Abstract The plasticating principle, named HELIBAR for single-screw-extruders [1 to 5] is described and recent experimental results with a HELIBAR - extruder Ø 50×34 D are presented. They prove, that with only one barrier-screw the most different thermoplastic polymers can be processed successfully with very high throughput, good process stability, low melt-temperature and good melt-homogeneity. This concerns standard polymers (PE, PP, PS) and so-called technical polymers (PA, PC, PET, PBT, PMMA) as well as soft polymers and elastomers (PVC-W, PUR, TPE, EVA). Besides, this system in a standard design was tested successfully with a fast-running injection moulding machine Ø 70 × 23 D with different polymers (PS, PP, PE-HD). Compared to previous high-performance screws - with the same installed driving power - lower melt temperatures, good melt homogeneities and enhancements of the plasticating power between 20% and 100% were achieved.