Question 1

What is the recommended maximum fill level of the blending container to achieve a good blending result?

Accepted Answer

The blending container should not be filled to more than 70% of its volume. The desired blending quality is achieved most quickly when the container is filled to 50%. We recommend a minimum fill level of 20 to 25%.
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Question 2

What blending time is recommended?

Accepted Answer

The blending time depends heavily on the material being blended. Feedback from customers shows that the desired blending quality is achieved after 5 to 10 minutes of blending. This applies to powdery, normally free-flowing materials that are to be homogenised. For other applications, such as “desedimentation” of liquids or “dissolving solids in solvents,” this process can take significantly longer.

Question 3

What are the largest blending containers that can be processed by MIXOMAT blenders?

Accepted Answer

MIXOMAT drum blenders can currently accommodate drums with a maximum size of 400 litres as standard, whereby a NON-tilting MIXOMAT type B can process two 400-litre blending containers simultaneously (on both shaft ends).

Question 4

What are the main differences between MIXOMAT mini, A, B, and C?

Accepted Answer

A basic distinction is made between MIXOMAT mini and MIXOMAT A laboratory blenders (table-mounted models), MIXOMAT B non-tilting standard blenders (floor-mounted or mobile), and MIXOMAT C tilting blenders (also floor-mounted or mobile). The MIXOMAT mini blenders can process containers of approx. 0.5 to 2.0 litres and the MIXOMAT A blenders can process drums of 3 to 25-litres. The MIXOMAT B blenders are available in three sizes, B1, B2, and B3, and can accommodate drums of approx. 30 to 400 litres. The tiltable MIXOMAT C blenders are available in two subgroups, C-SE (simply efficient) and C-HE (high end). Both have the same functionality, including the tilting function with which the mixing container is lifted into the mixing position, whereby the entire housing tilts in the MIXOMAT C-SE and only the blender shaft tilts in the MIXOMAT C-HE. Due to its completely closed and sealed housing, the MIXOMAT C-HE (like the MIXOMAT A and B) is suitable for clean room applications.

Question 5

Are MIXOMAT blenders suitable for pharmaceutical applications?

Accepted Answer

All MIXOMAT blenders are ideal for pharmaceutical applications.

Question 6

Are MIXOMAT blenders equipped with a printer for printing out the mixing protocol?

Accepted Answer

The MIXOMAT A, B, and C blender groups can be supplied with a protocol printer as an option.

Question 7

What are the main applications for which MIXOMAT blenders are used?

Accepted Answer

FUCHS MIXOMAT tumbling blenders are used to homogenise multiple components, to colour plastic granules, to desediment liquids, to dissolve solids such as rubber in solvents, or to coat parts such as O-rings, and much more.

Question 8

Where are MIXOMAT tumbling blenders used?

Accepted Answer

MIXOMAT blenders are used worldwide on all continents in small businesses as well as in large multinational corporations, especially in industries such as food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, metallurgy, batteries, the watch industry, and many more.

Question 9

What distinguishes MIXOMAT drum blenders?

Accepted Answer

MIXOMAT tumbling blenders are very reliable blenders that mix the material without leaving any residue. Cross-contamination is ruled out with this blending process, as a separate drum can be used for each material. The blenders are very quiet, long-lasting, easy to clean, and extremely low-maintenance. They are available in many designs (explosion-proof versions, mobile, single- and double-sided versions, with adapters for processing various containers) and sizes.

Question 10

What is a drum blender?

Accepted Answer

A drum blender is used to evenly blend powders, granules or liquids in closed containers. It is often used in pharmaceutical, chemical and food production.

Question 11

What is the difference between drum blenders and laboratory blenders?

Accepted Answer

Laboratory blenders are designed for smaller container sizes and test quantities, while drum blenders can process larger volumes of up to 400 litres.

Question 12

What are the advantages of a plansifter machine compared to a vibrating sifter?

Accepted Answer

The plansifter (e.g. SIFTOMAT) performs a harmonious circular or oscillating motion, while a vibrating sifter performs a high-frequency vibrating motion with a short amplitude. Due to the rapid movement, the product to be sifted has less time to fall through the mesh than with the “more leisurely” sifting movement of a flat sieve. The slow sifting movement is also much gentler than the aggressive movement of a vibrating sifter, which is crucial for fragile materials. The same applies to the service life of the sifting machine. Due to the much gentler sifting movement, the flat sieve has a clear advantage over the vibrating sieve in terms of service life. Last but not least, the quality of sifting is also higher with the flat sieve, as its sifting is much more accurate than the vibrating sifting due to the slow sifting movement.

Question 13

What is the sifting capacity of a sifting machine?

Accepted Answer

The sifting capacity of a sifting machine is defined by the throughput of the material to be sifted in kg/h. This depends heavily on the material to be sifted, the sifting application (sizing, dedusting, or control sifting), the sifting area, and the mesh width used. That is why the FUCHS SIFTOMAT plansifter is available in 8 different mesh sizes. Roughly speaking, FUCHS SIFTOMAT sifting machines have a capacity of approx. 10 to 20 kg with the smallest size up to 15 tons per hour with the largest sifting machine. The capacity of the CONTROMAT control sifters ranges from approx. 100 kg/h to several tons per hour.

Question 14

In which industries are FUCHS sifting machines mainly used?

Accepted Answer

FUCHS sifting machines are typically used in the food, plastics, textile, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, among others.

Question 15

Can FUCHS Sifting machines also be supplied in customer-specific designs?

Accepted Answer

FUCHS SIFTOMAT and CONTROMAT sifting machines are largely standardised in various sizes and designs. The SIFTOMAT is available in 8 standard sizes and can be designed with one, two, or three sifting decks. The CONTROMAT is available in 2 standard sizes for two versions. There is a round version without an outlet for coarse particles and a rectangular version with an outlet for coarse particles. Both sieve types (SIFTOMAT and CONTROMAT) can be customised to a certain extent to meet customer requirements.

Question 16

How long does it take to change a sieve on the SIFTOMAT?

Accepted Answer

Sieve inserts sometimes need to be removed, for example when changing products or for cleaning. This process takes approx. 1 to 2 minutes for a single-deck sieve and 3 to 4 minutes for a 2-deck sieve. The sieves can be removed completely without tools.

Question 17

How long does it take to change a sieve on the CONTROMAT?

Accepted Answer

Changing the sieve on the CONTROMAT usually takes no longer than 2 minutes and no tools are required.

Question 18

Can FUCHS sieves be equipped with a sieve cleaning system?

Accepted Answer

FUCHS SIFTOMAT plansifters can be equipped with a rubber balls cleaning system. This prevents the sieve meshes from clogging during the sifting process. Unfortunately, this is not possible with the CONTROMAT sieve. Alternatively, both sieve types can be equipped with ultrasonic sieve cleaning.

Question 19

Does FUCHS also offer sifting machines for Ex zones?

Accepted Answer

FUCHS sieves can be supplied for Ex zones 1/21 or 2/22.

Question 20

What other versions are available?

Accepted Answer

FUCHS SIFTOMAT and CONTROMAT sieves are supplied in open or closed versions as standard. They are available in stationary or mobile versions. The parts in contact with the product of both types are made of 1.4301 stainless steel, and the base frame of the SIFTOMAT is made of painted structural steel, while that of the CONTROMAT is made of galvanized steel. Of course, FUCHS also supplies versions made entirely of stainless steel and/or parts in contact with the product made of 1.4435.

Question 21

How does a disc mill work?

Accepted Answer

A disc mill, also known as a colloid mill, is a mill that basically consists of two discs, one of which (the rotor) rotates and the other (the stator) remains stationary. The material to be ground is fed into the grinding chamber through the hole in the centre of the disc and is then pressed through the gap between the two discs, which are usually profiled, by means of centrifugal force. The distance between the two discs defines the fineness of the ground material.

Question 22

For which applications is the disc or colloid mill suitable?

Accepted Answer

The GRANOMAT disc mill is suitable for the low-flour grinding of dry materials, such as corn to produce corn meal, as well as to produce emulsions and pastes in wet applications. This includes cosmetic creams, pastes, peanut butter, etc. The GRANOMAT colloid mill is also used in the battery industry and in the production and processing of cellulose.

Question 23

In what sizes are GRANOMAT mills available?

Accepted Answer

GRANOMAT mills are standardised and available for the following disc diameters: 150, 250, 360, and 500 mm.

Question 24

What throughput rates can be achieved with FUCHS GRANOMAT mills?

Accepted Answer

The throughput rate depends greatly on the application and the material being ground. The small mill can produce a few kilograms to 100 kg of meal or emulsions. The largest mill can achieve a throughput rate of up to two or more tonnes per hour.

Question 25

Does FUCHS Maschinen AG manufacture the GRANOMAT mills itself?

Accepted Answer

No. The GRANOMAT mills are manufactured in Japan and distributed by FUCHS mainly in Europe (exclusively in Germany and Switzerland).

Question 26

Can FUCHS disc mills be used in hazardous areas?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, no. There is currently no explosion-proof version of the GRANOMAT mill.

Question 27

What are the main advantages of the GRANOMAT mill?

Accepted Answer

The GRANOMAT colloid mill is a very sophisticated and high-quality mill. It works very precisely and is extremely easy to clean. It is very low-maintenance and space-saving. Many different types of grinding discs are available for a wide range of applications. Operation is largely self-explanatory.

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