Double Planetary Mixer Revolutionizes High Viscosity Mixing

The evolution of equipment design is accelerating and the business implications of this transformation are huge. Even if your mission seems straightforward — to replace existing equipment, for example, or increase your capacity to continue producing a well-established product — if you haven't checked around recently for new equipment solutions, you could be headed toward an expensive mistake.

Distinguish between small production improvements and true paradigm shifts
In some cases, the latest evolutionary changes in mixer design are easy to spot. In high-viscosity mixing during the last few years we have seen a steady stream of improvements in such important components as drives, valves, seals, powder induction devices, discharge systems, vacuum drying, solvent recovery and fabrication techniques for handling pressure and vacuum. Many have contributed significantly to greater production and reduced processline costs, and as you consider the selection of a high viscosity mixer, you should factor them all into your cost/benefit equation. One design "improvement" stands apart from the rest, because it has introduced both incremental improvements in many well understood applications and a brand new role on the process line for one of the oldest mixers in use throughout the industrialized world — the double planetary mixer. By extending the double planetary mixer's working capacity from about 1 million centipoise to at least 8 million centipoise (cps), the helical "HV Blade" has given many manufacturers a new alternative to double-arm kneaders that is less expensive up front, less costly on an on-going basis, and far more flexible day in and day out.