Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering

Name

Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering

Legal name

Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering, Inc.

Website

https://rauwendaal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Polymer Extrusion Equipment

NAICS

Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing (32615), All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (32599)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Masterbatch Manufacturing (Color, Additive, White/Black) (IMANABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foam Conversion & Fabrication (Cutting, Laminating, CNC, Packaging Inserts) (IMANAIAJ)

Keywords

• Extruder screw design
• Polymer mixing technology
• Extrusion engineering services
• Custom extrusion systems
• Extrusion training seminars

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Custom Extruder Screws: Design and manufacture of custom extruder screws including single and multi-stage screws, barrier screws, mixing screws, compounding screws, foam extrusion screws, and injection molding screws. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales with custom engineering.
2. Public Seminars: Online seminars on Understanding Extrusion ($975) and Troubleshooting Extrusion ($975), or both combined ($1,700). Four half-day sessions per course delivered virtually.
3. In-House Training Seminars: Tailored training programs delivered at client facilities covering topics such as Advanced Extrusion, Blown Film Extrusion, Compounding, Die Design, Extruder Screw Design, and Troubleshooting.
4. Books and Publications: Sale of technical books on polymer extrusion, SPC, troubleshooting, understanding extrusion, polymer mixing, and leakage flow. Books published through Hanser Publications with discount code RAU2014.
5. Engineering Consulting Services: Consulting services including analysis and improvement of existing extrusion operations, troubleshooting, custom extruder screws and dies design, failure analysis, material characterization, and expert witness services.
6. Video Training Programs: SPC in Extrusion video training program distributed through Society of Plastics Engineers for $850, including six videotapes, participant workbook, and answer guide.
7. Simulation Software: ITXtrude simulation software for extrusion process analysis sold as part of training offerings.
8. Custom Extrusion Systems: Complete custom extrusion systems including foam board extrusion lines, composite profile extrusion lines, single screw compounding systems, and custom data acquisition systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering (REE) designs, manufactures, and sells custom extruder screws and patented mixing devices — including CRD (Chris Rauwendaal Dispersive) mixers, VIP (Vortex Intermeshing Pin) mixers, barrier screws, and specialty foam and compounding screws — for the plastics processing industry. The company also provides complete custom extrusion systems (foam board, composite profile, compounding, and data acquisition lines), engineering consulting, troubleshooting and material testing services, public and in-house training seminars, simulation software (ITXtrude), and authored technical books on extrusion and polymer mixing.

Product overview

Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering offers a comprehensive portfolio of polymer processing solutions centered on custom extruder screws and mixing technology. The company's core products include patented CRD (Chris Rauwendaal Dispersive) mixing devices and VIP (Vortex Intermeshing Pin) mixers, along with specialized screws for injection molding, extrusion, compounding, and foam applications. These products are complemented by complete custom extrusion systems (foam board, composite profile, compounding systems, data acquisition), professional training seminars (public online courses and in-house programs), simulation software (ITXtrude©), and technical publications including seven books on extrusion, mixing, and troubleshooting. The portfolio also includes engineering consulting, troubleshooting services, material testing, and expert witness services, providing end-to-end solutions for plastics processors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Extruder Screws Custom-designed extruder screws including single and multi-stage screws, screws with dispersive and distributive mixing sections, optimized barrier screws, and specialized screws for grooved feed extruders and twin screw extruders. Sold to plastics processors and extruder manufacturers.
• Injection Molding Screws Single stage, two-stage, and mixing screws designed for injection molding machines across various polymer processing applications.
• Compounding Screws Single screw and twin screw compounding screws designed for high-performance mixing and compounding operations.
• Foam Extruder Screws Specialized screws for foam extrusion using chemical or physical blowing agents, including primary and secondary screws for tandem foam extrusion lines.
• CRD Mixer Patented dispersive and distributive mixing device (Patents 5,932,159 & 6,136,246) that generates elongational flows for efficient mixing with low pressure loss. Available in CRD5, CRD6, and CRD7 configurations for extrusion and injection molding applications.
• CRD Barrier Screw Barrier screw combining conventional barrier screw benefits with CRD mixing characteristics. Barrier flight generates elongational flow for improved dispersive mixing and reduced energy dissipation.
• CRD-NRV (Non-Return Valve Mixer) Non-return valve with integrated distributive and dispersive mixing capability for injection molding screws, combining NRV and mixing functions in one device based on CRD technology.
• Elongational Pin Mixer (EPM) Stand-alone mixing ring (patent pending) creating strong elongational flows for dispersive and distributive mixing at large viscosity ratios, with multiple rings to ensure multiple passes through high stress regions.
• VIP (Vortex Intermeshing PIN) Mixer Patented mixer (Patent 6,709,147) licensed to Sulzer Chemtech Inc. Uses intermeshing pins into screw flights for active stretching and folding of interfaces, achieving effective distributive mixing over short distances.
• Mixing Breaker Plate (MBP) Novel breaker plate design that enhances mixing in extruders. Configurable with parallel, circular or radial slots for stronger dispersive or distributive mixing.
• Dispersive/Distributive Static Mixer (DDSM) Static mixer providing efficient dispersive and distributive mixing through continual elongational flows. Features modular design for easy assembly, dis-assembly and cleaning.
• Foam Board Extrusion Lines Custom foam board extrusion lines engineered by REE for non-standard applications not available from established extruder manufacturers.
• Composite Profile Extrusion Lines Custom composite profile extrusion lines designed and engineered by REE for specialized applications.
• Single Screw Compounding Systems Complete single screw compounding systems engineered by REE for polymer compounding operations.
• Custom Data Acquisition Systems Custom data acquisition systems engineered by REE for monitoring and analyzing extrusion processes.
• Engineering Consulting Services Engineering consulting including analysis and improvement of extrusion operations, troubleshooting, design of custom extruder screws, dies, complete extrusion lines, failure analysis, and expert witness services.
• Material Testing and Analysis Material testing and analysis services for polymer characterization and extrusion process optimization.
• Expert Witness Services Expert witness services with extensive trial experience for legal cases involving extrusion technology and polymer processing.
• Troubleshooting Services Systematic troubleshooting services using advanced tools including computer-aided problem solving to identify and resolve extrusion issues.
• In-House Training Seminars Customized in-house training seminars on topics including advanced extrusion, blown film, compounding, die design, screw design, troubleshooting, and statistical process control. Delivered at client facilities.
• Understanding Extrusion Seminar Four half-day online training course covering extrusion fundamentals, polymer properties, extruder screw design, twin screw extruders, and die design. Instructor: Dr. Chris Rauwendaal.
• Troubleshooting Extrusion Seminar Four half-day online seminar covering systematic troubleshooting methodology, functional problems, polymer degradation, extrusion instabilities, melt fracture, and gel problems. Instructor: Dr. Chris Rauwendaal.
• SPC in Extrusion Video Training Program Six videotape training program with participant workbook covering SPC concepts and their application to extrusion operations. Distributed by Society of Plastics Engineers for $850.
• ITXtrude Simulation Software Computer-based interactive training program for extrusion that allows students to determine shear rate, solids conveying rate, melting rate, drag and pressure flow rate, and characteristic curves using a point-and-click interface.
• Polymer Extrusion (Book) Comprehensive book bridging theory and practice in extrusion. 5th Edition, ISBN 1-56990-321-2. Covers different types of extruders, hardware, instrumentation, fundamental principles, polymer properties, process analysis, twin screw extruders, and troubleshooting.
• Polymer Mixing (Book) Book covering fundamental aspects of polymer mixing including distributive and dispersive mixing, single and twin screw extruders, internal and external mixers, and static mixing devices. ISBN 1-56990-223-2.
• Understanding Extrusion (Book) Practical guide for extruder operators, supervisors, and process engineers covering machinery, extrusion lines, polymer properties, and troubleshooting. ISBN 978-1-56990-453-4.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18% improvement in overall equipment efficiency
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Madison GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Madison Group cooperates with REE on CRD mixer development. They developed the BEMflow boundary element flow analysis program (originally from University of Wisconsin, Madison by Professor Osswald). The Madison Group provides computational analysis tools for detailed flow analysis in extruder screws and dies.
• Sulzer Chemtech Inc.majorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSulzer Chemtech Inc. holds license for VIP (Vortex Intermeshing PIN) Mixer technology (Patent 6,709,147). This is a significant licensing partnership for the patented VIP mixing technology.
• D.R. Joseph, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerD.R. Joseph, Inc. is a sponsor partner for the Blown Film Extrusion seminar taught by Dr. Kirk Cantor. Located at 921 W. Harris Road, Arlington, TX 76001. Dan Joseph contacts at [email protected] for seminar information.
• University of Wisconsin - Polymer Processing GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREE works with the Polymer Processing Group at University of Wisconsin, Madison on applying the boundary element method (BEMflow) to extrusion and mixing problems. Originally developed by Professor Osswald and co-workers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coperion: Global market leader in compounding and extrusion technology, manufacturing twin screw extruders, mixers, and complete systems. Directly competitive with REE in serving plastics compounders needing mixing and processing equipment, though at much larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• KraussMaffei Extrusion: Major manufacturer of extrusion systems, compounding lines, and screw/barrel components for the plastics industry. A direct competitor in extruder hardware and downstream compounding equipment, serving overlapping polymer processor customers.
• Xtrutech: Specialty manufacturer of custom extruder screws, barrels, and re-manufacturing services. Directly competes with REE in custom screw design and supply for plastics processors, with similar customer segment and service model.
• Leistritz: Specialized manufacturer of twin screw extruders and compounding systems, with strong presence in plastics, food, and pharma. Comparable to REE in serving high-end compounding customers with custom engineered solutions.

Emerging players

• Entek: Manufacturer of twin screw extruders and components for polymer processing, including replacement screws and wear parts. Comparable to REE in serving compounding and extrusion processor customers with custom hardware solutions.
• Compiplast: Specialty provider of polymer processing simulation software (Flow-2000). Already cooperates with REE on simulation tools, similar in being a niche specialty engineering firm serving plastics processors, with a stronger software/digital focus.
• The Madison Group: Polymer processing consulting and engineering firm that cooperates with REE on CRD mixer development. Provides computational analysis tools (BEMflow) that complement REE's mixing technology. Similar size and specialty consulting focus but with stronger software orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Sulzer Chemtech: Major industrial player licensed to REE's VIP mixer technology. Operates broadly in chemical processing, mixing, and separation equipment. Overlaps with REE in static mixing technology for polymer processing, but at much larger scale across multiple end markets.

Others

• Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE): Industry organization that distributes REE's SPC in Extrusion video training program and with which REE has long-standing educational partnerships. Comparable not as a competitor but as an ecosystem enabler for extrusion education and training.

Regional players

• Polymer Processing Institute: Research and education organization providing polymer processing expertise, training, and consulting to the plastics industry. Comparable to REE's training and consulting services but operating primarily as an academic/non-profit in the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering