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Product Description
From drinking straws and lollipop candy sticks to cotton swab sticks, cotton buds and balloon sticks, small-diameter plastic rods are produced in enormous volumes — and under enormous cost pressure. Yet many producers still fight the same four battles every single shift:
Conventional small extruders cannot push PP, PE or PLA through a multi-channel die at speed without surging, so plants run extra machines and extra shifts to meet orders.
Response: purpose-tuned single/dual screw configurations matched to stick and straw dies for stable high-speed flow.
Two-color and three-color straws demand perfectly even color distribution across every channel. Inconsistent melt temperature and poor mixing create streaks that end up rejected by food-contact buyers.
Response: co-extrusion screw sets with synchronized temperature zones keep color layers uniform.
Sticks for cotton swabs and candy must be straight, smooth and dimensionally accurate. Weak haul-off and cutting coordination causes ovality, fish eyes and rough cut ends.
Response: matched water-bath cooling, caterpillar haul-off and cutting device for tight tolerances.
Buyers ask for PP one month, PE the next, then biodegradable PLA. Producers without a flexible line lose orders or keep multiple idle machines.
Response: PP PE PLA-capable screw designs with quick process recipe recall on Siemens PLC.
The Automatic PP PE PLA Lollipop Candy Stick Cotton Swab Stick Cotton Buds Plastic Extruder Production Line from Zhangjiagang Chenxing Machinery Co., Ltd. (Chenxing Machinery) is a complete small-diameter rod and straw manufacturing solution. It is mainly used for making drinking straws, lollipop sticks, cotton swab sticks, cotton buds, balloon sticks and similar nozzle tubes. According to different product requirements, the line can be equipped with different extruder combinations to produce single-color, two-color and multi-color sticks or straws, with the finished products widely used in food, beverage, confectionery, personal care and packaging markets.
The production line consists of the main extruder, forming die, water cooling tank, haul-off and cutting device — five matched stations engineered as one system rather than a patchwork of brands. Single-color, two-color and three-color configurations are all available from our standard building blocks, and the same line platform is used across our pipe extrusion line family, so operators who already know our extruders can start this line with almost no learning curve. Because every rod line is configured around your target diameter (from 1 mm up to 20 mm) and your daily output, we recommend telling our engineers your exact stick type, material and color count first — they will lock the screw, die and downstream speeds in the technical layout before you pay a deposit.
The table below lists the standard configurations supplied with this line. Screw diameter, L/D ratio and main motor power follow the proven 28:1 geometry that balances plastication, mixing and energy consumption for small-diameter PP/PE/PLA products. Product size range means the outside diameter of the stick, straw or rod that can be produced with the corresponding die set.
| Configuration | Screw Diameter (mm) | L/D Ratio | Main Motor Power (kW) | Product Size Range (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single color | ø50 | 28:1 | 7.5 | 1–10 |
| Single color | ø55 | 28:1 | 11 | 2–15 |
| Single color | ø65 | 28:1 | 15 | 3–20 |
| Two color | ø55 + ø25 | 28:1 | 7.5 + 1.5 | 3–15 |
| Three color | ø55 + ø25 × 2 | 28:1 | 11 + 1.5 | 3–15 |
Standard PP/PE/PLA small-diameter stick and straw line configurations from Chenxing Machinery.
Single-color lines with the ø50, ø55 or ø65 extruder are the most economical for plain drinking straws, cotton swab sticks and balloon sticks; larger screws widen the product range and raise throughput. Two-color (main extruder + one satellite screw) and three-color (main extruder + two satellite screws) configurations add colored stripes or multi-color segments, which are typical for candy lollipop sticks, striped straws and decorative balloon sticks. If your current plant runs both plain and striped products, many customers choose one ø55 two-color line as their first machine and add satellite extruders later — the platform is designed for modular upgrades. Tell us your target diameter and daily output and our engineers will confirm the screw, die channels and line speed in a free technical layout.
Main Extruder with PP/PE/PLA Screw — 28:1 L/D screw geometry, hardened and nitrided for long service, with gearbox and motor sized to the configuration in the table above. The drive platform is shared with our single screw extruder range, which has been proven across hundreds of polyolefin and PLA applications.
Forming Die / Multi-Channel Die Head — machined to your stick or straw diameter with uniform melt distribution; multi-channel versions allow several rods to be drawn at once, multiplying the output of a single screw.
Water Cooling Tank — multi-zone water bath with adjustable temperature and flow, cooling the rod evenly so that roundness and straightness are held through the whole length of the line.
Haul-Off Unit — caterpillar or roller haul-off synchronized with screw speed to prevent diameter fluctuation at high take-off speed.
Cutting Device — rotary or flying cutter giving clean, square cut ends for cotton swab sticks and candy sticks, with adjustable length from centimeters to meters.
Siemens PLC + Touch Screen HMI — temperature, screw speed and line speed are set and monitored from one screen; recipes for PP, PE and PLA can be stored and recalled for fast changeover.
One Line, Many Products — Change the die and process recipe and the same base machine moves from drinking straws to cotton swab sticks, lollipop sticks, cotton buds or balloon sticks. PP, PE and PLA are all supported, with HDPE and recycled-content blends available on request. This flexibility is why many owners choose Chenxing as their plastic extrusion machines supplier for both rods and larger profiles.
Real Multi-Color Capability — Two-color and three-color configurations bring satellite screws (7.5 + 1.5 kW and 11 + 1.5 kW respectively) into a synchronized co-extrusion train, giving stable stripes and color layers without bleeding. Food-contact buyers appreciate the repeatable color quality.
Built for PP, PE and PLA — The screw geometry and temperature profile are tuned for polyolefins and biodegradable PLA, so you can serve conventional and eco-friendly buyers from the same production floor. For larger-diameter work, see our ABS PETG PLA 3D filament extrusion line and rainbow 3D printer filament production line, which share the same material-handling philosophy.
European-Style Downstream Matching — Die, water cooling, haul-off and cutting are designed together, eliminating the ovality, sagging and length errors that appear when stations from different suppliers are connected. Add our other type pipe extrusion line solution or profile extrusion line solution when you want to grow into larger rod, tube or profile products later.
Factory Tested Before Shipment — Every line runs a complete machinery test report with your material and product sample before packing, and the machine is protected with PE film winding wrapping for ocean freight. Export references include Egypt, Turkey, Italy, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.
Modular Growth Path — Start with a single-color line and add satellite extruders, a second die set or an automatic packer as demand grows, without scrapping the original investment. Small-diameter lines pair naturally with our single wall corrugated pipe extrusion line and double wall corrugated pipe extrusion line in a diversified extrusion plant.
Operator-Friendly Control — Siemens PLC with touch screen stores recipes for PP, PE and PLA, so a new operator can switch products in minutes. The same control philosophy runs through our SJ-30/28 plastic co-extrusion single screw laboratory extruder, which is popular for R&D trials before full production.
Real After-Sales Support — As an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer with 20+ years of experience, we offer overseas installation guidance, operator training, spare-part supply and remote troubleshooting. You are never left alone after the container leaves the port.
Drinking Straws
Plain and striped PP drinking straws for juice, milk tea and beverage packaging.
Lollipop Candy Sticks
Round and square candy sticks in single or multi colors for confectionery production.
Cotton Swab / Cotton Bud Sticks
Smooth, straight PP sticks for personal care and medical cotton swabs.
Balloon Sticks
Lightweight PE/PP balloon rods for events, gifts and promotional items.
Nozzle Tubes
Small nozzle and dispenser tubes for cosmetics, perfume and spray applications.
Compostable PLA Rods
Biodegradable PLA straws and sticks for eco-friendly foodservice brands.
If your product portfolio also includes tubing or larger pipes, the same small-diameter line technology extends naturally into our pipe extrusion line solution, PPR pipe extrusion line solution, HDPE pipe extrusion line solution and PVC pipe extrusion line solution pages — ask our engineers which configuration best fits your whole factory plan.
This line is mainly used for making drinking straws, lollipop candy sticks, cotton swab sticks, cotton buds, balloon sticks and small nozzle tubes with outside diameters from about 1 mm up to 20 mm, depending on the extruder configuration and die set. In practice, the same base machine can switch between product families by changing the forming die, screw profile (where needed) and process recipe stored in the PLC. Typical materials are PP, PE and PLA; HDPE and recycled-content blends can also be processed after our engineers review the formula. This answer is provided by Chenxing Machinery’s extrusion process team, who have configured rod and straw lines for food, confectionery, personal-care and packaging customers across more than 30 countries.
In a single-color configuration, one main extruder (from ø50 7.5 kW, ø55 11 kW or ø65 / 15 kW, all 28:1 L/D) feeds a conventional die and produces a solid-color stick or straw in the 1–20 mm range. In the two-color configuration, a ø25 satellite extruder (1.5 kW) joins the ø55 main extruder (7.5 kW) to add one stripe or second color for products of 3–15 mm. In the three-color configuration, two ø25 satellite extruders join the ø55 main extruder (11 kW) to create two added color streams, again for 3–15 mm products. The practical difference is visual: striped straws, candy sticks and decorative balloon sticks require the satellite extruders; plain commodity products do not. This answer is provided by Chenxing Machinery’s sales-engineering team based on the standard machine data sheet.
Yes. The screw and barrel set is designed for polyolefin and biodegradable PLA processing, and the Siemens PLC stores temperature and speed recipes for each material, so a line configured for PP straws can be switched to PE or PLA with a recipe recall and a short purge. PLA in particular requires careful drying and a narrower processing window, and our engineers will provide the recommended temperature profile and, if necessary, a drying hopper option before shipment. Customers who run both conventional and compostable products on one line typically schedule material changeovers by batch, which keeps productivity high while allowing them to serve eco-friendly buyers. This answer is provided by Chenxing Machinery’s process engineers based on field experience with PLA rod and straw production.
Chenxing Machinery supplies each automatic PP/PE/PLA stick extrusion line with a standard one-year warranty covering the main extruder, die, cooling tank, haul-off and cutting device. The minimum order quantity is one complete line, because each line is assembled to order with the die set matched to your product diameter and color count. The standard supply scope includes the machinery test report, PLC programs, operation and maintenance documentation, and PE film winding wrapping for export. Spare screws and heating elements can be ordered at any time without a separate MOQ. If your factory also produces larger pipes, ask about combined quotations with our HDPE pipe production line 16-1600mm or ABS pipe production line to save on freight and commissioning. This answer is provided by Chenxing Machinery’s order-management team.
For every exported line, Chenxing Machinery coordinates shipment, and our engineers support installation and commissioning either on site or through detailed video guidance, depending on the project size. We arrange for the machine to be tested with your material before packing, so the line arrives ready to run. After commissioning, we train your operators on start-up, shutdown, recipe change, daily maintenance and common fault handling, and we keep spare parts and technical documents available through our export department. With CE-compliant machinery and an ISO 9001 quality system, the line documentation also supports your own certification and customer audits. For any technical question during operation, email Nicole and the engineering team will respond with drawings, parameters or remote support. This answer is provided by Chenxing Machinery’s after-sales service team.
Every Chenxing stick and straw line starts from a conversation about your product: stick or straw diameter, length, material (PP, PE or PLA), number of colors, and daily output in pieces or kilograms. Send these details to Nicole and our engineers will reply within 24 hours with a recommended configuration — screw size, motor power, die channels, cooling length, haul-off and cutter speed — plus a factory-direct quotation.
Nicole — Export Manager, Zhangjiagang Chenxing Machinery Co., Ltd.
Email: ceo@cxsljx.com
Tel WeChat WhatsApp: +86 159 5118 7228
We respond to every inquiry within 24 hours with a configuration proposal and rough quotation. Include your target stick diameter, material and daily output to get the fastest answer. Custom die sets, satellite extruder upgrades, drying hoppers for PLA, spare screw sets and turnkey factory layouts are all available — and for the full extrusion product range, visit our product catalog or explore our complete extrusion solutions page.
