Co-Extrusion Adds Value to Extruded Cereals, Snacks and Pet Treats

The equipment required is a Baker Perkins Co-Ex Master system. This may be supplied with a new extruder or retrofitted to any existing Baker Perkins, Coperion or other twin-screw extruder. The Co-Ex Master system includes a co-extrusion die, cream feed and pillow crimper. 

The extruder feeds a cooked mass to the co-extrusion die which splits it into several equal strands which are formed into tubes around continuous streams of filling. The tubes are transferred to the infeed of the pillow crimper where they are crimped into squares, shapes, sticks or wafers by a pair of profiled anvil and crimping rolls.

The systems are available to handle up to 12 separate streams of single-filled products, producing up to 1,850 kg/hr of product with a standard 60:40 cereal to filling ratio.

Flow rates of cereal and filling to each stream are individually adjustable to ensure tight weight control and uniform appearance. In addition, the position of the seam created as the cereal tube is formed can be adjusted for optimum appearance.