New & Used Extruders For Sale

What is an industrial extruder?

An industrial extruder is a machine that forces material through a shaped die to produce a continuous profile, or that processes material through a screw and barrel to compound, react, cook or shape it. Extruders are central to plastics processing, food production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and chemical processing. A rotating screw (or twin screws) conveys material along a heated barrel, applying mechanical shear and thermal energy to melt, mix, react or cook the material before it exits through a die. Industrial extruders are typically specified by screw diameter, L/D ratio (length-to-diameter), drive power, throughput and screw configuration, with selection driven by the material and the process.

How long do industrial extruders last?

Quality industrial extruders routinely operate for 20-40+ years. The barrels, gearboxes and drive systems last decades; screws, barrel liners, heating elements and dies are wear items replaced on cycles driven by material abrasiveness and throughput. Screw and barrel refurbishment (rebuilding worn screw flights and re-lining barrels) is routine and extends working life significantly.

Why choose an industrial extruder?

Extrusion is one of the most versatile and widely-used continuous processing operations across plastics, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

• Continuous high-throughput production: extruders deliver continuous, steady-state production at high throughputs, supporting cost-effective volume manufacturing.
• Versatile processing: extruders compound, mix, react, cook, devolatilise and shape in a single continuous operation, often combining multiple process steps.
• Precise process control: modern extruders with segmented barrels, zone temperature control and configurable screws deliver precise, repeatable processing.
• Wide material range: extruders process thermoplastics, elastomers, food materials, pharmaceutical formulations and reactive systems with appropriate screw and barrel configuration.
• Energy-efficient melting: mechanical shear from the screw provides much of the melting energy, making extrusion an energy-efficient processing route.

Why buy a used industrial extruder?

Industrial extruders are strong candidates for second-hand purchase because the barrels, gearboxes and drives last for decades.

• Major capital savings: used extruders typically cost 40-60% less than new equivalents, with significant savings on large twin-screw compounding lines.
• Immediate availability: new extruders can have lead times of 9-18 months. Used stock is often available within weeks.
• Refurbishment-friendly: screw and barrel refurbishment, gearbox overhaul, heating system renewal and control retrofits return used extruders to as-new performance.
• Proven track record: extruders with documented production history give clear evidence of duty cycles, throughput and reliability.
• Strong UK aftermarket: Coperion, Leistritz, KraussMaffei (Berstorff), Baker Perkins, Clextral and others support screws, barrels, spares and refurbishment.

Types of industrial extruders for sale

Twin-screw extruders

Co-rotating and counter-rotating twin-screw extruders provide intensive mixing, controlled shear and precise residence time, ideal for compounding, masterbatch, reactive extrusion and devolatilisation. The standard for polymer compounding and pharmaceutical hot-melt extrusion. Coperion, Leistritz, KraussMaffei Berstorff and Thermo Fisher are common manufacturers.

Single-screw extruders

Single-screw extruders convey, melt and pump thermoplastics for profile, pipe, sheet, film and cable production. Economical and robust for straightforward melting and forming duties. Common in plastics processing, profile extrusion and pipe manufacture.

Food extruders

Food extrusion cookers produce snacks, breakfast cereals, pet food, textured vegetable protein and confectionery. Single and twin-screw cooking extruders apply heat and shear to cook, expand and shape food materials. Clextral, Baker Perkins, Wenger and Buhler are common manufacturers.

Pharmaceutical extruders

Pharmaceutical hot-melt extruders (HME) produce solid dispersions, controlled-release formulations and improved-bioavailability products. GMP-compliant twin-screw designs with full validation and documented qualification support pharmaceutical production.

Compounding lines

Complete compounding lines combine the extruder with feeders, side-feeders, melt filtration, pelletising and cooling systems. Often available as complete integrated lots, supporting masterbatch, compound and engineered polymer production.

Key features to consider when buying an industrial extruder

• Screw diameter: sets throughput capacity. Match to your production demand. Common sizes range from 16mm lab extruders up to 300mm+ production machines.
• L/D ratio: length-to-diameter ratio affects residence time and processing capability. Compounding needs higher L/D (40-52); simple melting needs less (20-30).
• Screw configuration: twin-screw segmented screws can be reconfigured for different processes. Confirm screw elements, condition and configuration flexibility.
• Drive power and torque: higher torque supports higher throughput and more demanding compounds. Match to your material and throughput needs.
• Screw and barrel wear: the most important condition check on used extruders. Worn screws and barrels reduce output and quality. Factor refurbishment cost into the purchase.
• Materials of construction: nitrided or bimetallic barrels for standard plastics; corrosion and wear-resistant alloys for filled and abrasive compounds; 316L stainless for food and pharma.
• ATEX and GMP: food and pharmaceutical extruders need hygienic design and (for pharma) GMP qualification. Verify certification on used machines.

Industries and use cases for industrial extruders

• Plastics and polymers: compounding, masterbatch, profile, pipe, sheet, film, cable and engineered polymer production.
• Food and beverage: snack foods, breakfast cereals, textured vegetable protein, confectionery and food ingredient production.
• Pet food and animal feed: extruded pet food, aquafeed and animal feed production.
• Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical: hot-melt extrusion for solid dispersions, controlled release and bioavailability enhancement.
• Chemical and specialty: reactive extrusion, devolatilisation and specialty chemical processing.
• Recycling: plastics recycling, regrind compounding and recyclate pelletising.

What locations do we serve for industrial extruders?

As a buyer-to-seller marketplace, we feature industrial extruders from sellers across the UK and beyond. Use our location and distance filters to find equipment near your facility, supporting site visits and reducing transport costs on large extrusion lines.

Can I return an industrial extruder?

As we operate as a buyer-to-seller marketplace, any returns policy must be agreed directly with the seller before purchase. We’d recommend pre-purchase inspection of any used extruder, including assessment of screw and barrel wear, gearbox condition, heating and cooling systems, drive operation and control status.

Browse other industrial machinery categories

This category forms one part of our wider industrial machinery marketplace. Browse the full range of New and Used Industrial Machinery, or jump into a specific sub-category below:

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