Three Color Straw Extrusion for Multicolor Production

EXTRUTEX EX-50QS-3 is a full servo three-color straw extrusion line developed for manufacturers who require more than conventional single-color straw production. The system is designed to produce multicolor and striped drinking straws with coordinated extrusion, cooling, hauling and cutting.

The machine is based on a 50 mm extrusion system and is designed for PP, PLA, PBS, PHA and other compatible extrudable materials. The servo-controlled main drive provides accurate speed regulation and supports synchronized operation throughout the production process.

With a production speed of approximately 500–830 pieces per minute, the EX-50QS-3 provides an efficient platform for high-volume straw manufacturing. The actual production rate depends on straw diameter, wall thickness, length, material characteristics, tooling and operating conditions.

The three-color configuration allows manufacturers to produce visually distinctive drinking straws for beverage brands, food-service companies, restaurants, cafés, packaging suppliers and other applications where product appearance is an important part of the finished straw.

EX-50QS-3 Production Process

The complete extrusion line combines material preparation, extrusion, forming, cooling, traction, cutting and collection into a continuous manufacturing process. The numbered process below provides a simple overview of the production sequence.

Full Servo Extrusion System

One of the main characteristics of the EX-50QS-3 is its full servo drive concept. Servo technology provides accurate control of extrusion speed and supports synchronization between the extrusion, haul-off and cutting processes.

The main screw diameter is 50 mm. The detailed standard one-color EX-50QS configuration uses a 28:1 screw L/D with a 22 kW servo motor and ZLYJ133 gearbox, while the three-color system is specified with a 33:1 screw configuration. Final drive and extrusion configuration should be confirmed according to the customer's required three-color process.

Precise speed control is especially useful for multicolor straw production because stable material flow is necessary for consistent color distribution and finished dimensions. The servo system also provides flexibility when production speed needs to be adjusted for different straw sizes.

Three Color Straw Manufacturing

The three-color configuration is intended for manufacturers producing straws with multiple visual colors or stripe effects. Three different material streams can be coordinated within the extrusion process according to the selected tooling and product design.

Multicolor straw production can provide strong visual differentiation for beverage brands and food-service products. Depending on the tooling configuration, color combinations and material selection, manufacturers can develop different visual patterns while maintaining continuous production.

Because three-color extrusion introduces additional process variables compared with single-color extrusion, accurate temperature management and synchronized material flow are important. EXTRUTEX configures the machine according to the required straw design and production specification.

PP, PLA, PBS and PHA Materials

The EX-50QS-3 is designed for PP, PLA, PBS, PHA and other compatible extrudable materials. Material selection depends on the final application, required mechanical properties, processing temperature and environmental requirements.

PP is widely used for conventional drinking straws because of its established extrusion performance. PLA can be selected for applications requiring a bio-based polymer solution. PBS and PHA may be considered for specific biodegradable or compostable material applications where the selected grade is suitable for extrusion.

Each material has different drying, melting and cooling requirements. For this reason, EXTRUTEX recommends evaluating the exact polymer grade before finalizing the process configuration.

Efficient Far-Infrared Heating

The extrusion system can use far-infrared radiant heating technology. This heating concept is designed to provide efficient heat transfer while supporting accurate temperature control during extrusion.

The standard EX-50QS-1 configuration specifies approximately 15 kW of heating power with far-infrared radiant heating. Cooling fans are used to help stabilize heating-zone temperatures during continuous operation.

Stable temperature control is particularly important for PLA and other temperature-sensitive polymers. Maintaining consistent processing conditions helps improve melt stability and supports uniform straw dimensions.

Stainless Steel Cooling Tank

After extrusion and forming, the hot straw enters the water cooling section. The cooling tank removes heat from the extruded material and helps stabilize the final straw geometry before hauling and cutting.

The water bath is manufactured from 304 stainless steel and can be adjusted in three planes. This adjustment capability helps operators align the cooling section with the extrusion tooling and downstream traction system.

The standard one-color configuration specifies a water storage tank length of approximately 4600 mm. The final cooling configuration for the EX-50QS-3 should be selected according to the required three-color production process.

A chiller can be supplied to maintain a stable cooling-water temperature. Stable water temperature is important for maintaining repeatable cooling conditions during long production runs.

Automatic Feeding and Material Drying

Automatic raw material feeding and drying systems are available as auxiliary equipment. Automated material handling reduces manual intervention and provides a more consistent supply of polymer to the extrusion system.

PLA materials can require drying before extrusion because moisture can affect melt quality and processing stability. Where required, the raw material is first dried and then transferred to the vacuum loading system.

Flexible Haul-Off and Cutting System

The haul-off unit can be configured with either belt or roller traction depending on the required product and production conditions. This provides flexibility when configuring the downstream section of the straw extrusion line.

The cutting system is designed for continuous high-speed production and can be equipped with a double rotary cutter. Available cutting angles include 90°, 60° and 45°, allowing the manufacturer to select the appropriate cutting style for the finished straw.

Accurate coordination between traction speed and cutting frequency is essential for maintaining consistent finished straw lengths. The full servo architecture helps support synchronization between the major production stages.

EX-50QS-3 Technical Specifications

Standard EX-50QS Base Configuration

The following table summarizes the detailed standard one-color EX-50QS information supplied for the machine platform. The EX-50QS-3 three-color system uses the three-color configuration above, while individual components can be customized according to the final production requirement.

Auxiliary Equipment

5 HP Chiller Technical Information

Applications of the Three Color Straw Extrusion Line

• Three-color drinking straws
• Striped drinking straws
• Multicolor PP straws
• Multicolor PLA straws
• Biodegradable-material drinking straws
• Food-service drinking straws
• Beverage industry straws
• Restaurant and café straw production
• Private-label drinking straw manufacturing
• High-speed commercial straw production

Advantages of the EX-50QS-3

Production Control and Quality Considerations

Three-color straw production requires consistent control of temperature, material flow, extrusion speed, cooling and cutting. Small variations in any of these areas can influence the appearance or dimensions of the final product.

The full servo system provides a strong foundation for synchronized operation. However, final product quality also depends on the selected raw materials, extrusion tooling, operator settings, cooling conditions and required straw design.

EXTRUTEX can evaluate the complete production requirement before manufacturing the line. Customers should provide the desired straw diameter, wall thickness, length, material grades, number of colors, color pattern and target production capacity.

EX-50QS-3 Summary

Conclusion

The EXTRUTEX EX-50QS-3 full servo three-color straw extrusion line provides an integrated solution for manufacturers seeking high-speed production of multicolor and striped drinking straws. Its 50 mm extrusion system, servo-controlled drive, controlled heating, stainless-steel cooling tank and synchronized downstream equipment create a complete production platform for modern straw manufacturing.

With a stated production speed of approximately 500–830 pcs/min, a straw diameter range of Φ5–Φ13 mm and a three-color configuration, the EX-50QS-3 is suitable for manufacturers producing differentiated drinking straws from PP, PLA, PBS, PHA and other compatible extrudable materials.

The flexible haul-off configuration, adjustable cooling tank, optional material drying and automatic feeding systems, chiller integration and multiple cutting angles allow the production line to be adapted to different factory requirements.

EXTRUTEX combines Austrian design with manufacturing capabilities in Nanjing and Shanghai, China, delivering customized extrusion technology for plastic and polymer processing industries worldwide.