For most industrial and commercial mixing needs, there are two basic options in mixers. One provides continual mixing, and the other is known as a batch mixer. While they both create the mixture of the ingredients within the bin, the process, and the applications are very different.
Choosing between the two, and then selecting the right batch mixer or continuous mixer for your needs starts with understanding what you need the mixer to do. For some manufacturing applications this may be a single type of mixing using the same ingredients over and over again. For other applications it may include one mixer used for several different mixing tasks.
Batch Mixing Operations
A batch mixer is used to provide mixing when the ingredients to be combined are in set amounts, such as in doughs or dry mixes. A specific amount of each ingredient, which can be wet or dry, are added to the mixer either all at one time or in the correct sequence according to the recipe or the mixing requirements.
Just as everything is added at once or in a set and defined amount in a sequence in the batch mixer, everything is also removed at once. In other words, everything is done batch by batch.
Continuous Mixing Operations
With continuous mixing, the separate ingredients are fed into the mixer at a steady rate. This is typically on a conveyor or auger system, and then the separate ingredients are mixed in the mixer bin and discharged in an ongoing format. There is no single discharge or no batch production, rather a continual throughput.
The Difference
When a very specific type of mixing is required, for example reaching a desired consistency or mixing for a specific period of time, a batch mixer is the preferred choice. It is also the go-to option when multiple different ingredients need to be mixed for different formulations.
With timed mixing or with mixing to a desired consistency, the operator can control for any variables that may exist. Issues such as humidity, moisture in the ingredients or other factors may need to be addressed in the mixing process, which is where the control offered in a batch mixer is critical.
The batch mixer can be stopped between batches and completely cleaned, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination between batches. These are most commonly used with smaller to medium levels of production, but larger models are available to handle large mixing requirements.
We can help you to find the right batch mixer for your needs. At H.C Davis, we offer batch mixers for a wide range of industries and applications.
