(Laatzen/Germany, August 27, 2025) With the market launch of the new ZE Petrochemical (ZE-PC) series, KraussMaffei Extrusion is setting a milestone in industrial raw polymer production. The powerful co-rotating twin-screw extruders were developed specifically for the requirements of the petrochemical industry and mark the company's entry into this highly dynamic market segment.

The new generation is based on KraussMaffei Extrusion's proven BluePower technology and impresses with outstanding energy efficiency, high processing capacity, and optimized product quality. With screw diameters ranging from 260 to 330 mm—and potentially up to 400 mm—the new ZE-PC offers a highly scalable solution for large-volume polymer processes.

"Petrochemicals is one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide," explains Ralf Benack, CEO KraussMaffei Extrusion GmbH. “Our many years of experience with large-scale single-screw extruders – especially in the diameter range from 400 to 800 mm – and the successful ZE BluePower series have laid the foundation for us to now also enter the raw polymer production market with our own twin-screw solution."

The new ZE-PC extruder impresses with an exceptionally high Da/Di ratio of 1.65 and a high torque density of up to 16 Nm/cm³. A variable-speed drive also enables flexible and process-optimized operation.

This combination of large free volume and high torque, which is unique in the petrochemical industry, offers customers clear advantages: The low screw speeds significantly reduce the risk of thermal degradation of the material. At the same time, the reduced melt temperatures enable higher throughput and a wider process window with lower energy input. In addition, the larger diameter ratio ensures significantly more effective degassing.

In practice, this leads to improved product quality, particularly in terms of viscosity stability and color values. "All in all, our customers benefit from more sustainable production while reducing operating costs (OPEX)," says Dr. Thomas Unger, Vice President Technologies at KraussMaffei Extrusion.

The ZE-PC series was designed for demanding applications in raw polymer production, especially for degassing processes in the melt-to-pellet sector, but also for powder-to-pellet applications with optional degassing. In addition, the series is suitable for large-scale industrial chemical or solvent-based recycling processes.

Production at the new site in Laatzen, Germany, offers ideal conditions for the new ZE PCs. Here, KraussMaffei Extrusion combines state-of-the-art manufacturing technology with comprehensive development and system expertise, supported by close and successful cooperation with international teams. The first results of this partnership are already visible. Three ZE-PC 330 machines for a leading petrochemical group in China are already being delivered, a strong signal of the market's confidence.

Interested visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the new ZE-PC series at K 2025 in Düsseldorf. At the KraussMaffei booth, they can expect a comprehensive insight into technology, applications, and customer benefits – including live presentations, animations, and personal discussions with experts from sales and process engineering.

KraussMaffei at K 2025
Hall 15, Booth C24