Twin Screw Extruder Machine (Food Manufacturing)

Twin-screw extruders use two screws in the extruder barrel and are widely used for the more demanding food applications. They consist of two types: counter-rotating twin-screw extruders (screws move in opposing directions) and co-rotating twin-screw extruders (screws move in same direction). Counter-rotating twin-screw extruders are used for products requiring low speeds and long residence times, such as gum, jelly and licorice confections. Co-rotating twin-screw extruders, often used for snack products, provide a high degree of heat transfer but not forced conveyance. Both counter- and co-rotating screws can be either intermeshing or non-intermeshing, resulting in four basic types of twin-screw extruders. An intermeshing screw penetrates the channels of the second screw, producing a positive pumping action, efficient mixing and self-cleaning. Non-intermeshing screws do not engage or interfere with each other and depend on friction for extrusion, like single-screw extruders. They are not designed for pumping or mixing.