EXTRUDERS

EVOLUM + RANGE

EVOLUM EXTRUDERS

From 25 to 145 mm screw diameters, Evolum™ is our “value” range of co-rotating twin-screw extruders and ancillary equipment for extruded products.

Evolum range features :

• A large operating window thanks to multiple “torque/screw speed” options
• A wide range of “Screw speed / Torque” solutions in order to accurately satisfy process requirements
• Accurate thermal control enhanced by an improved Heat Transfer Management

A range of machines offering a direct scale-up from one model to another, thanks to their homothetic designs

Patented barrel opening : Clextral offers a direct hydraulic opening of the barrels to provide quick access to the screw profile without cumbersome shaft extraction. Enhanced process control : PLC Fitsys+ V2 controls the extruder; it’s user-friendly, multilingual and allows data export, plus automatic startup/shutdown and remote assistance service.

THE BC EXTRUDER

This is the company’s “historic” machine, robust and reliable, as evidenced by the significant installed base which is still operating all over the world.

4 models: BC 45, BC72, BC92 and BC160 have passed the test of years and are still popular with new and old customers.

CO-EXTRUSION KIT

This technology can be included with our classic extrusion production lines or proposed as an “ add-on upgrade kit” for installation on existing extrusion lines.

The kit includes: Front plate + die, filling pump skid and the forming crimper.

Co-extrude a selection of sweet or savoury fillings :

• Compact kit is easy to integrate on a line

• Washable CIP system

• Automatic and flexible system for a wide variety of filling viscosities (parameters entirely adjustable with recipe management)

• Appropriate dimensions for optimal dosing and low production losses

• Controlled filling temperature

• From 2 to 8 outputs with volumetric pumps and variable speed drive

• 4 to 12 die outputs

PRECONDITIONERS

Some extrusion processes require preliminary treatment of raw materials prior to the twin-screw extruder.

The preconditioner heats, hydrates and mixes the dry raw materials before extrusion and automatically doses the pre-treated product into the extruder. It optimizes the capacities and the performance of the extruder and enhances final product features.

VENT STUFFER

The vent stuffer adapts easily to the twin-screw extruder. Its purpose is to limit the risk of material escaping from the barrel. Vapor is evacuated while the extruded material is contained by the degassing screw.

DENSITY CONTROL SYSTEM

Density Control System (DCS) : an extrusion process tool to maximize product quality

The DCS equipment, featuring a vent stuffer and regulating system, increases the flexibility of the extruder by offering both a wide range of pellet densities and extremely accurate monitoring of the target density.

The cooking degree and resulting density of the finished extruded product can be adjusted according to customer specifications. By adding steam or through the generation of a vacuum, the density control system ensures the precise density and proper degree of expansion in the final product.

MAIN ADVANTAGES

• Precise and fully automated density adjustment and control : It is possible, for example, to quickly change from an extruded pellet of 350g/l to 750 g/l.
• Reduced product moisture levels
• Generate high density products
• Fines recovery back to preconditioner
• Ideal for producing sinking and floating aquatic feed

DRYING

Drying is a key stage in a food extrusion processing line. 

Drying technology involves evaporating the moisture in a product without altering its essential characteristics and/or enabling the introduction of  (undesirable?) features. Clextral offers drying technologies to meet specific  product quality, cost efficiency and environmental impact requirements.

Clextral proposes 3 complete ranges of drying systems 

EVOLUM DRYER RANGE

The Clextral Evolum Belt Dryer is a compact dryer designed to fulfill the requirements of direct expanded products. It offers an optimised heat exchange surface for gentle and efficient drying, to ensure maximum product quality at an economical cost.

The dryer has features to precisely control the evaporation process while enhancing the quality, texture and structural properties of the extruded product.

The Evolum belt dryer is designed to address the specific drying requirements of expanded snacks (balls, curls, cups…), co-extruded, filled pillows, textured vegetable proteins, uncoated pet food kibbles….

It offers:

• Compact design (plug & play)
• Flexible for changing requirements
• Simplified dry cleaning and maintenance
• Energy efficiency and economical operation

This Clextral dryer is available in three capacities (snack is the reference in terms of throughput): 300kg/h , 600 kg/h, 1200kg/h.

EVOLUM® ROTANTE DRYER

This specific rotary dryer keeps the product moving constantly in a linear product conveyance system driven by Archimedes screws, thus ensuring homogeneous and consistent drying. Drying can be done at different temperatures, with an energy efficiency yield of 90 %.

The Clextral Evolum® Rotante dryer offers the following advantages :

• Improved product quality
• Reduced energy consumption 
• Flexibility
• Simplified maintenance
• Hygienic design and self-cleaning 
• Quick on-site installation

EVOLUM + DRYER

The new standard for drying excellence

The Clextral Evolum+ dryer is a versatile system developed to ensure uniform and effective drying for a large range of products.

It has enhanced aeraulics and high performance thermal insulation for optimized drying efficiency.

Sturdy and hygienic design to optimize food safety:  The Evolum+ dryer is manufactured from stainless steel, fully welded without retention zones, suitable for washdown facilities and dry cleaning environments

The dryer includes side panels that allow full access for cleaning and maintenance.

• Safe operation and accurate drying process control : 
• Highly flexible
• Enhanced aeraulics
• Modular design of upward and downward airflow drying sections
• Optimized efficiency
• User friendly
• Eco-designed
• Risk assessments & functional safety of control
• Highly efficient thermal insulation

COATING SKIDS

Coating is a key stage in food processing that impacts product appearance, texture, structure and taste features. 

SWEET COATING

Coating is a key stage in food processing that impacts product appearance, texture, structure and taste features. Clextral’s exclusive sweet coating devices: syrup preparation and metering unit, coating drum and spraying system, produce a consistent and uniform outer layer of a glazed, frosty, or dull coating..

Key points of Clextral coating technology :

• An automatic and flexible system with touchscreen user interface for managing every syrup (sugar, honey, chocolate…) from low to high BRIX (fully adjustable parameters with recipe management).
• Properly sized equipment for optimum coating and syrup dispersion, evenly distributed throughout the coating zone.
• Mastering the physical characteristics of the process: viscosity, BRIX, concentration, syrup temperature and temperature conditions of the final product.

SALTY COATING

To give the flavor profile expected by consumers, extruded snacks undergo a coating step where they are covered with liquid and / or powdered flavorings.

The coating is carried out in a drum equipped with a spray ramp ;  the coating product itself is prepared in a specific skid (set of tanks and pumps). The coating platform is very flexible to work with various types of coatings which are sometimes very complex; cheese powder coatings, for example.