Do you need a ribbon blender or a vertical cone screw blender?
Ribbon blenders and vertical cone screw blenders are found in many plants, and in many ways they perform a similar function on the process line. But the differences in their design – and in the advantages they offer – are far more important than their similarities.
Of course, one very important difference to consider is price. The ribbon blender is generally less expensive than a vertical cone screw blender of comparable capacity. So, in practical terms, you should determine whether you application requires a vertical cone screw blender in
order to achieve the product quality and processing efficiency that you need.
To decide which type of blender will work more efficiently in your application, ask yourself these questions.
How much room is available in your plant? If floor space is tight, you may have to select a vertical blender - since it requires a smaller footprint. If overhead space is limited, you will probably want to choose a ribbon blender.
Does your product require gentle blending? If so, you will probably need a vertical cone screw blender. The blending action of mixing screw is extremely gentle.
Is complete discharge essential? The cone screw blender gives you virtually 100% discharge through the lower cone. Even the best ribbon blenders fall short.
How tight is your budget for power? The cone screw blender consumes less power than a horizontal ribbon Blender.
Is contamination a critical risk? The ribbon blender includes a packing gland within the mix zone, this can cause some cross contamination. If your application demands zero - cross contamination, you may want to consider a cone screw blender.
Will you always operate with the blender at least half of a full batch? If you need the flexibility to operate with less than 50% of full volume, then you will probably want to choose the cone screw blender. Because of the geometry of the cone, this blender can operate efficiently with batches as small as 10% of blender capacity
Dol you need 100% cleaning between batches? The cone screw blender is easier to clean, especially since you will never have to disassemble a packing gland in the product zone.