where is the pressure? Definitely go to the plastic extrusion suppliers.

However, let’s picture another scenario: In last 10 years, the extruded snacks, like Cheetos^®, Kurkure^®, or whatever the brand you bought from Super Market has increased. As least increase higher than plastic bag. Furthermore, whenever their price goes up a little bit, the customers feel acceptable as they know everything’s goes up.

But if you asked them to pay extra on a plastic bag, another story, my friend. We all know in the past, plastic shopping bag is FREE to give. Even in most countries, shopping mall starts to charge for it, but when you rising the price from 20 cents to 40 cents, customers usually feels like “Man, the price goes up 100%, that’s crazy, maybe next time I should pick my own bags”

Some of you may think a plastic bag can’t cover the whole story of plastic extrusion business, my answer is YES. But this is the easiest shot, if you want to sell a large quantity to a food company who using plastic bottles, do you think they would be happier than normal customers in shopping mall? Not a chance! They are caring about the profit margin like you do!

3) Okay then, food extruder machine, where do we start?

Basically, food extruder machine has two types: single screw extruder and twin screw extruder (as known as double screw extruder). The extrude machine can make most of expanded snacks, cereal, snack bars you can find in the Super Market. Here is a glance of them on the right:

(3 sets of double screw extruder in SunPring’s factory, they were shipped to our customers soon after)

(SunPring’s staff is checking and testing a single screw extruder)

Thanks for your reading, SunPring‘s fans. I hope this article solves your problem about “What is an extruder machine” and gives you good idea about investing in food extrusion business.

Off course, happy comment!