Custom Made Mixers – The Real Truth
Buying a mixer is a long-term investment that can affect production availability, efficiency, staffing, downtime, and profitability for many years. Because mixers often operate for 20 years or more, the type and specifications must be chosen carefully—not only for today’s production needs, but also for future requirements. Many mixer manufacturers describe themselves as “custom made” suppliers, but this term can mean very different things. To understand the difference, it is useful to first look at the two main families of powder mixers: convective mixers and diffusion mixers. Convective mixers use a static vessel and rotating blades, paddles, or screws to move powders mechanically. They combine convection, diffusion, and shear, and they usually discharge while the shaft is rotating, which helps reduce segregation during discharge. Diffusion mixers, also called tumbling mixers, use a rotating closed vessel and gravity to reorient particles. They are gentler and suitable for fragile materials, but segregation can occur during mixing and discharge because the material flows…
