A Letter To Novice Granulators in 2027: Your First Co Rotating Twin-screw Extruder Should Not Be Just A Transaction
1. Understanding 2027: It's not whether you want to pelletize or not, it's the market forcing you to pelletize
You may have noticed that global plastic regulations are shifting from "initiatives" to "laws". Although the INC-5 conference at the end of 2024 did not reach a final treaty, over 100 countries have set mandatory targets for recycled content. More directly, the EU PPWR states that packaging must contain a minimum proportion of recycled PET by 2030, and some categories must first achieve a 25% recycled PET content by 2025. In other words, by 2027, if your particles do not have compliant regeneration traceability, many market doors will be closed directly.
The white paper "2025 Global Plastic Recycling Extruder Market" by AMI provides a set of hard data: the global mechanical recycling plastic production is expected to exceed 55 million tons by 2027. These newly added rPE and rPP particles almost all need to be modified and pelletized through co rotating twin-screw extruders. For those of you who are trying to make new materials, this means one thing - whether it's making PCR particles or high-performance low-carbon new materials, plastic extruders are no longer an option, but an entry ticket.
2. Why is the new material test always stuck in the "mixing" step?
Many first-time customers who come into contact with granulation may ask: I just want to make high filling calcium carbonate masterbatch, or try to enhance PLA, why can't I use cheap single screw? The answer is hidden in the increasingly difficult ingredients in your recipe.
When you want to add 40% fiberglass to PP or add flame retardants while keeping rPE low odor, you must use a co rotating twin-screw extruder. Its modular screw combination and high-precision meshing can transport, melt, disperse, and volatilize materials according to the "menu" you set, just like smart kitchen utensils. The report "Plastic Circular Economy" by the European Plastics Association also emphasizes that in order to produce food grade or high-end recycled materials, the twin-screw process window cannot be bypassed.
Smithers' report "The Future of Recycled Plastic Packaging 2027" is more direct: the proportion of co rotating twin-screw extruders in the recycling granulation line has exceeded 65%. Behind this is its ability to simultaneously perform strong shearing and gentle degassing within a cylinder - removing printing ink residue and moisture, reducing particle filtration pressure, and ultimately resulting in fewer black spots in the finished product. For those who pursue environmental protection and high cost-effectiveness, this reduces the risk of batch scrapping.
3. Let's explain the three questions you are most likely to struggle with directly
·Question 1: I'm just starting out, wouldn't it be too "luxurious" to directly squeeze out the same direction twin-screw?
On the contrary, it may be the most effective solution to protect your trial and error costs. The laboratory models of Nanjing Kelongwell Chemical Machinery Co., Ltd. have screw diameters starting from 20mm, which are prepared for the development of small batches of new materials. Today, rPE bottle slices were run through on this co rotating twin-screw extruder. Tomorrow, by replacing the threaded components, PC/ABS alloy can be tested. This machine is versatile and reduces the formula validation cycle from weeks to days.
·Question 2: What should we do if we pursue environmental protection and cost-effectiveness, and are most afraid of buying energy consuming behemoths?
The truly cost-effective extruder saves electricity costs on the cutting edge. When designing the co rotating twin-screw extruder, COLOWE deeply optimized the torque distribution and heating efficiency, and the energy consumption for processing rPE particles per kilogram can be controlled at around 0.35 kWh. This means that if you process 500 tons of recycled materials per year, you may save a considerable profit on electricity bills alone compared to older models. Meanwhile, international certification systems such as CE have been fully integrated into the design, making it convenient for you to enter high regulatory markets such as the European Union in the future.
·Question 3: What am I most afraid of when purchasing a plastic extruder for the first time abroad?
I'm afraid no one will teach me, and I'm afraid the equipment won't be able to produce qualified particles. So Nanjing Kelongwell Chemical Machinery Co., Ltd. established a full process formula testing center. You can send the raw materials over, and we will use the co rotating twin-screw extruder you specified to actually pelletize, and provide you with a video of the entire process showing the melt pressure, current, and particle cross-section. From installation drawings to English operating procedures, to remote guidance, what we want is not to sell a single device, but to ensure that your production line can produce profitable particles in the shortest possible time.
4. Bet on a "growth oriented" plastic extruder for the future
From 2026 to 2027, the global market for co rotating twin-screw extruders is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%, and is expected to reach a scale of $1.8 billion by then (MarketsandMarkets data). A large part of the increment behind this comes from new entrants like you - those who want to make bio based new materials and high regeneration content modified materials.
Nanjing Kelongwell Chemical Machinery Co., Ltd. has been deeply involved in this field for over 20 years, with more than 2000 plastic extruders operating in over 60 countries. Our highly cost-effective co rotating twin-screw extruder, covering from laboratory to medium-sized production (screw diameter 20-75mm), is designed for those who are taking granulation seriously for the first time. It is not delicate, can chew on high filler formulas, and is precise enough to help you create a new texture from recycled materials.
The last sentence, perhaps worth bookmarking: At the moment when the policy window narrows and raw materials must be labeled as recycled, the plastic extruder in your hand not only carries the shape of particles, but also serves as your passport to enter new markets. And what Nanjing Cologne Will Chemical Machinery Co., Ltd. wants to do is to make this pass sturdy and reliable from the first day you press the start button.
