Mixers

A mixer, also referred to as a blender, is a machine designed to combine two or more materials so that the components are distributed throughout the resulting mixture. Industrial mixers are used in processes involving powders, granules and, in suitable configurations, mixtures that also require the addition of liquids.

The mixing mechanism is selected according to the product and the process objective. In horizontal single-shaft mixers, mixing tools mounted on a rotating shaft move the material within a cylindrical mixing chamber. The movement created inside the vessel continuously exposes different particles to one another and helps prevent zones in which material remains insufficiently mixed.

Industrial mixing equipment can be adapted to many sectors because the required result depends on the formulation rather than on one specific industry. Different construction materials, mixing tools, wear-protection options and process accessories can therefore be selected according to the products being handled.

The correct mixer should be chosen according to factors such as batch or continuous operation, material properties, required capacity or throughput, desired mixing consistency, cleaning requirements and the conditions of the production process.

The two principal mixer models represented on this page use a horizontal single-shaft arrangement but operate according to different production methods.

WBH Batch-Type Single Shaft Mixers process a defined quantity of ingredients as an individual batch. Materials are introduced into the mixing chamber, mixed for the required cycle and then discharged before the next batch begins. This operating principle is suitable where repeatability between individual batches and controlled formulation are important.

WAH Continuous Single Shaft Mixers are designed for continuous production. Ingredients enter the mixer while mixed material leaves through the opposite end, allowing the process to operate as an ongoing material flow rather than as separate batches. The mixing quality is developed as the material passes through the mixing chamber towards the outlet.

Both designs use a horizontal mixing chamber with a shaft carrying appropriately arranged mixing tools. Depending on the process, ploughshare or inclined blade-type tools can be used to lift and move the product, creating intensive particle movement inside the chamber.

Separately driven high-speed choppers may also be incorporated where the application requires an additional mixing effect. Liquid-addition equipment and other process accessories can be specified according to the selected mixer and formulation.

The distinction between the two product families is therefore fundamental: WBH is the batch-type mixer range, while WAH is the continuous mixer range. Selection depends on whether the production process requires individual reproducible batches or a continuous material stream.

Mixer features vary according to the product series, application and selected configuration. The basic mixing principle relies on mechanical movement generated by the rotating shaft and mixing tools inside the chamber.

Typical operating characteristics include:

WAH continuous mixers operate with material entering at one end of the horizontal cylindrical chamber and leaving from the opposite end. The mixing tools lift the components from the product bed into the active mixing zone so that the desired mixture is developed before the material reaches the outlet.

WBH batch-type mixers instead retain a defined charge in the mixing chamber for the selected mixing cycle and then discharge that completed batch. Manufacturer documentation specifically identifies the WBH range as batch-type single-shaft mixers designed for reproducible batch production.

Construction, wear protection, surface finish, mixing tools, seals and optional accessories should therefore be specified according to the actual material and operating environment rather than assumed to be identical for every mixer configuration.

Single-shaft mixer systems provide several operational advantages when the correct batch or continuous configuration is selected for the process.

Typical advantages include:

Batch operation provides a clear separation between individual production cycles and is appropriate where formulations must be processed as defined charges. Continuous operation is more suitable where ingredients must be mixed as an uninterrupted material flow.

For this reason, WBH and WAH should not be treated as interchangeable descriptions of the same operating method. WBH Batch-Type Single Shaft Mixers are selected for batch production, while WAH Continuous Single Shaft Mixers are selected for continuous processing. The appropriate model should be determined from the recipe, material characteristics, required production method and operating conditions.