By Eric Wang | Last verified: 2026-07-24 | Category: Pelletizing Lines | Reading time: ~12 min

A Real TDS Request from an Algerian Buyer

A technical data sheet request is one of the clearest buying signals in our industry, and the inquiry that prompted this article is a textbook example. On July 24, 2026, an Algerian buyer reached us through our /pelletizer/ product page with a short message asking for a pelletizing line technical data sheet covering all screw sizes. Before I started writing this blog, I went back to my inbox and re-read that email twice, because the brevity of the question tells me this person already knows what an extruder is and just needs the data to compare options.

What "All Screw Sizes" Really Means

When a buyer asks for "all screw sizes," they are not asking for a catalogue of every diameter we have ever built. They are asking for a side-by-side TDS that lets them compare 65 mm single screw, 75 mm twin screw, and 95 mm twin screw configurations on the same output, motor power, and footprint basis. Because we engineer every pelletizing line to order, the right answer is a multi-configuration datasheet rather than a single SKU spec sheet. We send one PDF with three columns so the buyer can sit with their production manager and align the line to their target tonnage. In my experience, that single move shortens the internal decision cycle by about two weeks, because engineering, finance, and operations can all work from the same page.

In our experience, when buyers request multiple screw sizes together, they are usually weighing one of three scenarios: scaling up from a 65 mm pilot line to a 75 mm production line, replacing an aging single screw with a Parallel Twin Screw for higher filler loading, or commissioning a brand-new plant and want to budget two or three line classes in parallel. I have personally walked all three of those conversations through to PO in the last 18 months, and each one started from a TDS-stage inquiry exactly like this.

Why a TDS-Stage Inquiry Is a Buying Signal

A buyer who asks for a TDS is between 60 and 90 days from issuing a purchase order, because the TDS is the document their finance, engineering, and compliance teams need to validate the line internally. Because the TDS becomes the reference document for every later discussion, we attach the layout drawing, the electrical load list, and the factory acceptance test protocol to the same email. That single move usually pushes the conversation from "quote only" to "vendor pre-qualification," which is the stage where we at JURRY win most of our repeat business.

How This Article Connects to JURRY Pelletizing Lines

This article is the engineering companion to JURRY's pelletizing line product family. Below are the six pages I personally reference when I scope a TDS for a new buyer, and you can open each one directly to see the matching equipment group, spec sheet, or contact channel.

What Is a Pelletizing Extrusion Line?

A pelletizing extrusion line is a complete production system that melts, mixes, filters, and cuts plastic into uniform pellets that downstream converters can re-melt into finished products. The line has four macro sections: feeding and conveying, plasticizing and mixing inside the extruder, melt filtration and die forming, and downstream cutting and cooling. Because each section sets the boundary for the next, the TDS must specify all four together, not just the extruder screw, and that is where most under-spec'd purchase orders fall apart in our experience.

Single Screw vs Twin Screw vs Conical Twin Screw

Single screw extruders use one rotating screw inside a barrel and are the workhorse for clean PE, PP, and PVC compounding at stable throughput. Parallel twin screw extruders use two co-rotating screws that intermesh and self-wipe, which gives far better distributive and dispersive mixing for filler-loaded and color masterbatch recipes. Conical twin screw extruders angle the two screws outward, which delivers higher torque density and is the classic choice for PVC powder and rigid profile compounding. Because each architecture has a different torque, shear, and residence time profile, the wrong choice burns motor power without delivering the throughput the buyer paid for. At JURRY we map the screw architecture to the polymer family first, then to the recipe, and only then to the output target.

Strand Pelletizing vs Underwater Pelletizing vs Die-face Cutting

Strand pelletizing pushes the melt through a multi-hole die into a water trough, dries the strands, then cuts them into cylindrical pellets. It is the most flexible system we build and works for almost every polymer from PE to PA. Underwater pelletizing cuts the melt directly inside a water-filled die face, which gives rounder, more uniform pellets and higher throughput, but only suits polymers that can tolerate hot water above 50°C such as PET, PE, and certain engineering plastics. Die-face cutting (also called hot-face or water-ring cutting) mounts the cutter against the die plate and is the standard for PVC and other heat-sensitive compounds. Because pellet geometry drives downstream bulk density and feed behavior, the TDS must lock the cutting method to the polymer at the quotation stage, not after the line is shipped.

Compounding vs Recycling vs Masterbatch Pelletizing

Compounding pelletizing lines take virgin base resin plus additives and produce a consistent, ready-to-mould compound for an injection or blow moulder. Recycling pelletizing lines take washed flake, regrind, or agglomerated scrap and re-melt it back into a usable pellet, often with a degassing vent and a melt filter. Masterbatch pelletizing lines concentrate pigments or additives at high let-down ratios, which demands the dispersive mixing of a twin screw and a high-shear screw element set. Because the three applications stress the extruder in different ways, the TDS must be sized for the worst-case recipe, not the average one, and that is the rule we apply to every quotation at JURRY.

The 8 Core Parameters in a Pelletizing Line Technical Data Sheet

A pelletizing line TDS that is actually useful for buyer-side comparison has eight core parameters, and every JURRY datasheet we send to North Africa, the GCC, and Southeast Asia includes them in the same column order. Because buyers compare these eight numbers line by line, the TDS becomes a decision matrix rather than a brochure, which is the entire point of asking for "all screw sizes" in the first place.

1. Screw Diameter (mm) — Sets the Output Ceiling

Screw diameter is the single most important number on a pelletizing line TDS because it sets the absolute upper bound on throughput. As a working rule at JURRY, screw diameter scales with the cube root of output capacity, so a 95 mm twin screw will not deliver exactly 2.1x the output of a 65 mm single screw — the ratio is closer to 4x to 5x in practice, depending on polymer and screw speed. Because screw diameter also drives motor power, gearbox size, and floor footprint, the buyer should fix the output target first and let the diameter follow, not the other way around.

2. L/D Ratio — Drives Plasticization Quality

L/D ratio is the screw length divided by the screw diameter, and it is the most overlooked number on a TDS. A longer L/D gives more mixing, more devolatilization, and a more stable melt. Most JURRY single screw pelletizing screws sit at 28:1 to 33:1 for PE and PP, while our twin screws use 36:1 to 48:1 for compounding. Below 25:1, you will see melt quality drops and output loss on contaminated recycled feed. Because L/D ratio also determines whether a vented barrel can be installed, the TDS should justify the L/D with the polymer's drying tolerance and MFI range, not just the screw length.

3. Screw Speed (rpm) — Sets the Real Output Adjustment Range

Screw speed is the variable that lets the operator move output up and down inside a 1:3 ratio. A 75 mm twin screw running between 300 rpm and 900 rpm gives the operator real headroom to handle recipe changes and grade transitions, while a fixed low-speed 30 rpm conical twin screw is a different class of machine entirely. Because screw speed sets shear rate, the TDS must publish the speed range together with the maximum allowable rpm at the screw tip, not just the nominal speed.

4. Main Motor Power (kW) — Drives Torque and Energy Bill

Main motor power is what makes the screw turn, and on a pelletizing line it typically represents 55% to 70% of total connected load. A 75 mm twin screw compounding line from JURRY ships with a 90 kW to 160 kW main motor depending on L/D and torque density, while a 65 mm single screw recycle line sits at 37 kW to 55 kW. Because motor power ties directly to the kWh/kg energy figure that finance teams benchmark, the TDS must publish motor power and specific energy consumption (kWh/kg) together, not just motor power alone.

5. Output Capacity (kg/h) — The Capacity Curve

Output capacity is the most quoted number on a TDS and also the most misunderstood. A honest TDS publishes a curve: minimum, nominal, and maximum output for each polymer family, with the screw speed, motor load, and melt temperature plotted against output. Because the same line can deliver 200 kg/h or 450 kg/h depending on recipe, the TDS must publish the test conditions together with the output number, not the output number alone, and that is why JURRY always stamps every TDS line with the test polymer, MFI, and screw speed used during the factory acceptance test.

6. Heating Zones & Temperature Control

Heating zones and temperature control determine whether the line can hold a tight melt temperature window across recipes. A 75 mm twin screw at L/D 40:1 typically carries 8 to 10 barrel zones plus a die adapter, all controlled by PID loops with cast aluminium or ceramic heaters. Because temperature stability is the boundary condition for pellet quality, the TDS must publish zone count, heater wattage, and the control brand, not just a generic "PLC controlled" claim.

7. Die Head Configuration (Strand / Underwater)

Die head configuration locks the line to a cutting method, a polymer family, and a throughput range. Strand dies ship with 20 to 200 holes depending on pellet size and output target, while underwater dies use a heated adapter block and a precision-machined die plate. Because the die head is the most engineering-intensive subassembly in the line, the TDS should publish hole count, hole diameter tolerance, and die plate material, not just "die head included".

8. Electrical Standard & Control System

Electrical standard is the parameter most often under-specified on a TDS, and it is also the parameter that decides whether a line clears Algerian customs. A JURRY standard line ships to IEC 60204-1 with a CE-marked main cabinet, 380 V / 50 Hz three-phase power, and an IP54 enclosure rating. Because the wrong electrical standard can delay commissioning by 6 to 12 weeks while transformers are sourced, the TDS must publish the supply voltage, frequency, control platform, and conformity mark on the same page as the screw diameter.

Test conditions: PE/PP virgin compound, melt temperature 200–230°C, motor load 70–85%, screw speed at 80% of maximum. Recycled-feed output is 15–25% lower than the values above. Last verified 2026-07-24 by JURRY process engineering.

How to Choose the Right Screw Size for Your Project

Choosing the right screw size is a four-step process, and the order matters: capacity first, screw architecture second, polymer and recipe third, and footprint and budget fourth. Because each downstream decision rules out different screw diameters, the wrong order is the most common cause of over-spec'd or under-spec'd pelletizing lines we see in our inbox every month.

Match Screw Diameter to Target Annual Capacity

Annual capacity is the boundary condition, not the screw diameter. Convert your annual tonnage to peak hourly output by dividing by 7,200 operating hours (300 days × 24 hours at 100% utilization), then keep one efficiency buffer: 60% for compounding and 50% for recycling. A buyer who needs 5,000 tons of compounded PP per year needs a line that can deliver 5,000 / 7,200 / 0.60 = roughly 1,160 kg/h peak output, which points straight at a 95 mm twin screw. Because the efficiency buffer is the most commonly under-budgeted number, the TDS must publish the buffer we used, not just the headline output.

When Twin Screw Wins Over Single Screw (Compounding, Masterbatch, High-Filler)

Twin screw wins whenever you need intensive mixing, high filler loading above 40%, tight residence time distribution, or frequent recipe changeovers. Because the two screws intermesh and self-wipe, they handle CaCO3, talc, glass fiber, and masterbatch concentrates more evenly than a single screw. Because the additional gearbox and motor cost of a twin screw only pays back when the recipe demands it, single screw still makes economic sense for clean PE or PP regrind at stable throughput, and that is the rule we apply on every quotation we send.

Recycled Material Considerations (Moisture, Contamination, MFI Drift)

Recycled feed is wetter, more contaminated, and less stable in melt flow index than virgin resin. These three forces push you toward a longer L/D, a vented screw, and a larger motor than the same output would need on virgin material. In practice, we de-rate output by 15% to 25% when the TDS is sized for washed flake or post-consumer regrind, and we always include a melt filter (typically 80 to 200 mesh) on the line. Because the de-rating factors compound across the polymer, contamination, and moisture axes, the TDS must be sized on the worst-case recycled recipe, not the average one.

Common Screw Size Mistakes Buyers Make

The three most common mistakes we see in buyer-side TDS requests are: oversizing the line by 30% to "leave headroom" (which adds capex and under-utilizes the motor), undersizing the motor to fit a budget (which makes the line run at 95% motor load and trip on every recipe change), and ignoring the L/D ratio because it looks like a secondary number. Because each of these mistakes shows up six to twelve months after commissioning, the TDS-stage conversation is the cheapest place to catch them, and it is the conversation we look for in every inquiry.

What JURRY Includes in a Complete Technical Data Sheet

When a buyer asks us for a "complete TDS," we send the same eight-section document every time, plus a ninth section that holds the engineering drawings. The eight items below are what I personally check on every datasheet before I sign off on a quotation.

• Process flow diagram and P&ID: A full process flow from feeder to pellet classifier, including vent locations, water inlet/outlet, and vacuum line connections, so the buyer's engineering team can drop the line into a plant layout without guesswork.
• Output capacity curve: A 3-point output curve (minimum, nominal, maximum) for each polymer the line is sized for, with the screw speed and motor load plotted against output, not a single peak number.
• Electrical load list: The full connected load in kW, broken down by main motor, heaters, vacuum, water chiller, and downstream, with the cable sizing and breaker recommendation referenced to IEC 60204-1.
• Compressed air and cooling water demand: Working pressure (typically 0.6 MPa), flow rate (L/min), and water temperature rise (°C) for both the strand trough and the underwater die, because utilities are the most common under-spec on a TDS.
• General arrangement drawing: A top-view and side-view layout with dimensions in millimeters, including service clearance and operator walkway, so the buyer can place the line inside an existing plant without a second layout pass.
• Spare parts list with part numbers: A recommended two-year spare parts list (screw elements, barrel liners, die plate, cutter blades, screen packs, heater bands, sensors) with JURRY part numbers and indicative pricing, because a pelletizing line is only as good as its first overhaul.
• Factory acceptance test (FAT) protocol: A signed test protocol covering output capacity, melt temperature stability, pellet cut quality, noise level (dB), and emergency stop response time, witnessed by the buyer or a third-party inspector before shipment.
• Standards and conformity references: The full list of standards the line is built to (CE, IEC 60204-1, ISO 15270 for recycling applications, ASTM D7209 for waste reduction), so the buyer's compliance team can clear customs and pre-qualify the vendor in one pass.

Why This Algeria Inquiry Matters for JURRY's Market Position

Algeria is one of the most active plastic recycling markets in North Africa, and a TDS request from an Algerian buyer carries more weight than the same request from a saturated market like Western Europe. Because the Algerian National Agency for Investment Development (ANDI) actively channels foreign equipment imports into domestic recycling and compounding projects, a TDS that meets ANDI's bilingual and CE requirements becomes the buyer's primary vendor-selection document, not just a sales tool.

In our experience, the technical-stage inquiry pattern in Algeria runs about 14 to 21 days ahead of quotation, which means the buyer has usually pre-aligned with their finance team before they ever contact us. That changes how we respond: instead of sending a price list, we send a TDS, a layout drawing, and a CE conformity pack in the same email. Because the technical-stage inquiry is the buyer's pre-qualification gate, the TDS is the most strategic document we publish for the Algerian market, and it is the document that wins us the project about 70% of the time when we respond within 48 hours.

For buyers in the wider Maghreb region — Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, and Egypt — the same TDS pattern holds, because they share the IEC 50 Hz grid, the French-language commercial documentation habit, and the same demand for spare parts lead time under 30 days. Because our North African and Mediterranean buyers increasingly source pelletizing lines on TDS quality rather than price, every JURRY datasheet now ships in a French-Arabic-English reference pack on request, which is a small change in our documentation workflow that has moved our win rate in the region from 18% to 38% over the last two years.

FAQ: Pelletizing Extrusion Line Selection