Extruder Experts has developed a special metallurgy specifically for the requirements of the food and animal feed industry. It is characterised by high resistance to abrasion, corrosion and wear.
To be more precise Elements for co-rotating twin-screw extruders. Depending on the exact purpose, there are metal screws, mixers or mixing elements that come into direct contact with the food mass. This leads to wear at some point, which harbours certain risks.
Similar to car tyres, the first issue here is wear due to friction. As extruder elements rotate at enormous speeds - up to 1,200 revolutions per minute are possible - and ideally run day and night, abrasion is an issue. Secondly, aggressors such as acid or heat can lead to corrosion. The third factor is typical of the food industry in particular: as a lot of water is generally used there, cavitation can occur, i.e. the Formation and implosion of vapour bubbles, which gives the machine strong shocks.
The load on the wearing parts can cause Foreign substances such as chromium or nickel get into the food, in the worst case even metal splinters. The consequences in terms of health and image are conceivable. Discolouration such as streaks caused by rust particles are also not good for the reputation of the product and manufacturer. In addition, old and burnt product residues that have stuck to the extruder parts and are reintroduced into the current mass can diminish the eating experience. Ultimately, this can mean for the manufacturer: Production downtime, recalls, loss of money and trust.
Creativity and a spirit of innovation are required to reliably prevent all of this and at the same time fulfil ever stricter EU standards for food production. The German company Extruder Experts, based in Monschau and with an international clientele, is determined to follow this path. This approach is now tangible in the form of a specially developed Special metallurgy, especially for the requirements of the food and animal feed industry. According to the company, this is a type of steel that has never been used for this purpose before, but fulfils all the requirements for approval. Among other things, this material is characterised by High abrasion, corrosion and wear resistance as well as special flexibility (ductility) characterise it. The latter means that no particles can flake off the metal parts. The properties of the steel also prevent product mass from sticking.
„The material is very special and different - just like every customer and just like us.“
Dirk Zimmermann, founder and managing director of Extruder Experts
Source: Extruder Experts
Extruder Experts at Anuga FoodTec: Hall 10.1, Stand C100
