Feedworms, Timing Screws & Scrolls

A timing screw (also called a feed screw, feedworm, scroll, worm or infeed screw) is a precision-machined helical component used in packaging and filling lines to guide containers through the process at controlled spacing and pitch. The geometry of the screw controls the container spacing at the outfeed, which is critical for accurate filling, capping, labelling and inspection operations.

No. All timing screws, scrolls and feedworms are manufactured in-house at our Norfolk workshop on a CNC mill dedicated solely to scroll production. We control quality end-to-end and don’t pass this specialist work out to third parties.

PE1000 is our primary material for the majority of timing screws and scrolls, chosen for its excellent wear resistance, low friction and consistent machinability. We can also manufacture in UHMW-PE, Acetal (POM) or other engineering plastics on enquiry for specific applications. Steel mounting parts are manufactured in-house alongside the plastic scroll.

Yes. Scrolls can be manufactured in colour-coded material to help plant operators quickly identify which scroll goes with which container size or line. This is particularly useful for plants with multiple packaging lines running different products.

Our typical lead time for timing screws and feedworms is generally never more than 3 weeks, and often faster depending on current workshop scheduling. For OEM customers we operate stockholding arrangements on standard parts, which means we can respond immediately to urgent build requirements that use standard specifications.

See the measurement guide in the section above for the 13 dimensions we need (labelled A to M). The most important are overall length, infeed and outfeed pitch, core and outside diameters, and the bore diameters at each end. Ideally, send drawings of the container the scroll handles rather than just the scroll itself, so we can verify the scroll geometry is correct for the container.

Yes. We manufacture the steel mounting parts alongside the plastic scroll, and can supply the complete assembly fully fitted and verified before despatch. This removes the risk of tolerance mismatches between separately-sourced components and means the scroll is ready to install on arrival.

We design scrolls for any container geometry: round, oval, square, rectangular or bespoke-shape. The scroll pitch and pocket design are tailored to the specific container, so the key input is accurate container drawings. We work with bottling, filling, capping, labelling and inspection machinery across the UK packaging industry.

We are based in Thetford, Norfolk and ship UK-wide. For OEM packaging machinery customers with regular requirements, we can coordinate stockholding and call-off arrangements to suit your build schedule. International shipping is available on enquiry.