The ribbon blender is among the most versatile industrial mixers used in the food and beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries. This is because of its versatility in applications including solid-solid and liquid-solid mixing requiring straightforward, fast and reliable blending. Indeed, a well-specified and well-designed ribbon blender can achieve complete mixing in as little as 15 minutes with little to no risks of over-mixing and under-mixing especially for ingredients with similar sizes, bulk densities, and shapes.

But a ribbon mixer is like any other industrial mixer in that there are dos and don’ts to remember in its use. A well-maintained unit can last anywhere between 20 and 30 years when used with these tips in mind – truly, an investment that will eventually pay for itself, so to speak.

Choose the Right Location

Every high-quality ribbon blender has a floor-mounted design requiring installation on a level floor; bolting in place is recommended to increase stability while in use, especially when installed on a strong and stable mezzanine. This is a must since placing the unit in a non-level surface can result in the trough’s deformation as well as cause clearance issues between the fabricated ribbon and trough.

Get the Right Size

Keep in mind batch volume determines the right size while bulk density determines the appropriate horsepower of a ribbon blender. The importance of determining the accurate bulk density of the materials that will be placed into a ribbon blender is a must. Otherwise, serious mechanical failure like an overloaded motor can occur, even when the product volume is well below the maximum limit.

Basically, be sure to use heavy-duty blenders for denser products. Light-duty ribbon blenders are best used for materials with lower bulk densities for the abovementioned reasons.

Use a Paddle-style Agitator

When blending fragile materials, the better choice is a paddle-style agitator instead of a ribbon agitator. This is because a paddle agitator has lesser surface area in and around the periphery, which means a gentler blending action necessary for fragile materials to be blended well without being damaged.

In contrast, a ribbon agitator eventually produces pinch points near its walls, which increases the risks of fragile materials being damaged by compression. The high shear forces are the cause behind the damage.

Use a Discharge Extruder

When mixing viscous applications, such as paste, a ribbon blender must be equipped with a discharge extruder. This attachment increases the efficient level of mixing while also enabling easy discharge of the entire batch.

Avoid Under-filling

Always check that a ribbon blender has sufficient batch material in it, which will ensure optimal mixing. Check the rated volumetric capacity – the batch material should be at least 20 to 40 percent of said capacity for optimum use. Otherwise, the under-filling may result in the unit failing to generate sufficient contact between the product and the agitator.

Other tips to remember are using variable frequency drive, fine-tuning shear input, and avoiding the replacement of a ribbon blender’s motor with another motor without informing the manufacturer. Keep these tips in mind and your ribbon blender will be a valuable asset in your business.

Contact:

Morton Mixers & Blenders Ltd.
Murray Place, Righead Industrial Estate, Bellshill, Scotland,
ML4 3LP
United Kingdom
+44 (0)845 2770939