A melt processing plant is provided that includes a melt charger for charging a processing head, in particular a pelletizing head, with melt, in which a diverter valve for discharging the melt during a starting and/or retooling phase is associated to the melt charger upstream of the processing head. A splitter divides the discharged melt into melt portions with the melt channels of the splitter head having at least one step-like cross-sectional enlargement of their inflow portion, a cross-sectional shape different from the outlet cross-section of the discharge channel, and an open orifice region out of the splitter.

Apparatus for the production of an electric conductor provided with at least a layer of coating plastic material. The apparatus comprises: a head for the extrusion of an electric conductor; at least a main extruder having a first supply duct; at least an auxiliary extruder having a second supply duct; and a device for the selection and the diversion of the flows of coating plastic material. The selection and diversion device is provided, in turn, with at least a device for the exclusion of the auxiliary extruder; with a bypass duct between the first duct and the second duct; and with a flow-regulating diverter valve arranged in the intersection point between the first supply duct and a bypass duct connecting the first duct to the second duct.

Systems (200) and methods for making different plastic products (202, 204) in a single melting process are provided. A method includes melting a plastic resin in a first extruder (104) to form a melt (106) and transferring at least a portion of the melt to a second extruder (114). Any portion of the melt (106) that is not transferred to the second extruder (114) is formed into a first plastic product (202). Additives (116) are blended with the melt in the second extruder to form a second melt (118), and a second plastic product (204) is formed from the second melt (118).