PROCESS TECHNOLOGY
Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extrusion Technology
Co-rotating twin screw extruders represent the benchmark technology for advanced polymer processing, compounding and high-performance material engineering.
Thanks to their modular segmented screw and barrel design, ICMA co-rotating extruders deliver exceptional flexibility, mixing efficiency and process reliability across a wide range of industrial applications.
What is a Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extruder?
A co-rotating twin screw extruder is an engineered processing system composed of:
- Two intermeshing co-rotating screws
- Modular segmented screw elements with dedicated geometries
- A process barrel with configurable zones
- High-precision splined shafts for torque transmission
The modular screw configuration allows precise control of:
- Melting
- Dispersive and distributive mixing
- Degassing and devolatilization
- Reactive extrusion
- Pressure build-up and pumping
The self-wiping intermeshing design eliminates stagnation zones along the entire process section, ensuring:
- Superior mixing homogeneity
- Self-cleaning behavior
- Stable product quality
- High output consistency
Applications
- Polymer compounding
- Masterbatch production
- Advanced recycling and up-cycling
- Engineering plastics
- Rubber processing
- Biopolymers
- Composite materials
- Technical sheet extrusion
- Reactive extrusion processes
Its versatility makes it the dominant platform for modern material development and industrial scale-up.
ICMA Engineering Heritage
The intermeshing co-rotating concept was first developed in the 1930s for ceramic processing. The first commercial twin screw machine for thermosets and PVC was engineered by Colombo (LMP – Italy).
ICMA builds on this historic engineering foundation, combining decades of extrusion expertise with modern mechanical design and high-torque solutions.
Today, ICMA offers:
- Standard co-rotating twin screw extruders
- High-torque and high-output configurations
- Custom engineered process layouts
- Industrial scale-up capabilities through the ICMA Innovation Hub
The ICMA Innovation Hub is a dedicated environment where customers can test, validate and optimize their processes using the same co-rotating twin-screw extrusion technology applied in industrial production.
Equipped with pilot and industrial-scale compounding and sheet extrusion lines, the Innovation Hub allows customers to carry out material trials, formulation development and process validation under real operating conditions.
At the ICMA Innovation Hub, customers can:
validate compounding processes for virgin, recycled and bio-based polymers
test direct extrusion and sheet production on industrially representative lines
optimize formulations, screw configurations and process parameters
reduce risks associated with industrial scale-up
Thanks to the direct involvement of ICMA engineers, trials are conducted with a strong focus on process understanding, repeatability and transferability from pilot to full-scale production.
The ICMA Innovation Hub is a strategic asset for customers developing advanced compounds, recycled materials and technical sheets, enabling faster decision-making and reliable industrial implementation.
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