Silverson Machines are one of the world leaders in the design and manufacture of high shear mixing equipment from laboratory to production scale, and now small-scale too.
High shear mixing involves intense mechanical agitation and shearing forces to achieve superior blending, dispersion, and particle size reduction. Unlike conventional mixers or agitators, high shear mixers utilise specialised rotor/stator technology to generate extremely high shear rates, creating a powerful suction effect that continuously draws materials into the high shear zone.
This enables faster processing times and increased production throughput, finer and more uniform dispersions and particle size distribution, as well as improved product quality, consistency and stability, batch-after-batch.
The Silverson product range already boasts the largest capacity range from a single manufacturer, from mixers capable of mixing volumes as small as 1ml, up to 30,000 litres. But now, Silverson Machines has launched a new range of Small-Scale mixers, expanding their already extensive product range.
Laboratory Scale Mixers
Silverson Laboratory mixers have been sold all over the world to everyone from small start-up companies to larger international brands. They’re built to last – the oldest Silverson Laboratory mixer known to still be in use has been in service for over 70 years!
The popularity of these multi-purpose Laboratory mixers can be attributed to their versatility; they can be used to mix, emulsify, homogenise, disintegrate and dissolve, with an efficiency and flexibility unmatched by other machines.
A range of over 40 workheads, screens and assemblies makes these Laboratory mixers even more versatile. These easily interchangeable workheads enable any machine to perform a wide range of mixing operations and allow one mixer to perform duties that in the past may have required several different pieces of processing equipment.
As well as the workheads supplied as standard with the mixer, this range offers an In-Line assembly for the L5 Series. This assembly converts the L5 mixer to an In-Line mixer/homogeniser with a throughput of approximately 20 litres/minute. The Duplex mixing assembly converts the L5 series into a small-scale version of the production scale Duplex machine, ideal for disintegration and solubilisation of solids, high viscosity mixes, or the incorporation of powders with a tendency to float. Other assemblies include Tubular units for narrow-necked containers, Sealed Units for sterile materials and an Ultramix powder/liquid mixing assembly.
The Silverson Verso, a bench-top In-Line mixer, and the Silverson FMX5, a laboratory-scale powder/liquid mixer, are also available. One of the key benefits from using Silverson laboratory equipment is the accuracy with which the performance of the production scale mixers can be predicted based on laboratory trials. There’s no point using a laboratory mixer capable of speeds of 25,000 rpm or more if the results cannot be replicated in production. That’s why Silverson laboratory mixers are designed and built to the same tolerances as the production units; comparable rotor tip speed and shear rates across our entire product line means scalable results, every time.
Small-scale Mixing
Just launched is a new range of mixers for small scale production. These mixers have been designed to bridge the gap between laboratory mixers and full scale production machines. The range includes an “Ultra Hygienic” specification In-Line mixer, an In-Line mixer suitable for higher viscosity mixes, a small-scale Multistage In-Line mixer and a Powder/Liquid mixer, the FMX10. These new mixers complement the different types of laboratory and production models already available from Silverson, but importantly offer customers more options in terms of batch sizes and processing requirements.
They are particularly useful in applications where the smallest production scale mixers may be too large, but laboratory equipment may not offer sufficient capacity.
Production scale mixing
All mixers available at laboratory or small-scale in the Silverson product range have a production scale equivalent. Laboratory mixers can be scaled-up to in-tank mixers such as Silverson Batch, Ultramix or Duplex models.
Silverson’s line of production scale high shear In-Line mixers offers a great many advantages – speed, versatility, aeration-free mixing, and guaranteed efficiency. Capable of self-pumping throughputs of up to 200,000 litres per hour, these mixers are ideal for continuous mixing. These mixers can be supplied as General Purpose, Ultra-Hygienic, Multistage, High Viscosity and as Jacketed models, depending on the application.
For mixing large quantities of powder, Silverson developed the Flashmix powder/liquid mixer. Unlike many powder/liquid mixers, which use vacuum to pull in powder, the Flashmix literally forces powder into the liquid stream. This not only allows it to disperse and hydrate large volumes of powders, it means it can be used at higher temperatures and with higher viscosity mixes – offering the advantages of high shear mixing to a wide range of applications that were previously not possible.
Information on other models in the Silverson product range, such as the D2500 Disintegrator/Dissolver, AX Pilot Scale range and Bottom Entry, can be found on the Silverson website.
