The Steele 3EX
The 3EX is our laboratory extruder. It’s designed and engineered for fast evaluations of material mixes and extruded products.
This laboratory extruder replicates production at a smaller, more affordable scale. The result is rapid prototyping and accelerated product development — for ROI measured in weeks or months, instead of years.
Proven over 20+ years in our lab
Steele has used this machine for over 20 years to qualify millions of tons of customer products. It combines a benchtop footprint with the muscle to extrude products at the same stiffness as our production extruders.
Like all Steele machines, this laboratory extruder offers robust construction, reliable operation and fast die changes.
The 3EX shapes clays and shales for the brick industry. It also agglomerates high-value byproducts in steel, ferro alloys, and other metallurgical and mining production raw material streams.
It’s available for purchase or lease, to demonstrate proof of concept with reduced risk and cost.
Shaping the same tough raw materials as our larger extruders:
- Bauxite
- Biosolids
- Blast furnace sludge
- Board scrap
- Cement
- Clays and shales
- Coal fines
- Dust and sludge from flue gas purification
- Filter cakes
- Fly ash
- Gypsum
- Iron ore and oxides
- Laterite
- Lignite
- Lithium clay
- Manganese ore
- Metallic fines
- Mill scale
- Mine paste
- Mullite
- Nickel laterite
- Paper sludge
- Salts
- Sand
- Sawdust
- Scrap fiber
- Slag
- Sludges
- Tailings
- Wallboard
- Wash plant products
- And more …
How the 3EX works in your laboratory
The 3EX is a compact, modular unit requiring only a 3-phase power connection. The cabinet includes a pump for achieving deep vacuum. The operator’s panel offers ergonomic controls and an HMI.
We designed the 3EX for hand-feeding small test batches, approximately five liters minimum. Steele has a wide range of dies available for extruding structural shapes or pelletizing.
The 3EX features an opening at the rear, to fill with a homogenous mix of raw materials. Next, the materials are forced through the sealing section, applying vacuum to the mix to de–air during shaping.
The die mounts to the front of the extruder, which accommodates a wide range of dies. Brick companies can use a brick simulation die. Metallurgical engineers can change die plates to test various pellet sizes.
This extruder has a self-contained small vacuum power unit, designed for easy installation and a minimal footprint.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Self-contained vacuum power unit designed for easy installation and small footprint
• Front-mounted die handles wide range of product shapes and sizes
• Rear opening for filling with homogenous mix
Understand the effects of change — one variable at a time
The 3EX lets you see the results of changing your variables immediately. You can calibrate with precision to optimize your product performance:
- Adjust material mix.
- Increase or decrease percentage of binder or water.
- Experiment with different shapes.
- Change out die plates for more or fewer holes.
- Run no vacuum, full vacuum or partial.
- Analyze adding more or less shear to raw materials, relative to binder, water, and power consumption.
Extruded shapes exit the die ready for product analysis. You can measure drying, firing and curing cycles, compressive strength and density, and conduct drop testing or the ISO 3271 Standard Tumble Test.
This laboratory extruder replicates production at a smaller, more affordable scale. The result is rapid prototyping and accelerated product development — for ROI measured in weeks or months, instead of years.
Start small and then go big
When you’re ready to scale up production, we offer a complete range of material preparation and extrusion solutions. Steele also provides single-source plant and application engineering, plus global technical support, parts, and service.
For more information on the new 3EX small laboratory extruder, talk to your regional Steele sales or service representative, or contact us.