Product Overview

The EX150 is designed for manufacturers that need to add a distinctive flexible and decorative section to straight plastic drinking straws. Instead of producing the complete straw from raw material, the EX150 works as a specialized downstream forming machine. Straight drinking straws are loaded into the hopper, and the machine automatically performs feeding, forming, counting and finished-product discharge. This makes the system particularly useful for factories that already have straw extrusion, cutting or purchasing operations and want to add artistic flexible products to their portfolio.

The machine is available in two configurations for straight straws with inner diameters of 5.8 mm and 7.8 mm. The 5.8 mm configuration is specified with 58 forming teeth, while the 7.8 mm configuration is specified with 53 teeth. Both versions accept straw lengths from 230 to 330 mm and a specified wall thickness of 0.15–0.19 mm. Production speed is approximately 100–150 pieces per minute.

EXTRUTEX has developed the EX150 around a practical production concept: keep manual intervention limited to loading straight straws while automating the repetitive forming and counting stages. The result is a machine that can be incorporated into a continuous commercial workflow without requiring an operator to manually bend and count each finished straw.

Main Advantages

Working Principle

Production begins with straight drinking straws that meet the required inner diameter, length and thickness range. The operator places the prepared straws into the hopper. The feeding system then transfers individual straws into the forming area in a controlled sequence. The forming mechanism applies repeated mechanical forming action to create the flexible teeth along the designated section of each straw.

The forming process is designed to be repeatable, which is important for artistic drinking straws because the tooth spacing and overall appearance are part of the finished product design. The 5.8 mm version is specified for 58 teeth, while the 7.8 mm version is specified for 53 teeth. Selecting the correct machine configuration according to the incoming straw diameter helps establish the intended finished geometry.

After forming, the completed flexible straw is transferred toward the discharge area. The counting system records production and can issue an alarm when a preset quantity is reached. This is especially useful when products are packed in fixed quantities, because the operator can prepare bags, cartons or other packaging according to a defined production count rather than manually counting individual pieces.

Speed is controlled through a frequency converter, providing smooth and stepless adjustment. The operator can therefore balance throughput, feeding stability and forming quality. If a fault condition occurs, automatic stopping can interrupt operation so that the problem can be checked before production continues.

Machine Diagram

Technical Specifications

Configuration List

The following configuration list reflects the supplied machine information. Component brands and electrical specifications may be adjusted as part of continuous engineering development or customer-specific configuration.

Important specification note: the supplied source data states a 1.5 kW driving motor in the main technical table while the configuration list states a 0.75 kW motor. The final motor rating should therefore be confirmed with EXTRUTEX against the actual machine configuration before purchase.

Production Capacity

The EX150 has a stated production capacity of 100–150 pieces per minute. This range provides a practical reference for industrial production of artistic flexible drinking straws. Actual output can vary according to straw dimensions, material characteristics, incoming straw quality, feeding stability, machine adjustment, forming requirements and selected operating speed. For commercial planning, manufacturers should validate the final product design and material with EXTRUTEX before establishing a guaranteed production target.

The 5.8 mm configuration produces 58 teeth and the 7.8 mm configuration produces 53 teeth. The difference reflects the machine configuration associated with the two straw inner diameters. Both versions use the same specified length range of 230–330 mm and wall-thickness range of 0.15–0.19 mm.

Consistent incoming straws are important for stable forming. Variations in diameter, thickness, straightness or surface condition can influence feeding and forming performance. Manufacturers should therefore maintain appropriate quality control on the straight straws supplied to the EX150.

Automatic Counting and Packaging Preparation

Counting is an important practical feature for high-volume straw production. The EX150 can count finished pieces automatically and provide an alarm when a preset quantity is reached. This allows operators to organize finished products into standard packaging quantities and reduces repetitive manual counting.

The function is particularly useful when the downstream packaging process is based on fixed quantities. Once the preset count has been reached, the operator can remove the completed group, prepare the next package and continue production. The machine therefore supports a cleaner relationship between forming output and packaging workflow.

Fault Protection and Operator Control

Automatic stop operation is designed to prevent continued production when a fault condition is detected. Instead of allowing a possible feeding or mechanical problem to continue unnoticed, the machine can interrupt operation and alert the operator. After inspection and correction, production can be restarted according to the operating procedure.

The frequency-controlled drive also gives the operator useful control over production speed. Stepless adjustment allows gradual optimization rather than restricting production to only a few fixed speed levels. This can be valuable when matching the machine to different straw batches or when establishing the best balance between throughput and forming quality.

Application Areas

The EX150 is intended for manufacturers producing decorative plastic drinking straws, flexible beverage straws and artistic straw products. These products may be used in food service, beverage presentation, promotional applications, themed drinks, hospitality and consumer packaging where the appearance of the straw is part of the product experience.

Because the EX150 is a secondary forming machine, it can be used alongside an existing straw extrusion and cutting operation. A factory can produce straight straws in the required dimensions and then transfer them to the EX150 for decorative forming. This modular production concept allows manufacturers to expand their product range without replacing their complete upstream straw production system.

Installation and Production Requirements

The machine dimensions are approximately 1900 × 1800 × 1600 mm, with a stated weight of approximately 1200 kg. The production area should provide sufficient space not only for the machine itself but also for operator access, material loading, finished-product collection, inspection and routine maintenance.

Before commissioning, the manufacturer should verify the electrical supply, floor conditions, machine positioning, safety access and surrounding working space. Suitable lifting and handling equipment should be available for installation because of the machine weight. Operators should be trained in normal operation, adjustment, cleaning, fault recovery and maintenance.

Input straws should be checked before production. The specified inner diameter, length and wall thickness should remain within the intended range. Clean and dimensionally consistent input material contributes to stable feeding and repeatable forming. The surrounding production area should also be kept clean to prevent dust, fragments or foreign material from affecting machine operation.

EXTRUTEX Design and Manufacturing

EXTRUTEX offers the EX150 with Austria design and engineering development, while manufacturing is carried out in China at EXTRUTEX production facilities in Nanjing and Shanghai. This structure combines Austria-based design and engineering input with established industrial manufacturing capabilities in China.

EXTRUTEX develops equipment for plastics processing, extrusion and downstream applications. The EX150 follows this approach by combining straightforward mechanical forming, frequency-controlled operation and automatic handling functions in a dedicated industrial machine for artistic straw production.

Choosing Between EX150, EX-300WG and EX-900W/G

Machine selection should begin with the finished straw design rather than only the nominal production speed. The EX150 is particularly suited to products that require a long decorative flexible section and a high number of forming teeth. Its 5.8 mm and 7.8 mm configurations provide defined options for two common straw inner diameters.

When the product requires a shorter flexible section, a different bending pattern or another production configuration, the EX-300WG and EX-900W/G models should also be considered. The appropriate machine depends on straw diameter, length, wall thickness, tooth pattern, flexible-section length, required production rate and packaging method.

EXTRUTEX can evaluate the actual product drawing and production requirements to help determine the most appropriate flexible straw forming solution. Final machine selection should be confirmed after reviewing the exact straw geometry and production target.

Key Benefits

• Dedicated machine for artistic multi-tooth flexible drinking straws.
• Austria design with manufacturing in Nanjing and Shanghai, China.
• Available for 5.8 mm and 7.8 mm straw inner diameters.
• Supports straight straw lengths from 230 to 330 mm.
• Specified wall thickness of 0.15–0.19 mm.
• Production capacity of approximately 100–150 pcs/min.
• 58 teeth for the 5.8 mm version and 53 teeth for the 7.8 mm version.
• Frequency-controlled drive with smooth, stepless speed adjustment.
• Automatic feeding, forming, counting and finished-product discharge after hopper loading.
• Automatic alarm when the preset production quantity is reached.
• Automatic stop function when a fault occurs.
• Suitable for integration into existing straight-straw production workflows.

Conclusion

The EX150 Artistic Flexible Straw Making Machine provides a dedicated industrial solution for manufacturers that want to produce decorative flexible drinking straws from straight straw products. With two diameter configurations, a 100–150 pcs/min production range, automatic counting, fault-stop functionality and frequency-controlled speed adjustment, the machine is designed to simplify repetitive forming operations and support consistent commercial production.

The 5.8 mm configuration is specified for 58 teeth, while the 7.8 mm configuration is specified for 53 teeth. Both configurations support 230–330 mm straw lengths and 0.15–0.19 mm wall thickness. These defined parameters make it easier for manufacturers to match the machine to a specific artistic straw design.

For companies requiring a long decorative flexible section with approximately 53–58 teeth, the EX150 is a focused solution. For products requiring a different flexible geometry or higher-output bending concept, EXTRUTEX can compare the EX150 with the EX-300WG and EX-900W/G models and recommend a configuration according to the actual product requirements.