Agitaded Blending - Pharmatech

Agiblend & Enhanced Blending

Blending performance can be enhanced by using baffles within the blending vessel or introducing an agitator bar.

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Introducing Agiblend for more Efficient Powder mixing

Conventional Tumble blending is a low shear process and relies upon particles changing place as they tumble down the inclined plane, which is formed within the blending vessel as it rotates. It is a gentle process and causes little damage to most particles. The addition of an agitator bar – sometimes called an intensifier bar – can help achieve a better mix in a shorter time for many products. Any of our machines from the MB015 size upwards can be fitted with a powered agitator systems. These are known as Agiblend drive units.

Agitators can be added to vessels larger than 5L.

Features

Agiblend for more Efficient Powder mixing

An Agiblend system consists of two parts – an Agiblend drive unit and an Agiblend vessel.

The Agiblend drive unit has two separate drives – one to rotate the blending vessel and a separate high speed drive to rotate an Agitator Bar within the blending vessel. Agitation systems can be built into any drive unit from the MB015 upwards. The Agiblend drive unit can also be used to rotate standard Multiblend Vessels.

Agglomerates

Where material has formed lumps or agglomerates an agitator bar will help break these down quickly and efficiently.

Dispersion of Small Quantities

The homogenous dispersion of small quantities of materials such as active ingredients, pigments etc into a much larger bulk can take a long time using conventional tumble blending and this is sometimes overcome by carrying out a series of blends of increasing dilution of the problem ingredient (trituration).

Where the particles being handled are not prone to damage during blending it is possible to improve blending performance by introducing agitation of the mass. We do this by having an agitator that is mounted on the axis of rotation. This helps to ensure that the bar is running submerged in the product all the time. The bars can be of various designs depending upon the effect required.

Typical pigment dispersion problem solved by Agiblend

Advantages:

Higher fill volumes in the blending vessel – up to 85%
Shorter processing times
Efficient dispersion

Vessels without agitator bars can be fitted to Agiblend drive units to allow the machine to be used as a tumble blender. Cleaning of the vessel is made easy – the entire agitator bar and bearing and seal system are removable from the vessel for cleaning.

Baffles

Baffles have the effect of lifting material from the bulk as the vessel rotates and sprinkling it over the surface. Fixed baffles can be added to any shape blending vessel. They will be designed to suit the vessel geometry. Vessels with removable lids such as drums, smaller IBCs and double cones can have removable baffle sets fitted.

Agitators

Pharmatech removable Agitator cassette

Operator Controls

The MB0005 is supplied with easy to use HMI Controls as standard. HMI features include:

2 line LCD control panel
Allows the operator to input blend parameters such as blend time and blend speed
Provides the operator instructions, machine status and an error message

ATEX Rated MB005

ATEX Rated

The MB0005 can be ATEX rated to any standard – please email for details

Note: In the blender shown in the photo the electrical controls are mounted in a special enclosure inside the trolley. The trolley is fitted with a metal castor to ensure that it is earthed at all times

HMI Operator Controls Panel

Moving your Blender

The MB005 blender is too heavy to be carried by one person. A trolley allows either blender to be easily moved from room to room. Pharmatech manufacture a range of custom built trolleys.