Laboratory Mixers

What makes a Lab Mixer so important?

A lab mixer helps you to upscale from laboratory samples to bulk production, which can be a huge challenge for any manufacturer. Mistakes can lead to late delivery, lost productivity, wasted product, excess cost and dissatisfied customers.

Selection of the right laboratory mixer is key to ensure accurate process scalability and avoid these problems.

Greaves laboratory mixers are designed to reliably upscale laboratory formulations to production volumes. Each is a reduced scale version of its production “big brother”. This means every recipe can be thoroughly researched at lab scale before transferring to production scale manufacture with confidence.

All lab machines are engineered to the same high-quality standard as their production counterparts.

Custom Laboratory

Dual Action Lab Mixer with Anchor Scraper

Click below to configure and buy your mixer

High Shear Mixer Lab Mixer 1 Click to configure and buy
High Speed Dispenser Lab Mixer 1 Click to configure and buy

High Shear Laboratory Mixer

High Speed Disperser Laboratory Mixer

vhsd 10 full vac open

R & D Pilot Scale Mixer

Laboratory mixer features and options:

  • 1 to 75 L mixer options
  • Variable speed inverter as standard
  • ATEX Zone 0 and Zone 20
  • HMI touch screen options
  • Push button electric lift optional
  • Mixer tool options:
    • High-Speed Disperser
    • High Shear
    • Propeller
    • Bow tie (trifoil)
  • Vacuum/pressure vessel optional
  • Heating and cooling options available
  • High torque geared units available
  • Specialised lab mixers can be built to individual client requirements

Lab Mixers FAQ’s

Each Greaves laboratory mixers is a reduced scale version of the corresponding production mixer. This ensures recipes produced in the lab can be transferred into full scale production without major adjustments. Similarly, changes to existing production processes can be tested at laboratory scale before being transferred to production. This means changes can be made quickly offline and transferred to production with confidence, avoiding the risk of wasting valuable product and time.

Greaves high speed dispersers are typically equipped with a “sawtooth” impeller blade. The high peripheral speed of the impeller creates a vortex which draws unmixed product down towards the mixing “teeth”. The angular shape of these teeth is effective in instantly dispersing powders and reducing agglomerates into constituent particles. Greaves HSD mixers are very effective when mixing challenging powders into liquids, particularly when in high solid to liquid concentrations.

A high shear mixer usually has a rotor/stator type of mixing head and is highly effective in emulsifying material with minimum displacement at the liquid surface. Conversely, HSD mixers are designed to create a vortex which draws material from the liquid surface towards the mixing head. This facilitates rapid “wetting-out” of buoyant powders and agglomerates. HSD mixers are generally used for challenging situations involving high “loading” of powders, pigments and particularly buoyant solids which are difficult to wet. These conditions frequently occur in food processing.

Greaves’ team of mixing specialists are very approachable and have extensive experience helping customers in diverse manufacturing sectors. Get in touch and we will be pleased to help find the best lab mixer solution for your processing requirements!

Yes, for best results the laboratory setup should replicate bulk mixing conditions as closely as possible and this includes the mixing vessel. It is important to ensure the height and diameter works with the appropriate Greaves Lab mixer and the viscosity range of your mixing processes.
Greaves supplies a complete range of ATEX compliant lab mixers covering Zone 0 & 20 to Zone 2 & 22 and all mixer types. Our mixing specialists have the knowledge and experience to resolve any hazardous area mixing requirements. We have corresponding files lodged with our Notified Body and can assist you with DSEAR assessment if you are unsure which risk category applies to your flammable materials and processes.
Greaves offer engineered mixing solutions for volumes ranging from laboratory to bulk batch processing. This includes pressure and vacuum rated mixing systems.
Vessels can be specified with heating/cooling jackets for constant control of product temperature throughout processing.

Working at high rotational speed, the high shear mixer impeller draws unmixed material into the mixing head then forces it radially outward into the shear zone. This is where the tip of the stator is closest to the stator. Both stator and impeller are engineered to very fine tolerances, creating a precisely engineered gap between the tip of the impeller and the stator. The high rotational speed of the impeller combines with this small gap to generate extreme shear forces as material is forced through precisely engineered perforations in the stator. These conditions ensure rapid mixing and particle size reduction.
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“Shear rate” is a numerical measure of the force applied in the mixing zone of a high shear mixer. Shear rate is calculated using a formula that considers the rotational speed of the rotor, its diameter and the gap between the rotor and stator.

shear factor formula

In a word – Significantly! Viscosity is a measure of a fluid’s resistance to movement. The higher its viscosity, the greater a fluid’s resistance to movement and consequently the energy needed to achieve effective mixing. Usually measured in centipoises or Brix, viscosity is a key factor in determining which mixer type, speed, dimensions and power rating is most appropriate for a given process. Get in touch and our highly knowledgeable mixing experts will be pleased to help!