Ribbon mixers efficiently blend dry solid materials and powdered components to produce a fine, homogenous mixture. This type of mixer features twin agitators that provide high shear tolerance for dense or viscous products. To ensure the ribbon mixer is a good fit for your business, you must partner with a supplier who understands your industry. This will help them recommend the right type and size of mixer.
High Efficiency
Ribbon mixers are ideal for a range of mixing applications. They can be used to produce various pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, chemicals, and dry granules. They are also suitable for lubricating granules and coating solid particles with liquids.
Choosing the right machine depends on the type of materials you are working with and the specific needs of your facility. Ribbon blenders are often made of mild or stainless steel with special finishes to make them easy to clean and sanitize. You should select a ribbon mixer with an appropriate size and capacity to fit your facility’s needs. The mixer’s swept volume and size will influence how much power it needs to operate. Choose a mixer with twin agitators for greater efficiency and better mixing results.
Durability
Ribbon mixers are durable and can serve you for a long time. They are designed to mix various materials, from powdered flavors to chemical additives and supplements. Some of them are even used in tablet formulations. They are also suitable for mixing products with low shear and high liquid content.
The material construction of your mixer is crucial to its durability. If you are working with food-grade ingredients, using stainless steel with special finishes that can be easily cleaned and sanitized is best. This is because the ingredients could dissolve mild steel over time. The size of the particles and the density of the raw materials you are using will influence the mixing capabilities of your ribbon blender. It is advisable to fill your mixer to its swept volume, which will help you decide on the size of the ideal agitator for your project.
Reliability
Ribbon mixers are multipurpose equipment that can be used to mix a variety of materials and ingredients. For instance, they are often used in the pharmaceutical industry to add lubricants and fillers to powder ingredients for drugs or nutritional products. These mixers can also coat solid particles with a liquid component.
However, it is important to understand that this type of equipment takes a little longer than other mixing machinery. This is because ribbon mixers use a convective mixing pattern that can take up to 20 minutes to produce a product batch. Fortunately, this time can be reduced by using an agitator with speed. In addition, a double set of agitators can also help improve the speed of the mixing process by increasing the amount of shear the product experiences. This can help reduce the time a mixer is running and minimize the chances of product breakage.
Customization
Ribbon mixers have many options to tailor their performance to your unique process. You can choose from various agitator types, adjustable speed drives, and additional accessories. You can also opt for a direct drive mechanism, eliminating belt slippage that may occur with traditional belt-driven ribbon blenders.
You can select a ribbon mixer with a slide gate that allows products to exit slowly while maintaining a tight seal. This feature is useful for certain progressive discharge processes, such as measuring, batching, and packaging. These gates are easy to clean and sanitize, making them suitable for food and pharmaceutical production.
