On January 1, 1988, Randcastle Extrusion Systems began with a goal: Build the best small extrusion lines. Make the extruders smaller.  Make the extruders better pumps so that the products they produce are more uniform. Make the lines more flexible so that they do more.  Make the lines fit in a smaller space.  Make them affordable.  In short, make everything we knew about small extruders... better.

A bold goal since extruders smaller than one inch diameter had a reputation for screw breakage and poor feeding. But, we thought we could do it.

And on that cold January day, we started to fill blank pieces of paper with drawings of a new extruder: The Microtruder.  We would drive through the metering section of the screw to more than double the screw’s strength.  We would extend the screw into the feedstock for better feeding.

Then we got ambitious. Our first line would make 7 layer coextruded sheet.  We would demonstrate the line at the biggest show in the country... in less than six months.  In June, we would run the line at the NPE’88.   It was not easy; everything did not fit together the first time.  But, we did make seven layer sheet at the show.  It was our first success!

Hard work made the Microtruder as small as 0.25 inch diameter and as large as 1.5 inch diameter.  We engineered dies and downstream lines to match the Microtruders: film lines, pelletizing lines, coextrusion lines, monofilament lines, sheet lines, and more. We kept flexibility and the end user in mind with interchangeable barrels, vents that didn’t flood, dies with interchangeable manifolds, modular feedblocks, and pelletizers that made micro and conventional pellets.  We designed open ended systems so that, as a customer’s project changed, the machinery could change.

Then came the “breakthroughs.”  We invented a new class of smooth bore feed sections; you could pick the one that worked best for your particular feed stock.  Then we discovered a way to reduce short term surging and filed for our first patent.  Next, we devised a way to control long term surging and filed another patent application.  After that, we created a new class of dynamic seal.  It was not
only an improved Surge Suppressor,  it was a self- renewing seal.  Another application.  Another step. Now we have three patents and more on the way.

We started out to be the “best” in small extruders and small extrusion lines.  We’ve kept our goals in mind.  We’ve engineered stronger, smaller, and better lines. Through the integrated abstraction of machine matched to customer goal, we offer unrivaled technology.

Randcastle’s “best” means the demonstration of excellence.  It means pride in what we build today.  It means the certain knowledge that we can do better tomorrow.  It means the commitment to stay the best by relentless pursuit.

We’ve come a long way with good people who work hard at being their best every day.  Where “our best” will take us tomorrow I cannot say.  But, I can guarantee you our energy, our effort, and our commitment... because that’s our choice today.