Business

Preparing To Use a Ribbon Mixer

ribbon mixer is a great addition to any business and can make blending ingredients simple. Here are some of the processes that can help ensure you get the most out of your machine.

Choose the Right Location

Ribbon blenders require a level floor that you can bolt them to. You can also bolt them onto stable mezzanines. However, bolting them to an unlevel surface can cause the trough to bow, leading to clearance problems inside the machine.

Get the Right Size

While bulk density establishes what horsepower you need, the volume is used to calculate what size you need. Most standard mixers can handle 35 pounds per cub foot of size. If you have more voluminous products but don’t have space for a larger machine, you need to go with a heavy-duty option. Running a batch through your mixer that exceeds your size capabilities can cause serious damage. This is why it is necessary to know your ingredients’ volumes.

Avoid Underfilling Your Mixer

Ribbon blenders work optimally when the amount of ingredients in the trough is filled to approximately 30 to 40% capacity. If you work with less than this amount, you could fail to produce enough contact with the ingredients and ribbon, creating quality issues.

Tell Your Supplier About Your Practices

With most applications, you can get by with the standard setup. However, some businesses deal with sensitive ingredients that require special care. To ensure that you get high-quality products, you should tell your supplier about your practices, so they can help customize a machine to meet your needs. You can make both simple and elaborate modifications to help you reach your goals.

Make Use of Variable Frequency Drives

Variable Frequency Drives allow a slower start within your machine to protect it from a sudden spike in torque as it starts up when it is fully loaded. While soft starters also protect your machine, they only allow for one mixing speed, unlike a Variable Frequency Drive that allows you to alter the speed mid-batch.

Fine-Tune Your Shear Input

If you are mixing multiple products with one machine, you should consider getting interchangeable agitators and optional high-speed choppers. These are easy to install and can help you fine-tune your shear input for each product.

These are just some of the processes that can help you prepare to use your ribbon blender. By following these, you can get the most out of your machine.

Show More
Back to top button
Close