Cross-contamination and recalls are both issues that plague food and beverage suppliers. The problem can often be traced back to a step in the process where an open vessel was used. The pharmaceutical industry has found a solution by utilizing closed containers that have magnetically driven agitators (also known as mag mixers). However, the continuous expansion of using mag mixers are not limited to the pharmaceutical industry. There are valuable benefits associated with using mag mixers in the food and beverage markets.
1. Containment And Isolation
Nothing from outside can penetrate the vessel (isolation), and nothing inside can escape (containment).
2. Cleanability
All food and beverage factories have cleaning procedures in place. Most use CIP, but it can be challenging to clean a top-entry mixer due to the hidden areas which are not easily accessible using a spray device. The debris and mechanical seal can be tricky to clean. A mag mixer, however, is highly cleanable. The most well-liked test utilizes riboflavin to make sure all surfaces are cleaned during CIP.
3. Low-Level Mixing
When you are using top-entry magnetic mixers and agitators for stirred tank reactors, all mixing comes to a halt when the liquid level goes below the bottom impeller. The bottom-mount mag mixer gets mounted on the off-center and tank bottom. This allows mixing almost to the very last drop, which is why they are well-liked options when it comes to products which tend to stratify or high-value products. The various options for batch sizes are essential since processors are often asked to produce pre-mixes or small batches in tanks which are designed for large quantities. Small batches can be created easily with a mixer which is installed on the bottom of a tank.
4. Fewer Space Constraints
The top-mount mixer is often the highest point off the ground on a portable tank. The can result in the tank tipping or a more pricey support structure of the tank tipping over. It can be problematic pushing the tank through a doorway even with a smaller tank size. All these issues are intensified when you’re installing a mag mixer on the bottom of a tank. On fixed tanks, the space overhead the tank is often jammed. Sometimes, an alcove must be added to the ceiling to accommodate for the extra space needed. Bottom-mount mag mixers necessitate little space, plus they are lightweight.
5. Easily Maintained
The mag mixer is a moderately simple piece of equipment with few components. With no mechanical seal or shaft, it can be easily maintained. All maintenance is performed at ground level, making it a lot easier.
6. Cost
Bottom-mounted mag mixers are less costly than top-entry mixers that have mechanical seals. The ongoing cost of maintenance and operation on the top-entry mixers makes the bottom-mounted mixer even more desirable.
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Conclusion
Mag mixers are ideal for applications like storage, miscible fluids, liquid blending/liquid, heat transfer, solids suspension and dissolving of solids like sugars and salts. That’s why they are an excellent option for utilizing in the food and beverage industry.
