What are the pros and cons of the different powder mixers?

Conical mixer

Advantages

• Very large volumes possible,
• Can be used temporarily as a storage silo,
• Few blind spots, high emptying rate,
• Possibility of adding liquid.

Disadvantages

• Low mixing,
• Long mixing time due to lower efficiency,
• Higher energy consumption due to longer mixing time,
• No intake possible during emptying.

Silo mixer

Advantages

• Very large volumes possible (almost infinitely large),
• Can be used (temporarily) as a storage silo,
• Few blind spots, high emptying rate.

Disadvantages

• Less good mixing than a conical mixer,
• Slow process and therefore very long mixing time,
• Greater forces on the product.

Ribbon mixer

Advantages

• Large volumes possible,
• Cheap construction.

Disadvantages

• Less active mixing than with paddle mixer,
• Slow process.

Paddle mixer (pegasus)

advantages

• Large volumes possible,
• Very homogeneous mixture,
• Very short process time and therefore more batches per hour,
• Smaller mixer required compared to other mixers due to very short process time to achieve the same capacity,
• Quick change of recipe.

Disadvantages

• Sometimes greater installation height in relation to batch size,
• More complex construction.

Shear mixer

Advantages

• Can handle partly stickier product,
• Any lumps are rubbed / pinched apart.