Ribbon blenders are a durable and versatile mixing machine that can handle various powders and bulk solids. These include infant formula, cocoa mix, instant salad dressing, cake mixes, spices, and other ingredients. Proper sizing is key to getting the most out of your ribbon mixer. Batch volume dictates the size of the blender, and bulk density determines the correct horsepower.

Know Your Mixer Profile

Various factors determine how long a ribbon blender takes to mix ingredients. Mixer size, swept volume, and material characteristics play a role in this timeframe. For example, a trail mix may contain different types of nuts, seeds, pretzels, chocolate pieces and granola, with various ingredients in shape, size and density. Fast and gentle mixing is required to achieve a thorough blend without damaging these more delicate elements. The ribbon agitator typically imposes little shear on the materials. However, this can be a concern with more fragile or shear-sensitive products. Some facilities prefer a paddle agitator instead of the standard ribbon.

Know Your Ingredients

Ribbon blenders are a time-saving machine for mixing ingredients with ease. However, you must choose the right one for your facility and process. The capacity and profile of your mixer are crucial in determining how fast it will mix. In some cases, a very large blender might be appropriate, but in other situations, multiple smaller blenders could assist you in optimizing the procedure and shortening mixing time. It’s important to size your mixer properly to prevent overload and motor damage. Batch volume (not mass) determines the ribbon mixer size, while bulk density indicates whether a standard or heavy-duty mixer is required. Generally, the ribbon blender’s agitator should be filled with 70-80% of its swept volume.

Know Your Facility

Ribbon mixers dryly blend various ingredients — including cake mixes, flour blends, trail mixes, granola, baking powders and spices. They are also often used in extruded food production to mix grain, oil, sugar, emulsifiers and other ingredients before the extrusion process. Another important consideration is your mixer size. The ribbon mixer vessel should be filled to its swept volume for the most efficient mixing. This is based on the agitator profile and shaft design.

Know Your Mixing Needs

Taking notes about your facility requirements and constraints will help you determine the right ribbon mixer size to match your production needs. This can ensure you’re not getting a larger model than your facility can handle or that the ribbon mixer design fits perfectly alongside your existing equipment. Ribbon mixers can be equipped with a variety of drive arrangements. Food-grade ingredients are often mixed with stainless steel ribbon mixers with special finishes that can be easily cleaned and sanitized. Other industries may require a mixer made from mild steel and painted, particularly if they work with corrosive ingredients. Ribbon blenders can be fitted with an extrusion screw along the bottom of the blending trough to improve mixing efficiency for thick pastes and other viscous applications. This feature enhances mixing and enables full discharge of the finished product.

Know Your Mixer Design

The ribbon mixer is designed to mix dry powders or free-flowing granular materials. However, adding liquid ingredients to a batch may be necessary to hydrate the material or break up clumps. Liquids are typically added via a spray bar with atomizing spray nozzles or through a pressure feed vessel. Testing the liquid addition rate and agitator speed is important to minimize cycle time without flooding the batch or forming wet clumps. The swept volume of the mixer and ingredient characteristics will impact how much capacity is needed to achieve adequate mixing. For this reason, it is important never to underfill the ribbon mixer. Optimum mixing requires the ribbon to be fully occupied and some head space to the top cover is available.