Building A Competitive Edge With Versatile Mixing Equipment

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The specifications that define a mixer built for a pharmaceutical or cosmetic application reflect a combination of industry standards and the mixing functions needed for that particular application. A sub-micron emulsion for a cream or ointment, for example, requires high-shear agitation, vacuum and usually a heat-transfer system. The size of the mixer is determined by the throughput required. To guard against batch-to-batch contamination, CIP and SIP capabilities are usually designed in, too, along with such devices as air-purged seals. To ensure a high degree of repeatability, and to document the production of every batch, we add a multi-axis control system with extensive data-logging.

This close connection between specific performance requirements and equipment features is the logical starting point for equipment design. But today, the challenge of specifying and designing a high-performance mixer is more than a two-dimensional process. We regularly address performance needs that are much broader than one particular mixing application. In fact, we often design emulsifiers and homogenizers to meet production needs that have not yet been imagined.