Terriva Blending Optimisation | Faster, Consistent Powder Mixing

Technology

Discover Agitated Blending – advancing efficiency and consistency in powder mixing

Conventional tumble blending provides a low-shear, gentle mixing process, ideal for maintaining the integrity of delicate particles. As the vessel rotates, powders mix through natural tumbling, ensuring uniform blending without degradation.

For formulations that require faster mixing or enhanced dispersion, the addition of an agitator (or intensifier) bar introduces controlled energy into the blend. This helps achieve a more thorough mix in significantly less time, improving efficiency without compromising product quality.

From the MB015 model upwards, any MultiBlend unit can be equipped with a powered agitator system, known as an Agiblend drive unit. Agitators can be incorporated into vessels larger than 5 L, offering manufacturers the flexibility to tailor the blending intensity to their specific product requirements.

Benefits and Features

Tumble blending provides a gentle, low-shear mix ideal for protecting delicate particles. When faster or more intensive mixing is required, an agitator bar can be added to create quicker, more uniform blends without compromising product quality.

Optimising Powder Mixing Efficiency

The Agiblend system combines an Agiblend drive unit with a dedicated Agiblend vessel to deliver exceptional control over the blending process.

Each drive unit features two independent drives — one to rotate the vessel and another high-speed drive to power the internal agitator bar. This dual-drive design enables faster, more uniform blending and the flexibility to handle a wide range of powder types.

Agitation systems can be integrated into any unit from the MB015 upwards, and the same drive unit can also be used to operate standard MultiBlend vessels, giving manufacturers maximum versatility and return on investment across their blending operations.

Agglomerates

When materials form lumps or clumps, an agitator bar helps break them down quickly and efficiently, ensuring a smoother, more uniform blend and consistent product quality throughout the batch.

Dispersion of Small Quantities

Achieving a uniform dispersion of small quantities—such as active ingredients or pigments—into a larger bulk can be time-consuming with conventional tumble blending. This often requires multiple dilution stages (trituration) to reach homogeneity.

With Agitated Blending, the process becomes far more efficient. By introducing an agitator mounted along the axis of rotation, the powder mass is kept in continuous motion, ensuring the agitator remains fully submerged for consistent, high-energy mixing.

This design enables faster, more even dispersion without particle damage, reducing blending time and eliminating the need for complex multi-stage processing. In applications such as pigment dispersion, the Agiblend system achieves uniform results with ease and repeatability.

Greater Efficiency, Flexibility, and Ease of Cleaning

The Agiblend system delivers higher fill volumes — up to 85% of vessel capacity — enabling shorter processing times and more efficient dispersion across a wide range of materials.

For added versatility, vessels without agitator bars can be used on the same drive unit, allowing the system to operate as a standard tumble blender when required.

Maintenance and cleaning are simplified — the agitator bar, bearing, and seal assembly can be fully removed for easy access and thorough cleaning, supporting faster changeovers and strict GMP compliance.

Baffles

Baffles enhance blending efficiency by lifting material from the bulk and redistributing it evenly as the vessel rotates, creating a more uniform mix in less time.

They can be custom-designed to match any vessel geometry, ensuring optimal performance across all blending applications. For added flexibility, vessels with removable lids — such as drums, smaller IBCs, and double cones — can be fitted with removable baffle sets, allowing easy cleaning, quick changeovers, and process adaptability.