Twin Screw Extrusion

What is Twin Screw Extrusion?
Twin screw extrusion is a process where a mixture of raw materials, called extrudate, is forced through the opening of a perforated plate or die to produce a certain amount of food in a specific shape. We do this by using a fixed barrel container to hold the extrudate and two screws rotating side by side to push the extrudate through the opening. The resulting product is then cut to specific sizes and dried. By adjusting a few factors in the extrusion process, such as pressure, temperature, and humidity levels, products of varying textures and colors can be produced.

History of Twin Screw Extrusion
Twin screw extrusion, the predecessor to single screw food extrusion, was first invented by food manufacturers in the late 1800s for the production of sausages. Food manufacturers quickly recognized the process as a reliable method for mass production, and in the 1930s it was applied to making dried pasta and breakfast cereals. Over time, the range of applications for food extrusion has expanded, and the technology to produce a variety of food textures and shapes has continued to advance. In the 1980s, the twin screw extruder was invented, offering greater efficiency and the ability to produce foods with complex formulations and ingredients.