Direct Answer
To get an accurate screw barrel quote, send a drawing if you have one. If you don't, send product photos plus the major dimensions — diameter, length and flange information — together with the material you process and the surface treatment you want.
With those details clear, EJS can usually make an offer within one working day. Vague inputs are the number-one reason a quote is slow or wrong.
Screw barrels are almost 100% customized — there is no catalogue part number to point at. That means the quote is only as good as the information behind it. Send too little and you get either a slow back-and-forth of questions or a "budget" number that changes later. Send the right details up front and you get a firm, accurate price fast. This guide lists exactly what to provide, why prices differ between suppliers, and how lead time and payment work.
1. What a Manufacturer Needs to Quote You
There are three things a supplier must know before a number means anything. Provide all three and the quote is firm; leave one out and it becomes a guess.
The geometry — a drawing, or key dimensions
A dimensioned drawing is ideal because it removes all ambiguity. When a drawing is not available, the essentials are diameter, length, and flange information — these are a must for even a budget price.
The material you process
What you run through the machine decides the base steel and the surface treatment. "PA6 with 30% glass fibre" and "clean PP" are completely different jobs. Always state the polymer, the filler and its percentage, and any regrind — filler content changes the wear class more than the polymer name.
The surface treatment you want (or ask us)
Nitrided, bimetallic, or chrome-plated — matched to the material. If you are not sure, say so and give the material; a good supplier specifies it for you rather than leaving it blank.
The single biggest cause of a wrong quote: leaving out the material. Two suppliers quoting the same dimensions but assuming different steels and treatments will give wildly different prices — and you will not know why. Name the material every time.
2. No Drawing? Here Is What to Send
Most replacement buyers do not have a drawing — the original part came with the machine years ago. That is normal, and it does not stop you getting an accurate quote. Send this instead:
- Clear photos of the screw and barrel, including the flange and the drive end
- Overall length and outer diameter of the screw
- Barrel bore diameter and flange details (bolt pattern, dimensions)
- The machine make and model if you know it (e.g. Krauss Maffei, Cincinnati)
- The material you process and any wear symptoms on the current part
If measuring is difficult, EJS engineers can take on-site measurements of your existing screw barrel regardless of the machine brand, then build a replacement to match. Sending the worn part's measurements, not just a description of the problem, is what turns a rough estimate into a firm quote.
3. What Actually Drives the Price
Screw barrel pricing is not arbitrary. Three factors move it more than anything else:
| Factor | Effect on price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Size (diameter & length) | Large | More material and more machining time; a 10 m twin barrel is a different order from a small single screw |
| Base steel grade | Moderate | Stainless and tool steels cost more than standard alloy steel |
| Surface treatment | Large | Bimetallic (cast lining + PTA hardfacing) costs more than nitriding; the alloy grade matters too |
| Quantity | Moderate | Setup is amortised over more pieces; repeat orders price better |
| Complexity | Varies | Mixing elements, special flanges, tight tolerances add work |
This is why a bimetallic twin barrel and a nitrided single screw are never in the same price bracket — and why specifying the treatment is essential to a meaningful number.
4. Why Two Quotes Are Rarely Comparable
Buyers often line up quotes side by side and pick the lowest, only to find the parts are not equivalent. The prices differ because the specifications differ — often silently.
One supplier may have quoted a nitrided part, another a bimetallic one; one may have assumed a cheaper base steel, another a stainless grade; one may have used a general "nickel-based" alloy, another a tungsten-carbide grade rated for your filler. On paper they are all "screw barrels." In your machine they will last very different amounts of time.
To make quotes comparable, pin down the specification yourself: base steel grade, surface treatment, and — for bimetallic — the alloy grade name and layer thickness in writing. Then every supplier is pricing the same thing.
Make your quotes apples-to-apples
- Ask each supplier to name the base steel, not "alloy steel"
- Ask for the surface treatment and depth/thickness in millimetres
- For bimetallic, ask for the alloy grade name (e.g. Ni60, Colmonoy 83, EJS04), not just "bimetallic"
- Confirm what documents come with the part (material certificate, inspection report)
5. Lead Time and Payment Terms
Lead time
Lead time is production time plus shipping. EJS production time typically ranges from 20 to 70 days depending on the part, quantity and schedule, and is always stated on the offer. Production starts once the drawing is confirmed. Popular conical twin sizes such as 55/110 and 65/132 are kept semi-finished in stock, which shortens delivery on those.
Payment terms
T/T is most common. For new customers, EJS offers 50% at order confirmation and 50% before shipment; regular customers can discuss more flexible terms. For smaller amounts, PayPal, Western Union and MoneyGram are accepted to save bank costs.
Warranty and documents
All screw barrels carry a one-year warranty when run with pure plastics, with a free replacement against a formal non-conforming report (the customer covers transportation). A material certificate and inspection report come with every order, and each part is stamped with a traceable identification number.
6. The Quote-Ready Checklist
Copy this into your inquiry and you will get an accurate quote on the first reply — usually within one working day.
Send this and skip the back-and-forth
- Drawing (if available) — or photos + diameter, length, flange details
- Screw type — single, parallel twin, or conical twin
- Material — polymer, filler type and percentage, any regrind
- Surface treatment — nitrided / bimetallic / chrome, or ask us to advise
- Machine make & model — if known
- Quantity and any target delivery date
EJS works across single screw, parallel twin and conical twin geometries in both nitrided and bimetallic construction. For how the material choice affects your part, see the materials guide; for the wider picture, the complete buyer's guide.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
What information do I need to get a screw barrel quote?
A drawing is ideal. If you have no drawing, send product photos plus the major dimensions — diameter, length and flange information — together with the material you process and the surface treatment you want. With that, EJS can usually make an offer within one working day. Because screw barrels are almost 100% customized, the more accurate your input, the more accurate the quote.
Can I get a quote without a drawing?
Yes. When a drawing is not possible, product photos and major dimensions (diameter, length, flange information) are a must for budget pricing. For a firm quote, EJS engineers can also take on-site measurements of your existing screw barrel regardless of the machine brand, from Krauss Maffei to Cincinnati, and produce a replacement to match.
How long does it take to get a screw barrel quote?
EJS is usually able to make an offer within one working day when the information is clear. Missing or ambiguous details — no material, no surface treatment, unclear dimensions — are the main reason a quote takes longer, because the supplier has to come back with questions first.
Why do screw barrel prices vary so much between suppliers?
Price is driven mainly by size, base steel grade, and surface treatment. A small nitrided single screw and a large bimetallic twin barrel are completely different orders of cost. Quotes also differ because suppliers may assume different materials or treatments when your input is vague — which is why specifying the base steel, the surface treatment and the alloy grade makes quotes comparable.
What is the lead time for a custom screw barrel?
Lead time is production time plus shipping. EJS production time typically ranges from 20 to 70 days depending on the part, quantity and schedule, and is always stated on the offer. Production begins after the drawing is confirmed. Keeping popular conical twin sizes semi-finished in stock allows shorter delivery on those.
What are the payment terms for a screw barrel order?
T/T is most common. For new customers EJS offers 50% at order confirmation and 50% before shipment; regular customers can discuss more flexible terms. For smaller amounts, PayPal, Western Union and MoneyGram are accepted to save bank costs.
Is there a warranty on a screw barrel order?
EJS gives a one-year warranty on all screw barrels when they run with pure plastics, with a free replacement provided against a formal non-conforming report, where the customer covers the transportation cost. A material certificate and inspection report are supplied with every order.
