CO-EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY
ADD A LAYER. ADD VALUE
A co-extruder is the smallest machine on your line and one of the most profitable. It lets you run a colored identification stripe, a protective outer skin, a recycled core, or a full barrier layer, all in a single pass, without slowing the main extruder down. DRTS builds co-extruders that bolt onto any line, ours or someone else’s, and start earning from the first shift.
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- Installed in 50+ Countries
- Retrofits Any Line
- Full After-Sales Support
- Custom-Engineered Per Application
LAYERS AND STRIPES
TWO WAYS TO CO-EXTRUDE
Every co-extrusion job comes down to one question: are you decorating the pipe, or are you building it? A stripe co-extruder puts a thin band of color or branding on the outside. A full-layer co-extruder wraps the pipe completely, which opens the door to recycled cores, UV protection, and barrier layers. The machines look similar. What they let you sell is very different.
| Single Screw | Twin Screw | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Identification lines, branding, spec markings, color coding by pressure class | Multilayer pipe, recycled or filled cores, UV skins, barrier and thermal layers |
| Layer coverage | One to four discrete stripes on the outer wall | Continuous 360 degree layer, inner or outer |
| Typical layer thickness | 0.2 to 1.0 mm | 0.5 mm up to a structural share of total wall |
| Material use | Small volume of masterbatch or colored compound | Meaningful volume, which is where the material savings live |
| Capital investment | Entry level, fastest payback | Higher, and the return comes from raw material cost, not labor |
| Commercial upside | Better traceability, stronger brand presence on site | Premium product classes you cannot currently quote for |
TYPES OF CO-EXTRUDERS
FROM A SINGLE STRIPE TO A FULL SECOND WALL
DRTS manufactures the complete co-extrusion range, from compact stripe units feeding a 16mm drip line to heavy screws laying a full structural layer on large diameter HDPE.
STRIPE CO-EXTRUDERS
Compact single screw units that lay one to four identification stripes onto the pipe as it leaves the die. Ideal for color coding by pressure rating, printing a permanent brand line, or meeting a customer specification that calls for marked pipe. Small footprint, low power draw, and no change to your existing line speed.
- 20 to 30mm screw
- 1 to 4 stripes
- Fits any die head
LAYER CO-EXTRUDERS
Mid-range units built to lay a continuous outer or inner layer. This is the machine that turns a standard black HDPE pipe into a UV stable, abrasion resistant, or thermally protected product, and the machine that lets you put recycled material in the middle of the wall where nobody has to see it.
- 30 to 60mm screw
- Inner or outer layer
- Recycled and filled compounds
MULTILAYER CO-EXTRUSION SYSTEMS
Two and three layer systems for producers running barrier pipe, PPR with a fiber core, or three layer PE where the middle layer carries reprocessed material. Multiple extruders, one die, one line. Engineered around your wall structure rather than pulled off a shelf.
- 2 to 3 layers
- Custom die integration
- Full line synchronization
Applications
BUILT FOR WHAT YOU EXTRUDE
DRTS co-extruders run alongside every pipe type we build machinery for, with the screw, die adapter, and control package matched to the material
HDPE / PE PIPE Stripes
UV skins, and recycled cores
DRIP IRRIGATION
Colored ID lines on round and flat tape
PPR Pipe
Fiber and composite middle layers
PVC PIPE
Two tone and spec-marked profiles
CONDUIT
High visibility utility color coding
CORRUGATED PIPE
Smooth inner skins and outer layers
THE ECONOMICS OF CO-EXTRUSION
THE MACHINE THAT PAYS FOR YOUR MATERIAL
Resin is the single biggest line item in pipe production. A co-extruder is the only piece of equipment on your line that directly attacks it. Put recycled or filled compound in the core, keep virgin material where the pressure rating needs it, and the machine starts paying for itself in tonnes, not in years.
HIGHER MARGIN PER METER
Marked, coded, and multilayer pipe sells at a premium. The same line, the same operators, a better product on the truck
LOWER RAW MATERIAL COST
 A recycled or filled middle layer displaces virgin resin in the part of the wall that nobody sees and the spec does not need. That saving repeats on every meter you run.
Get Your Custom ROI Estimate
Tell us your current line speed and labor setup — we’ll calculate your specific payback period and added output, based on your numbers, not industry averages.
No obligation. Estimate calculated by our engineering team within 1 business day.
Why DRTS
A SMALL MACHINE, ENGINEERED LIKE A BIG ONE
Co-extruders get treated as an accessory. We do not build them that way. Every DRTS co-extruder carries the same screw design, the same drives, and the same control philosophy as the extruders that anchor the line.
PRECISION SCREW DESIGN
Layer thickness holds or it does not. Our screws are designed for stable melt delivery at low output, which is exactly where cheap co-extruders wander and your wall structure drifts out of spec.
FITS ANY LINE
DRTS co-extruders retrofit onto existing lines, including machinery we did not build. We engineer the die adapter and the mounting to your die head, so you are not replacing a line to add a layer.
EUROPEAN COMPONENTS
Built with premium European sourced drives, controls, and heating elements. The same specification as our main extruders, because a co-extruder failure stops the whole line just as effectively.
RECYCLED MATERIAL READY
Screw geometry and feed sections configured for reprocessed and filled compounds, so your material saving does not turn into a downtime problem.
SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL
Layer output is tied to line speed, not set and forgotten. Change the haul off and the co-extruder follows, holding layer thickness through startup, ramp, and changeover.
FULL AFTER-SALES SUPPORT
Spare parts, remote diagnostics, and on-site service wherever your line runs. Our support continues for life.
TRUSTED ON PRODUCTION LINES WORLDWIDE
From independent producers adding their first stripe unit to large scale operations running three layer structures, DRTS co-extruders are working on every continent.
Ready to UPgrade?
NOT SURE WHICH CO-EXTRUDER YOU NEED?
Tell us your host line, the layer you want to run, and the material. We will recommend the right model and send you pricing within 1 business day. No obligation.
Contact DRTS
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Frequently Asked Question
What is a plastic extruder used for?
A plastic extruder melts and pressurizes raw resin, then pushes it through a die to form pipe, tubing, or profile with a consistent cross section. It is the core machine behind every DRTS pipe and drip irrigation line.
What is the difference between a single screw and a twin screw extruder?
A single screw extruder is built for straightforward, single polymer runs like standard PE or PVC pipe. A twin screw extruder uses two intermeshing screws to mix material more aggressively, which makes it better suited to filled compounds, additives, and higher percentages of recycled content.
What pipe diameters can DRTS extruders produce?
DRTS extruders cover diameters from 16mm up to 630mm, depending on the model and configuration, giving you a single supplier across your full product range.
What materials can DRTS extruders process?
DRTS extruders are built for PE, PVC, and PPR, along with the regrind and filled compounds used in three-layer pipe production.
What is three-layer pipe extrusion?
Three-layer pipe extrusion uses a die head to apply virgin, application specific polymer to the outer and inner surfaces of the pipe, with a lower cost regrind polymer layered in the middle. It can cut material costs substantially while still meeting industry quality standards.
Can DRTS extruders integrate with our existing control systems?
Yes. We build our extruders to communicate with your existing SCADA setup, and we welcome specific electrical and mechanical requests so a new line fits cleanly alongside your current equipment.
What kind of support does DRTS provide after installation?
Every DRTS extruder comes with spare parts availability, remote diagnostics, and on-site service. With installations in 50+ countries, our after-sales support is built to reach you wherever your line runs.